scholarly journals Separation of soil respiration; a site-specific comparison of partition methods

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Louis-Pierre Comeau ◽  
Derrick Y. F. Lai ◽  
Jane Jinglan Cui ◽  
Jenny Farmer
Keyword(s):  
Soil Respiration ◽  
Qualitative Evaluation ◽  
C Sequestration ◽  
Natural Abundance ◽  
Co2 Efflux ◽  
Root Mass ◽  
Disturbed Soil ◽  
Partition Method ◽  
Intact Soil ◽  
Root Exclusion

Abstract. Without accurate data on soil heterotrophic respiration (Rh), assessments of soil carbon (C) sequestration rate and C balance are challenging to produce. Accordingly, it is essential to determine the contribution of the different sources of the total soil CO2 efflux (Rs) in different ecosystems, but to date, there are still many uncertainties and unknown regarding the soil respiration partitioning procedures currently available. This study compared the suitability and accuracy of five different Rh/Rs partitioning methods in a subtropical forest: (1) regression between root mass and root derived CO2; (2) root exclusion bags with intact soil blocks; (3) root exclusion bags with hand-sorted roots; (4) lab incubations with minimally disturbed soil microcosm cores; and (5) soil δ13C-CO2 natural abundance. The relationship between Rh and soil moisture and temperature was also investigated. A qualitative evaluation table of the partition methods with five performance parameters was produced. The Rs was measured weekly from February 3rd to April 19th 2017 and found to average 6.1 ± 0.3 Mg C ha−1 y−1. During this period, the Rh measured with the in-situ mesh bags with intact soil blocks and hand-sorted roots were estimated to contribute 49 ± 7 % and 79 ± 3 % of Rs respectively. The Rh percentage estimated with the root mass regression, microcosm incubation and δ13C-CO2 natural abundance were 54 ± 41 %, 8–17 % and 61 ± 39 % respectively. Overall, no systematically superior or inferior Rh/Rs partition method was found. The paper discusses the strengths and weaknesses of each technique with the conclusion that combining two or more methods optimizes Rh assessment reliability.

scholarly journals Separation of soil respiration: a site-specific comparison of partition methods

SOIL ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 141-152 ◽  
Author(s):  
Louis-Pierre Comeau ◽  
Derrick Y. F. Lai ◽  
Jane Jinglan Cui ◽  
Jenny Farmer
Keyword(s):  
Soil Respiration ◽  
Root Biomass ◽  
Qualitative Evaluation ◽  
C Sequestration ◽  
Natural Abundance ◽  
Co2 Efflux ◽  
Disturbed Soil ◽  
Partition Method ◽  
Intact Soil ◽  
Root Exclusion

Abstract. Without accurate data on soil heterotrophic respiration (Rh), assessments of soil carbon (C) sequestration rate and C balance are challenging to produce. Accordingly, it is essential to determine the contribution of the different sources of the total soil CO2 efflux (Rs) in different ecosystems, but to date, there are still many uncertainties and unknowns regarding the soil respiration partitioning procedures currently available. This study compared the suitability and relative accuracy of five different Rs partitioning methods in a subtropical forest: (1) regression between root biomass and CO2 efflux, (2) lab incubations with minimally disturbed soil microcosm cores, (3) root exclusion bags with hand-sorted roots, (4) root exclusion bags with intact soil blocks and (5) soil δ13C–CO2 natural abundance. The relationship between Rh and soil moisture and temperature was also investigated. A qualitative evaluation table of the partition methods with five performance parameters was produced. The Rs was measured weekly from 3 February to 19 April 2017 and found to average 6.1 ± 0.3 MgCha-1yr-1. During this period, the Rh measured with the in situ mesh bags with intact soil blocks and hand-sorted roots was estimated to contribute 49 ± 7 and 79 ± 3 % of Rs, respectively. The Rh percentages estimated with the root biomass regression, microcosm incubation and δ13C–CO2 natural abundance were 54 ± 41, 8–17 and 61 ± 39 %, respectively. Overall, no systematically superior or inferior Rs partition method was found. The paper discusses the strengths and weaknesses of each technique with the conclusion that combining two or more methods optimizes Rh assessment reliability.

