Relationships between soil CO2 concentration and CO2 production, temperature, water content, and gas diffusivity: implications for field studies through sensitivity analyses

Soil CO₂ levels reflect CO₂ production and transport in soil and provide valuable information about soil CO₂ dynamics. However, extracting information from soil CO₂ profiles is often difficult because of the complexity of these profiles. In this study, we constructed a simple numerical model that simulated soil CO₂ dynamics and performed sensitivity analyses for CO₂ production rates, soil water content and temperature, and gas diffusivity at the soil surface to clarify the relationships among these parameters. Increased soil surface CO₂ flux did not always coincide with higher soil CO₂ concentrations; increased CO₂ production at shallow depths had little effect on soil CO₂ concentrations, while the opposite may be true for high levels of soil water content. Higher soil CO₂ concentration did not always coincide with greater soil surface CO₂ flux; under high soil water conditions, soil surface CO₂ flux sometimes decreased despite increased soil CO₂ concentration. Increases in soil water content did not always enhance both soil surface CO₂ flux and soil CO₂ concentration. Under high soil water conditions, increases in soil water content could lower soil surface CO₂ flux and increase soil CO₂ concentration. Increases in soil temperature resulted in greater soil surface CO₂ flux and higher soil CO₂ concentration in our simulation (extremely high temperatures were not assumed in this study). Gas diffusivity in very shallow layers did affect, albeit weakly, soil CO₂ concentration. The findings of this study may help direct future observations and aid in the interpretation of their results.     

Effects of elevated CO2 concentrations on soil microbial respiration and root/rhizosphere respiration in forest soils

The two main components of soil respiration, i.e., root/rhizosphere and microbial respiration, respond differently to elevated atmospheric CO₂ concentrations both in mechanism and sensitivity because they have different substrates derived from plant and soil organic matter, respectively. To model the carbon cycle and predict the carbon source/sink of forest ecosystems, we must first understand the relative contributions of root/rhizosphere and microbial respiration to total soil respiration under elevated CO₂ concentrations. Root/rhizosphere and soil microbial respiration have been shown to increase, decrease and remain unchanged under elevated CO₂ concentrations. A significantly positive relationship between root biomass and root/rhizosphere respiration has been found. Fine roots respond more strongly to elevated CO₂ concentrations than coarse roots. Evidence suggests that soil microbial respiration is highly variable and uncertain under elevated CO₂ concentrations. Microbial biomass and activity are related or unrelated to rates of microbial respiration. Because substrate availability drives microbial metabolism in soils, it is likely that much of the variability in microbial respiration results from differences in the response of root growth to elevated CO₂ concentrations and subsequent changes in substrate production. Biotic and abiotic factors affecting soil respiration were found to affect both root/rhizosphere and microbial respiration. __________ Translated from Journal of Plant Ecology, 2007, 31(3): 386–393 [译自: 植物生态学报]     

Temperature controls temporal variation in soil CO2 efflux in a secondary beech forest in Appi Highlands, Japan

Forest soil is a huge reserve of carbon in the biosphere. Therefore to understand the carbon cycle in forest ecosystems, it is important to determine the dynamics of soil CO₂ efflux. This study was conducted to describe temporal variations in soil CO₂ efflux and identify the environmental factors that affect it. We measured soil CO₂ efflux continuously in a beech secondary forest in the Appi Highlands in Iwate Prefecture for two years (except when there was snow cover) using four dynamic closed chambers that automatically open after taking measurements. Temporal changes in soil temperature and volumetric soil water content were also measured at a depth of 5 cm. The soil CO₂ efflux ranged from 14 mg CO₂ m⁻² h⁻¹ to 2,329 mg CO₂ m⁻² h⁻¹, the peak occurring at the beginning of August. The relationship between soil temperature and soil CO₂ efflux was well represented by an exponential function. Most of temporal variation in soil CO₂ efflux was explained by soil temperature rather than volumetric soil water content. The Q ₁₀ values were 3.7 ± 0.8 and estimated annual carbon emissions were 837 ± 210 g C m⁻² year⁻¹. These results provide a foundation for further development of models for prediction of soil CO₂ efflux driven by environmental factors.     

