Different mechanisms underlying the divergent responses of soil respiration components to an introduction of N2-fixer tree species into Eucalyptus plantations

Tropical reforestation initiatives are widely recognized as a key strategy for mitigating rising atmospheric CO2 concentrations. Although rapid tree growth in young secondary forests and plantations sequesters large amounts of carbon (C) in biomass, the choice of tree species for reforestation projects is crucial, as species identity and diversity affect microbial activity and soil C cycling via plant litter inputs. The decay rate of litter is largely determined by its chemical and physical properties, and trait complementarity of diverse litter mixtures can produce non-additive effects, which facilitate or delay decomposition. Furthermore, microbial communities may preferentially decompose litter from native tree species (homefield advantage). Hence, information on how different tree species influence soil carbon dynamics could inform reforestation efforts to maximize soil C storage. We established a decomposition experiment in Panama, Central America, using mesocosms and litterbags in monoculture plantations of native species (Dalbergia retusa Hemsl. and Terminalia amazonia J.F.Gmel., Exell) or teak (Tectona grandis L.f.) to assess the influence of different litter types and litter mixtures on soil C dynamics. We used reciprocal litter transplant experiments to assess the homefield advantage and litter mixtures to determine facilitative or antagonistic effects on decomposition rates and soil respiration in all plantation types. Although litter properties explained some of the variation in decomposition, the microclimate and soil properties in the plantations also played an important role. Microbial biomass C and litter decomposition were lower in Tectona than in the native plantations. We observed non-additive effects of mixtures with Tectona and Dalbergia litter on both decomposition and soil respiration, but the effect depended on plantation type. Further, there was a homefield disadvantage for soil respiration in Tectona and Terminalia plantations. Our results suggest that tree species diversity plays an important role in the resilience of tropical soils and that plantations with native tree species could help maintain key processes involved in soil carbon sequestration.

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Environmental controls and the influence of tree species on temporal variation in soil respiration in subtropical China

Plant and Soil ◽

10.1007/s11104-014-2141-6 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 382 (1-2) ◽

pp. 75-87 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

Zhiqun Huang ◽

Zaipeng Yu ◽

Minghuang Wang

Keyword(s):

Soil Respiration ◽

Temporal Variation ◽

Tree Species ◽

Subtropical China ◽

Environmental Controls

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Relationships among litterfall, fine-root growth, and soil respiration for five tropical tree species

Canadian Journal of Forest Research ◽

10.1139/x07-057 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 37 (10) ◽

pp. 1954-1965 ◽

Cited By ~ 21

Author(s):

Oscar J. Valverde-Barrantes

Keyword(s):

Soil Respiration ◽

Root Growth ◽

Tree Species ◽

Fine Root ◽

Tropical Tree ◽

Root Production ◽

Fine Root Production ◽

Soil C ◽

Tropical Tree Species ◽

Fine Root Growth

Although significant advances have been made in understanding terrestrial carbon cycling, there is still a large uncertainty about the variability of carbon (C) fluxes at local scales. Using a carbon mass-balance approach, I investigated the relationships between fine detritus production and soil respiration for five tropical tree species established on 16-year-old plantations. Total fine detritus production ranged from 0.69 to 1.21 kg C·m–2·year–1 with significant differences among species but with no correlation between litterfall and fine-root growth. Soil CO2 emissions ranged from 1.61 to 2.36 kg C·m–2·year–1 with no significant differences among species. Soil respiration increased with fine-root production but not with litterfall, suggesting that soil C emissions may depend more on belowground inputs or that both fine root production and soil respiration are similarly influenced by an external factor. Estimates of root + rhizosphere respiration comprised 52% of total soil respiration on average, and there was no evidence that rhizosphere respiration was associated with fine-root growth rates among species. These results suggest that inherent differences in fine-root production among species, rather than differences in aboveground litterfall, might play a main role explaining local-scale, among-forest variations in soil C emissions.