scholarly journals Extreme rainfall impacts on soil CO2 efflux in an urban forest ecosystem in Beijing, China

2016 ◽  
Vol 96 (4) ◽  
pp. 504-514 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wenjing Chen ◽  
Xin Jia ◽  
Chunyi Li ◽  
Haiqun Yu ◽  
Jing Xie ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Respiration ◽  
Forest Ecosystem ◽  
Urban Forest ◽  
Extreme Rainfall ◽  
Rainfall Event ◽  
Extreme Rainfall Event ◽  
Co2 Efflux ◽  
Abrupt Decrease ◽  
Environmental Controls ◽  
Beijing China

Extreme rainfall events are infrequent disturbances that affect urban environments and soil respiration (Rs). Using data measured in an urban forest ecosystem in Beijing, China, we examined the link between gross primary production (GPP) and soil respiration on a diurnal scale during an extreme rainfall event (i.e., the “21 July 2012 event”), and we examined diel and seasonal environmental controls on Rs. Over the seasonal cycle, Rs increased exponentially with soil temperature (Ts). In addition, Rs was hyperbolically related to soil volumetric water content (VWC), increasing with VWC below a threshold of 0.17 m3 m−3, and then decreasing with further increases in VWC. Following the extreme rainfall event (177 mm), Rs showed an abrupt decrease and then maintained a low value of ∼0.3 μmol m−2 s−1 for about 8 h as soil VWC reached the field capacity (0.34 m3 m−3). Rs became decoupled from Ts and increased very slowly, while GPP showed a greater increase. A bivariate Q10-hyperbolical model, which incorporates both Ts and VWC effects, better fits Rs than the Q10 model in summer but not for whole year.

scholarly journals Distinct patterns in the diurnal and seasonal variability in four components of soil respiration in a temperate forest under free-air CO<sub>2</sub> enrichment

2011 ◽  
Vol 8 (10) ◽  
pp. 3077-3092 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Taneva ◽  
M. A. Gonzalez-Meler
Keyword(s):  
Soil Respiration ◽  
Seasonal Variability ◽  
Ecosystem Respiration ◽  
Co2 Efflux ◽  
Diurnal Variability ◽  
Soil C ◽  
Free Air ◽  
C Cycle ◽  
Strong Control ◽  
Average Contribution

Abstract. Soil respiration (RS) is a major flux in the global carbon (C) cycle. Responses of RS to changing environmental conditions may exert a strong control on the residence time of C in terrestrial ecosystems and in turn influence the atmospheric concentration of greenhouse gases. Soil respiration consists of several components oxidizing soil C from different pools, age and chemistry. The mechanisms underlying the temporal variability of RS components are poorly understood. In this study, we used the long-term whole-ecosystem 13C tracer at the Duke Forest Free Air CO2 Enrichment site to separate forest RS into its autotrophic (RR) and heterotrophic components (RH). The contribution of RH to RS was further partitioned into litter decomposition (RL), and decomposition of soil organic matter (RSOM) of two age classes – up to 8 yr old and SOM older than 8 yr. Soil respiration was generally dominated by RSOM during the growing season (44% of daytime RS), especially at night. The contribution of heterotrophic respiration (RSOM and RL) to RS was not constant, indicating that the seasonal variability in RR alone cannot explain seasonal variation in RS. Although there was no diurnal variability in RS, there were significant compensatory differences in the contribution of individual RS components to daytime and nighttime rates. The average contribution of RSOM to RS was greater at night (54%) than during the day (44%). The average contribution of RR to total RS was ~30% during the day and ~34% during the night. In contrast, RL constituted 26% of RS during the day and only 12% at night. About 95% of the decomposition of soil C older than 8 yr (Rpre-tr) originated from RSOM and showed more pronounced and consistent diurnal variability than any other RS component; nighttime rates were on average 29% higher than daytime rates. In contrast, the decomposition of more recent, post-treatment C (Rpre-tr) did not vary diurnally. None of the diurnal variations in components of RH could be explained by only temperature and moisture variations. Our results indicate that the variation observed in the components of RS is the result of complex interaction between dominant biotic controls (e.g. plant activity, mineralization kinetics, competition for substrates) over abiotic controls (temperature, moisture). The interactions and controls among roots and other soil organisms that utilize C of different chemistry, accessibility and ages, results in the overall soil CO2 efflux. Therefore understanding the controls on the components of RS is necessary to elucidate the influence of ecosystem respiration on atmospheric C-pools at different time scales.