Stomatal response ofPinus sylvestriformis to elevated CO2 concentrations during the four years of exposure

Four-year-oldPinus sylvestriformis were exposed for four growing seasons in open top chambers to ambient CO₂ concentration (approx. 350 μmol·mol⁻¹) and high CO₂ concentrations (500 and 700 μmol·mol⁻¹) at Research Station of Changbai Mountain Forest Ecosystems, Chinese Academy of Sciences at Antu Town, Jilin Province, China (42°N, 128°E). Stomatal response to elevated CO₂ concentrations was examined by stomatal conductance (g _s), ratio of intercellular to ambient CO₂ concentration (c _i/c _a) and stomatal number. Reciprocal transfer experiments of stomatal conductance showed that stomatal conductance in high-[CO₂]-grown plants increased in comparison with ambient-[CO₂]-grown plants when measured at their respective growth CO₂ concentration and at the same measurement CO₂ concentration (except a reduction in 700 μmol·mol⁻¹ CO₂. grown plants compared with plants on unchambered field when measured at growth CO₂ concentration and 350 μmol·mol⁻¹CO₂). High-[CO₂]-grown plants exhibited lowerc _i/c _a ratios than ambient-[CO₂]-grown plants when measured at their respective growth CO₂ concentration. However,c _i/c _a ratios increased for plants grown in high CO₂ concentrations compared with control plants when measured at the same CO₂ concentration. There was no significant difference in stomatal number per unit long needle between elevated and ambient CO₂. However, elevated CO₂ concentrations reduced the total stomatal number of whole needle by the decline of stomatal line and changed the allocation pattern of stomata between upper and lower surface of needle. Foundation Item: This research was supported by National Basic Research Program of China (2002CB412502), Project of Key program of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (90411020) and National Natural Science Foundation of China (30400051). Biography: ZHOU Yu-mei (1973-), female, Ph. Doctor, assistant research fellow, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110016, P. R. China. Responsible editor: Song Funan     

Effects of elevated CO2 on net photosynthetic rate of trees in Changbai Mountain

Net photosynthetic rates (NPRs) of four species seedlings,Pinus koraiensis, Pinus sylvestriformis, Fraxinus mandshurica andPhellodendron amurense, were measured at different CO₂ concentrations and time respectively in Changbai Mountain during the growing season in 1999. The seedlings were cultivated in open-top chambers (OTCs), located outdoors and exposed to natural sunlight. The experimental objects were divided into four groups by tree species. CO₂ concentrations in chambers were kept at 500 μL·L⁻¹ and 700 μL·L⁻¹ and contrast chamber and contrast field were set. The results showed that the effects of elevated CO₂ on NPR of the trees strongly depended on tree species and time. NPRs ofPinus koreainsis andPinus sylvestriformis seedlings increased with the rising of CO₂ concentration, while that ofPhellodendron amurense andFraxinus mandshurica increased at some time and decreased at another time. This project was supported by Chinese Academy of Sciences Responsible editor: Chai Ruihai     

Photosynthetic response to variation in CO2 concentrations and temperature of four broad-leaved trees in Beijing region

