Validation and field application of a low-cost device to measure CO2 and ET fluxes

Mitigating the global climate crisis and its consequences, such as more frequent and severe droughts, is one of the major challenges for future agriculture. Therefore, identifying land use systems and management practices that reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) and promote water use efficiency (WUE) is crucial. This however, requires accurate and precise measurements of carbon dioxide (CO2) fluxes and evapotranspiration (ET). Despite that, commercial systems to measure CO2 and ET fluxes are expensive and thus, often exclude research in ecosystems within the Global South. This is especially true for research and data of agroecosystems in these areas, which are to date still widely underrepresented. Here, we present a newly developed, low-cost, non-dispersive infrared (NDIR)-based, CO2 and ET flux measurement device (~ 200 Euro) that provides reliable, accurate and precise CO2 and ET flux measurements in conjunction with manual closed chambers. To validate the system, laboratory and field validation experiments were performed, testing multiple different low-cost sensors. We demonstrate that the system delivers accurate and precise CO2 and ET flux measurements using the K30 FR NDIR (CO2) and SHT31 (RH) sensor. An additional field trial application demonstrated its longer-term stability ( 3 months) and ability to obtain valid net ecosystem C balances (NECB) and WUE. This was the case, even though environmental conditions at the field trial application site in Sub-Saharan Africa were rather challenging (e.g., extremely high temperatures, humidity and intense rainfall). Consequently, the developed low-cost CO2 and ET flux measurement device not only provides reasonable results but might also help to democratize science and close current data gaps.This table contains the index of all tables forming this data collection.

Related datasets are listed in the metadata element 'Related Identifier'.

缓解全球气候危机及其引发的干旱愈发频发、强度加剧等后果，是未来农业面临的核心挑战之一。因此，识别可降低温室气体排放（GHG）并提升水分利用效率（WUE）的土地利用系统与管理措施，至关重要。然而，要实现这一目标，需要对二氧化碳（CO₂）通量与蒸散发（ET）开展精准且精密的测量。
但当前用于测量CO₂与ET通量的商用设备成本高昂，往往将全球南方地区的生态系统研究排除在外，而该区域的农业生态系统相关研究与数据至今仍严重缺乏代表性。为此，我们研发了一款基于非分散红外（NDIR）技术的低成本CO₂与ET通量测量装置（造价约200欧元），可配合手动密闭箱实现可靠、精准的CO₂与ET通量测量。
为验证该系统的性能，我们开展了实验室与田间验证试验，对多款低成本传感器进行了测试。结果表明，搭配K30 FR型非分散红外（CO₂）传感器与SHT31型相对湿度（RH）传感器的这套系统，可输出精准可靠的CO₂与ET通量测量结果。额外的田间应用试验进一步证实，该装置具备长达3个月的长期稳定性，且可有效获取生态系统碳净平衡（NECB）与WUE数据。即便在撒哈拉以南非洲田间试验点的环境条件极为严苛的情况下——例如极端高温、高湿度与强降雨——该装置仍能正常运行。
综上，这款自研的低成本CO₂与ET通量测量装置不仅可产出合理可靠的测量结果，还有助于推动科学研究的民主化，填补当前的相关数据空白。本表格收录了本数据集所包含全部表格的索引。相关数据集已在元数据元素"Related Identifier"中列出。