scholarly journals Using O<sub>2</sub> to study the relationships between soil CO<sub>2</sub> efflux and soil respiration

2015 ◽  
Vol 12 (7) ◽  
pp. 2089-2099 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Angert ◽  
D. Yakir ◽  
M. Rodeghiero ◽  
Y. Preisler ◽  
E. A. Davidson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Respiration ◽  
Respiration Rate ◽  
Soil Profile ◽  
Soil Aggregates ◽  
Mineral Dissolution ◽  
Co2 Efflux ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Quantitative Evidence ◽  
High Soil Moisture ◽  
Bicarbonate Ions

Abstract. Soil respiration is the sum of respiration processes in the soil and is a major flux in the global carbon cycle. It is usually assumed that the CO2 efflux is equal to the soil respiration rate. Here we challenge this assumption by combining measurements of CO2 with high-precision measurements of O2. These measurements were conducted on different ecosystems and soil types and included measurements of air samples taken from the soil profile of three Mediterranean sites: a temperate forest and two alpine forests. Root-free soils from the alpine sites were also incubated in the lab. We found that the ratio between the CO2 efflux and the O2 influx (defined as apparent respiratory quotient, ARQ) was in the range of 0.14 to 1.23 and considerably deviated from the value of 0.9 ± 0.1 expected from the elemental composition of average plants and soil organic matter. At the Mediterranean sites, these deviations are explained as a result of CO2 dissolution in the soil water and transformation to bicarbonate ions in these high-pH soils, as well as by carbonate mineral dissolution and precipitation processes. Thus, a correct estimate of the short-term, chamber-based biological respiratory flux in such soils can only be made by dividing the measured soil CO2 efflux by the average (efflux-weighted) soil profile ARQ. Applying this approach to a semiarid pine forest resulted in an estimated short-term biological respiration rate that is 3.8 times higher than the chamber-measured surface CO2. The ARQ values often observed in the more acidic soils were unexpectedly low (< 0.7). These values probably result from the oxidation of reduced iron, which has been formed previously during times of high soil moisture and local anaerobic conditions inside soil aggregates. The results reported here provide direct quantitative evidence of a large temporal decoupling between soil–gas exchange fluxes and biological soil respiration.

scholarly journals Soil moisture modifies the response of soil respiration to temperature in a desert shrub ecosystem

2014 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 259-268 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Wang ◽  
T. S. Zha ◽  
X. Jia ◽  
B. Wu ◽  
Y. Q. Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Soil Respiration ◽  
Seasonal Cycle ◽  
Northwest China ◽  
Interactive Effects ◽  
Co2 Efflux ◽  
Diel Variation ◽  
Desert Ecosystems ◽  
Volumetric Soil Water Content ◽  
Desert Shrub

Abstract. The current understanding of the responses of soil respiration (Rs) to soil temperature (Ts) and soil moisture is limited for desert ecosystems. Soil CO2 efflux from a desert shrub ecosystem was measured continuously with automated chambers in Ningxia, northwest China, from June to October 2012. The diurnal responses of Rs to Ts were affected by soil moisture. The diel variation in Rs was strongly related to Ts at 10 cm depth under moderate and high volumetric soil water content (VWC), unlike under low VWC. Ts typically lagged Rs by 3–4 h. However, the lag time varied in relation to VWC, showing increased lag times under low VWC. Over the seasonal cycle, daily mean Rs was correlated positively with Ts, if VWC was higher than 0.08 m3 m−3. Under lower VWC, it became decoupled from Ts. The annual temperature sensitivity of Rs (Q10) was 1.5. The short-term sensitivity of Rs to Ts varied significantly over the seasonal cycle, and correlated negatively with Ts and positively with VWC. Our results highlight the biological causes of diel hysteresis between Rs and Ts, and that the response of Rs to soil moisture may result in negative feedback to climate warming in desert ecosystems. Thus, global carbon cycle models should account the interactive effects of Ts and VWC on Rs in desert ecosystems.