Responses of the photosynthetic characteristics to variation in CO₂ concentration and temperature of Ginkgo biloba, Eucommia ulmoides, Magnolia denudata and Tilia japonica were measured during the peak growing season. The results show that the ambient CO₂ concentration could not meet the requirements for photosynthesis of these four species. The optimal temperatures for photosynthesis were lower than the average daytime air temperature. Hence, the photosynthesis of these four species was restricted by the low CO₂ concentration and high daytime air temperature at the time of measurement. Marked enhancements in the net photosynthetic rate were found in all four species when the CO₂ concentration was doubled. When the dependency on CO₂ and temperature were examined simultaneously, it was seen that for increased CO₂ concentrations there was a shift in the optimum temperature for M. denudata and T. japonica towards higher temperatures. Due to their independence on CO₂ concentrations, this trend could not be found in the G. biloba and E. ulmoides data sets. The stomatal conductance (G _s) was sensitive to a vapor pressure deficit (VPD) which in turn was sensitive to temperature. An increase in temperature would cause the VPD to increase and plants might be assumed to react by reducing their stomatal apertures. The effect on stomatal resistance would be most significant at high temperatures. The restriction to stomatal conductance for these four species would increase if CO₂ concentrations were elevated at the same temperature. __________ Translated from Journal of Agricultural University of Hebei, 2006, 29 (6): 39–43 [译自: 河北农业大学学报]     

Effect of elevated CO2 concentration on growth course of tree seedlings in Changbai Mountain

One-year-old seedlings ofPinus koraiensis, Pinus sylvestriformis, Phellodendron amurense were grown in open-top chambers (OTCs) with 700 and 500 ώmol/mol CO₂ concentrations, control chamber and on open site (ambient CO₂, about 350 ώmol/mol CO₂) respectively at the Open Research Station of Changbai Mountain Forest Ecosystems, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and the growth course responses of three species to elevated CO₂ and temperature during one growing season was studied from May to Oct. 1999. The results showed that increase in CO₂ concentration enhanced the growth of seedlings and the effect of 700 (ώmol/mol CO₂ was more remarkable than 500 ώmol/mol CO₂ on seedling growth. Under the condition of doubly elevated CO₂ concentration, the biomass increased by 38% in average for coniferous seedlings and 60% for broad-leaved seedlings. With continuous treatment of high CO₂ concentration, the monthly-accumulated biomass of shade-tolerantPinus koraiensis seedlings was bigger in July than in August and September, while those ofPinus sylvestriformis andPhellodendron amurense seedlings showed an increase in July and August, or did not decrese until September. During the hot August, high CO₂ concentration enhanced the growth ofPinus koraiensis seedlings by increasing temperature, but it did not show dominance in other two species. Foundation Item: This paper was supported by Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Open Research Station of Changbai Mountain Forest Ecosystem.     

Crop residue effect on crop performance,soil N<Subscript>2</Subscript>O and CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> emissions in alley cropping systems in subtropical China

Land management practices that simultaneously improve soil properties are crucial to high crop production and minimize detrimental impact on the environment. We examined the effects of crop residues on crop performance, the fluxes of soil N₂O and CO₂ under wheat-maize (WM) and/or faba bean-maize (FM) rotations in Amorpha fruticosa (A) and Vetiveria zizanioides (V) intercropping systems on a loamy clay soil, in subtropical China. Crop performance, soil N₂O and CO₂ as well as some potential factors such as soil water content, soil carbon, soil nitrogen, microbial biomass and N mineralization were recorded during 2006 maize crop cultivation. Soil N₂O and CO₂ fluxes are determined using a closed-based chamber. Maize yield was greater after faba bean than after wheat may be due to differences in supply of N from residues. The presence of hedgerow significantly improved maize grain yields. N₂O emissions from soils with maize were considerably greater after faba bean (345 g N₂O–N ha⁻¹) than after wheat (289 g N₂O–N ha⁻¹). However, the cumulated N₂O emissions did not differ significantly between WM and FM. The difference in N₂O emissions between WM and FM was mostly due to the amounts of crop residues. Hedgerow alley cropping tended to emit more N₂O than WM and FM, in particular A. fruticosa intercropping systems. Over the entire 118 days of measurement, the N₂O fluxes represented 534 g N₂O–N ha⁻¹ (AWM) and 512 g N₂O–N ha⁻¹ (AFM) under A. fruticosa species, 403 g N₂O–N ha⁻¹ (VWM) and 423 g N₂O–N ha⁻¹ (VFM) under Vetiver grass. We observed significantly higher CO₂ emission in AFM (5,335 kg CO₂–C ha⁻¹) from June to October, whereas no significant difference was observed among WM (3,480 kg CO₂–C ha⁻¹), FM (3,302 kg CO₂–C ha⁻¹), AWM (3,877 kg CO₂–C ha⁻¹), VWM (3,124 kg CO₂–C ha⁻¹) and VFM (3,309 kg CO₂–C ha⁻¹), indicating the importance of A. fruticosa along with faba bean residue on CO₂ fluxes. As a result, crop residues and land conversion from agricultural to agroforestry can, in turn, influence microbial biomass, N mineralization, soil C and N content, which can further alter the magnitude of crop growth, soil N₂O and CO₂ emissions in the present environmental conditions.     