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Effects of Eucalyptus litter and roots on the establishment of native tree species in Eucalyptus plantations in South China

Forest Ecology and Management ◽

10.1016/j.foreco.2016.05.013 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 375 ◽

pp. 76-83 ◽

Cited By ~ 26

Author(s):

Chenlu Zhang ◽

Xiaowei Li ◽

Yuanqi Chen ◽

Jie Zhao ◽

Songze Wan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

South China ◽

Tree Species ◽

Native Tree ◽

Eucalyptus Plantations ◽

Native Tree Species

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Response of soil respiration to a severe drought in Chinese Eucalyptus plantations

Journal of Forestry Research ◽

10.1007/s11676-017-0366-y ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 28 (4) ◽

pp. 841-847 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Shaojun Wang ◽

Hong Wang

Keyword(s):

Soil Respiration ◽

Severe Drought ◽

Eucalyptus Plantations

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Pure stands of temperate forest tree species modify soil respiration and N turnover

Biogeosciences Discussions ◽

10.5194/bgd-2-303-2005 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 2 (2) ◽

pp. 303-331 ◽

Cited By ~ 24

Author(s):

N. Brüggemann ◽

P. Rosenkranz ◽

H. Papen ◽

K. Pilegaard ◽

K. Butterbach-Bahl

Keyword(s):

Soil Respiration ◽

Tree Species ◽

N Mineralization ◽

Forest Type ◽

Organic Layer ◽

Pedunculate Oak ◽

Gross Nitrification ◽

N Transformations ◽

Soil C ◽

Gross N Mineralization

Abstract. The effects of five different tree species common in the temperate zone, i.e. beech (Fagus sylvatica L.), pedunculate oak (Quercus robur L.), Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst), Japanese larch (Larix leptolepis [Sichold and Zucc.] Gordon) and mountain pine (Pinus mugo Turra), on soil respiration, gross N mineralization and gross nitrification rates were investigated. Soils were sampled in spring and summer 2002 at a forest trial in Western Jutland, Denmark, where pure stands of the five tree species of the same age were growing on the same soil. Soil respiration, gross rates of N mineralization and nitrification were significantly higher in the organic layers than in the Ah horizons for all tree species and both sampling dates. In summer (July), the highest rates of soil respiration, gross N mineralization and gross nitrification were found in the organic layer under spruce, followed by beech > larch > oak > pine. In spring (April), these rates were also higher under spruce compared to the other tree species, but were significantly lower than in summer. For the Ah horizons no clear seasonal trend was observed for any of the processes examined. A linear relationship between soil respiration and gross N mineralization (r2=0.77), gross N mineralization and gross nitrification rates (r2=0.72), and between soil respiration and gross nitrification (r2=0.81) was found. The results obtained underline the importance of considering the effect of forest type on soil C and N transformations.

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Does soil moisture overrule temperature dependency of soil respiration in Mediterranean riparian forests?

Biogeosciences Discussions ◽

10.5194/bgd-11-7991-2014 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 11 (6) ◽

pp. 7991-8022 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

C.-T. Chang ◽

S. Sabaté ◽

D. Sperlich ◽

S. Poblador ◽

F. Sabater ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Soil Moisture ◽

Soil Respiration ◽

Soil Temperature ◽

Groundwater Level ◽

Tree Species ◽

Riparian Forest ◽

Co2 Flux ◽

Control Factor ◽

Primary Control ◽

Heterotrophic Soil Respiration

Abstract. Soil respiration (SR) is a major component of ecosystem's carbon cycle and represents the second largest CO2 flux of the terrestrial biosphere. Soil temperature is considered to be the primary control on SR whereas soil moisture as the secondary control factor. However, soil moisture can become the dominant control on SR in very wet or dry conditions. Determining the trigger that switches-on soil moisture as the primary control factor of SR will provide a deeper understanding on how SR changes under projected future increased droughts. Specific objectives of this study were (1) to investigate the seasonal variations and the relationship between SR and both soil temperature and moisture in a Mediterranean riparian forest along a groundwater level gradient; (2) to determine soil moisture thresholds at which SR is rather controlled by soil moisture than by temperature; (3) to compare SR responses under different tree species present in a Mediterranean riparian forest (Alnus, glutinosa, Populus nigra and Fraxinus excelsior). Results showed that the heterotrophic soil respiration rate, groundwater level and 30 cm integral soil moisture (SM30) decreased significantly from riverside to uphill and showed a pronounced seasonality. SR rates showed significant differences among tree species, with higher SR for P. nigra and lower SR for A. glutinosa. The lower threshold of soil moisture was 20 and 17% for heterotrophic and total SR respectively. Daily mean SR rate was positively correlated with soil temperature when soil moisture exceeded the threshold, with Q10 values ranging from 1.19 to 2.14; nevertheless, SR became decoupled from soil temperature when soil moisture dropped below these thresholds.

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