scholarly journals Significance of soil respiration from biological activity in the degradation processes of different types of organic matter

2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 171-179
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Organic Matter ◽  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Soil Respiration ◽  
Soil Temperature ◽  
Temperature Sensitivity ◽  
Soil Co2 Efflux ◽  
Co2 Efflux ◽  
Soil Co2 ◽  
Total Soil

Soil respiration is a major component of global carbon cycle. Therefore, it is crucial to understand the environmental controls on soil respiration for evaluating potential response of ecosystems to climate change. In a temperate deciduous forest (located in Northern-Hungary) we added or removed aboveground and belowground litter to determine total soil respiration. We investigated the relationship between total soil CO2 efflux, soil moisture, and soil temperature. Soil CO2 efflux was measured at each plot using soda-lime method. Temperature sensitivity of soil respiration (Q10) was monitored via measuring soil temperature on an hourly basis, while soil moisture was determined monthly. Soil respiration increased in control plots from the second year after implementing the treatment, but results showed fluctuations from one year to another. The effect of doubled litter was less significant than the effect of removal. Removed litter and root inputs caused substantial decrease in soil respiration. We found that temperature was more influential in the control of soil respiration than soil moisture. In plots with no litter Q10 varied in the largest interval. For treatment with doubled litter layer, temperature sensitivity of CO2 efflux did not change considerably. The effect of increasing soil temperature is more conspicuous to soil respiration in litter removal treatments since lack of litter causes greater irradiation. When exclusively leaf litter was considered, the effect of temperature on soil respiration was lower in treatments with added litter than with removed litter. Our results reveal that soil life is impacted by the absence of organic matter, rather than by an excess of organic matter. Results of CO2 emission from soils with different organic matter content can contribute to sustainable land use, considering the changed climatic factors caused by global climate change.

scholarly journals Spatially variable soil water repellency enhances soil respiration rates (CO<sub>2</sub> efflux)

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emilia Urbanek ◽  
Stefan H. Doerr
Keyword(s):  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Soil Respiration ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Water Distribution ◽  
Preferential Flow ◽  
Water Repellency ◽  
Water Repellent ◽  
Co2 Efflux ◽  
Soil Co2 ◽  
Soil Water Repellency

Abstract. Soil CO2 emissions are strongly dependent on water distribution in soil pores, which in turn can be affected by soil water repellency (SWR; hydrophobicity). SWR restricts infiltration and movement of water, affecting soil hydrology as well as biological and chemical processes. Effects of SWR on soil carbon dynamics and specifically on soil respiration (CO2 efflux) have been studied in a few laboratory experiments but they remain poorly understood. Existing studies suggest that soil respiration is reduced in water repellent soils, but the responses of soil CO2 efflux to varying water distribution created by SWR are not yet known. Here we report on the first field-based study that tests whether soil water repellency indeed reduces soil respiration, based on in situ field measurements carried out over three consecutive years at a grassland and pine forest site under the humid temperate climate of the UK. CO2 efflux was reduced on occasions when soil exhibited consistently high SWR and low soil moisture following long dry spells. However, the highest respiration rates occurred not when SWR was absent, but when SWR, and thus soil moisture, was spatially patchy, a pattern observed for the majority of the measurement period. This somewhat surprising phenomenon can be explained by SWR-induced preferential flow, directing water and nutrients to microorganisms decomposing organic matter concentrated in hot spots near preferential flow paths. Water repellent zones provide air-filled pathways through the soil, which facilitate soil-atmosphere O2 and CO2 exchanges. This study demonstrates that SWR have contrasting effects on CO2 fluxes and, when spatially-variable, can enhance CO2 efflux. Spatial variability in SWR and associated soil moisture distribution needs to be considered when evaluating the effects of SWR on soil carbon dynamics under current and predicted future climatic conditions.

scholarly journals Spatial and temporal variation of CO<sub>2</sub> efflux along a disturbance gradient in a <i>miombo</i> woodland in Western Zambia