Effect of elevated ambient CO2 concentration on water use efficiency ofPinus sylvestriformis

Pinus sylvestriformis is an important species as an indicator of global climate changes in Changbai Mountain, China. The water use efficiency (WUE) of this species (11-year old) was studied on response to elevated CO₂ concentration at 500±100 μL·L⁻¹ by directly injecting CO₂ into the canopy under natural condition in 1998–1999. The results showed that the elevated CO₂ concentration reduced averagely stomatal opening, stomatal conductance and stomatal density to 78%, 80% and 87% respectively, as compared to normal ambient. The elevated CO₂ reduced the transpiration and enhances the water use efficiency (WUE) of plant. The project was supported by Chinese Academy of Sciences Responsible editor: Chai Ruihai     

Effects of elevated CO2 concentration on the respiratory behavior of the branches of field-grown hinoki cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa)

The effects of elevated atmospheric CO₂ concentrations on the nighttime respiration were examined for two sample branches of a hinoki cypress tree (Chamaecyparis obtusa) growing in the field with an open gas exchange system for a one-year period from July 1994 to June 1995. The branches were of a similar size and located at a similar position within the crown. One branch was subjected to an elevated CO₂ concentration of 800 μmol mol⁻¹ and the other was subjected to ambient air which had a CO₂ concentration of about 370 μmol mol⁻¹. Nighttime respiration rate was higher in elevated CO₂ level than in ambient CO₂ level. The relationship between nighttime respiration and the corresponding nighttime air temperature was fitted by the exponential function in every month of the year. The segregation of regression lines between the two CO₂ treatments increased gradually as the seasons progressed during the treatment period. TheQ ₁₀ values for nighttime respiration were lower in elevated CO₂ (1.9 ≤Q ₁₀ ≤ 3.7) than in ambient CO₂ (2.4 ≤Q ₁₀ ≤ 4.5) in every month of the year. TheQ ₁₀ was inversely related to the monthly mean nighttime air temperature in both elevated and ambient CO₂. The estimated daily nighttime respiration rate under both CO₂ treatments had a similar seasonal pattern, which almost synchronized with the temperature change. The respiration ratio of elevated CO₂ to ambient CO₂ increased gradually from 1.1 to 1.6 until the end of the experiment. Our results indicate that the CO₂ level and the temperature have a strong interactive effect on respiration and suggest that a potential increase in respiration of branches will occur when ambient CO₂ increases.     

Response of seedlings of different tree species to elevated C02 in Changbai Mountain

Eco-physiological responses of seedlings of eight species,Pinus koraiensis, Picea koraiensis, Larix olgensis, Populus ussuriensis, Betula platyphylla, Tilia amurensis, Traxinus mandshurica andAcer mono from broadleaved/Korean pine forest, to elevated CO₂ were studied by using open-top chambers under natural sunlight in Changbai Mountain, China in two growing seasons (1998–1999). Two concentrations of CO₂ were designed: elevated CO₂ (700 μmol·mol⁻¹) and ambient CO₂ (400 μmol·mol⁻¹). The study results showed that the height growth of the tree seedlings grown at elevated CO₂ increased by about 10%–40% compared to those grown at ambient CO₂. And the water using efficiency of seedlings also followed the same tendency. However, the responses of seedlings in transpiration and chlorophyll content to elevated CO₂ varied with tree species. The broad-leaf tree species were more sensitive to the elevated CO₂ than conifer tree species. All seedlings showed a photosynthetic acclimation to long-term elevated CO₂. Foundation item: The project was supported by National Key Basic Development of China (G1999043400) and the grant KZCX 406-4, KZCX1 SW-01 of the Chinese Academy of Sciences Biography: WANG Miao (1964-), maie, associate professor in Institute of applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110016, P. R. China. Responsible editor: Song Funan     

