Main subject area: Plant and Crops, Climate change and Agriculture, Environmental Impact and Sustainability
Over the past few years, we have been measuring CO₂ fluxes from an agricultural field in Ejura, Ghana, where rainfed maize is cultivated. Our research aims to understand the carbon dynamics in this farming system, assessing how seasonal variations influence CO₂ emissions and plant growth.
To complement these measurements, we have integrated a phenology camera to monitor plant growth and phenological changes throughout the cropping season. The phenocam captures daily images of the field, allowing us to track vegetation development, assess biomass accumulation, and correlate plant growth stages with CO₂ flux patterns.
By utilizing advanced gas exchange measurement techniques, we monitor seasonal and diurnal variations in CO₂ fluxes. These data will need to be related to measured meteorologic conditions such as precipitation, radiation and temperature. The data collected will provide valuable insights into the role of smallholder maize farming in the regional carbon cycle and contribute to the development of sustainable land management strategies.
The student will have access to complete collected dataset on CO2 fluxes.