2011 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 147-164 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Merbold ◽  
W. Ziegler ◽  
M. M. Mukelabai ◽  
W. L. Kutsch
Keyword(s):  
Soil Respiration ◽  
Soil Temperature ◽  
Temporal Variation ◽  
Carbon Content ◽  
Ecosystem Respiration ◽  
Spatial And Temporal Variation ◽  
Co2 Efflux ◽  
Forest Reserve ◽  
Disturbance Gradient ◽  
Total Ecosystem Respiration

Abstract. Carbon dioxide efflux from the soil surface was measured over a period of several weeks within a heterogeneous Brachystegia spp. dominated miombo woodland in Western Zambia. The objectives were to examine spatial and temporal variation of soil respiration along a disturbance gradient from a protected forest reserve to a cut, burned, and grazed area outside, and to relate the flux to various abiotic and biotic drivers. The highest daily mean fluxes (around 12 μmol CO2 m−2 s−1) were measured in the protected forest in the wet season and lowest daily mean fluxes (around 1 μmol CO2 m−2 s−1) in the most disturbed area during the dry season. Diurnal variation of soil respiration was closely correlated with soil temperature. The combination of soil water content and soil temperature was found to be the main driving factor at seasonal time scale. There was a 75% decrease in soil CO2 efflux during the dry season and a 20% difference in peak soil respiratory flux measured in 2008 and 2009. Spatial variation of CO2 efflux was positively related to total soil carbon content in the undisturbed area but not at the disturbed site. Coefficients of variation of efflux rates between plots decreased towards the core zone of the protected forest reserve. Normalized soil respiration values did not vary significantly along the disturbance gradient. Spatial variation of respiration did not show a clear distinction between the disturbed and undisturbed sites and could not be explained by variables such as leaf area index. In contrast, within plot variability of soil respiration was explained by soil organic carbon content. Three different approaches to calculate total ecosystem respiration (Reco) from eddy covariance measurements were compared to two bottom-up estimates of Reco obtained from chambers measurements of soil- and leaf respiration which differed in the consideration of spatial heterogeneity. The consideration of spatial variability resulted only in small changes of Reco when compared to simple averaging. Total ecosystem respiration at the plot scale, obtained by eddy covariance differed by up to 25% in relation to values calculated from the soil- and leaf chamber efflux measurements but without showing a clear trend.

Winter soil CO2 efflux and its contribution to annual soil respiration in different ecosystems of Ebinur Lake Area

2015 ◽  
Vol 48 (8) ◽  
pp. 871-880 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Qin ◽  
G. H. Lv ◽  
X. M. He ◽  
J. J. Yang ◽  
H. L. Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Respiration ◽  
Soil Co2 Efflux ◽  
Co2 Efflux ◽  
Lake Area ◽  
Soil Co2 ◽  
Ebinur Lake

scholarly journals Soil organic carbon along an altitudinal gradient in the Despeñaperros nature reserve, Southern Spain

2014 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 2495-2521
Author(s):  
L. Parras-Alcántara ◽  
B. Lozano-García ◽  
A. Galán-Espejo
Keyword(s):  
Organic Carbon ◽  
Soil Organic Carbon ◽  
Altitudinal Gradient ◽  
Nature Reserve ◽  
Regional Scale ◽  
C Sequestration ◽  
Organic Carbon Content ◽  
Soil System ◽  
Disturbed Soil ◽  
C Cycle

Abstract. Soil organic carbon (SOC) is extremely important in the global carbon (C) cycle as C sequestration in non-disturbed soil ecosystems can be a sink of C and mitigate greenhouse gas driven climate change. Soil organic carbon changes in space and time are relevant to understand the soil system and its role in the C cycle, and this is why the influence of topographic position on SOC should be studied. Seven topographic positions (toposequence) were analyzed along an altitudinal gradient between 607 and 1168 m.a.s.l. in the Despeñaperros nature reserve (Natural Park). At each study site, soil control sections (25 cm intervals) were sampled. The studied soils are mineral soils with > 3% organic carbon content. The main characteristic of the studied soils is SOC reduction with depth; these results were related to the gravel content and to the bulk density. The SOC on the surface was highly variable along the altitudinal gradient ranging between 27.3 and 39.9 g kg−1. The SOC stock (SOCS) in the studied area was influenced by the altitude, varying between 53.8 and 158.0 Mg ha−1. Therefore, the altitude factor must be considered in the SOCS estimation at local-regional scale.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document