Effects of elevated CO2 concentrations on photosynthesis, dark respiration and RuBPcase activity of three species seedlings in Changbai Mountain

Two-year-old seedlings ofPinus koraiensis, Pinus sylvestriformis andFraxinus mandshurica were treated in open-top chambers with elevated CO₂ concentrations (700 μL·L⁻¹, 500 μL·L⁻¹) and ambient CO₂ concentrations (350 μL·L⁻¹) in Changbai Mountain from June to Sept. in 1999 and 2001. The net photosynthetic rate, dark respiration rate, ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxlase (RuBPcase) activity, and chlorophyll content were analyzed. The results indicated the RuBPcase activity of the three species seedlings increased at elevated CO₂ concentrations. The elevated CO₂ concentrations stimulated the net photosynthetic rates of three tree species exceptP. sylvestriformis grown under 500 μL·L⁻¹ CO₂ concentration. The dark respiration rates ofP. koraiensis andP. sylvestriformis increased under concentration of 700 μL·L⁻¹ CO₂, out that ofF. mandshurica decreased under both concentrations 700 μL·L⁻¹ and 500 μL·L⁻¹ CO₂. The seedlings ofF. mandshurica decreased in chlorophyll contents at elevated CO₂ concentrations. Foundation item: This paper was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 30070158). Knowledge Innovation Item of Chinese Academy of Sciences (KZCX2-406) and “Hundred Scientists” Project of Chinese Academy of Sciences. Biography: Zhou Yu-mei (1973-) Ph. Doctor, Assistant Research fellow Institute of Applied Ecology. Chinese Academy of Sciences. Shenyang 110016. P.R. China. Responsible editor: Song Funan     

Response of seedlings growth ofPinus sylvestriformis to atmospheric CO2 enrichment in Changbai Mountain

The biomass and ratio of root-shoot ofPinus sylvestriformis seedlings at CO₂ concentration of 700 μL·L⁻¹ and 500 μL·L⁻¹ were measured using open-top chambers (OTCs) in Changbai Mountain during Jun. to Oct. in 1999. The results showed that doubling CO₂ concentration was benefit to seedling growth of the species (500 μL·L⁻¹ was better than 700 μL·L⁻¹) and the biomass production was increased in both above-ground and underground parts of seedlings. Carbon transformation to roots was evident as rising of CO₂ concentration. This project is supported by Chinese Academy of Sciences Responsible editor: Chai Ruihai     

Soil CO2 evolution from Korean pine virgin forest at Changbai Mountain

The soil CO₂ evolution rate was measured in a virgin Korean pine forest. The results in June showed that the lowest value of evolution rate was 220 mg/(m²·h) and appeared at 6:00 a.m. The highest value was 460 mg/(m²·h) at 18:00. The rates of CO₂ evolution were related with soil temperature. On the basis of the constructed regression equation and the monthly average values of temperature, the magnitude of CO₂ evolution from Korean pine forest soil was 10.4 t/hm² during a growing season. This project was funded by the Opened Research Station of Changbai Mountain Forest Ecosystem, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Responsible editor: Zhu Hong     

Seasonality of vertically partitioned soil CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> production in temperate and tropical forest

Soil CO₂ production seasonality at a number of depths was investigated in a temperate forest in Japan and in a tropical montane forest in Thailand. The CO₂ production rates were evaluated by examining differences in the estimated soil CO₂ flux at adjacent depths. The temperate forest had clear temperature seasonality and only slight rainfall seasonality, whereas the tropical montane forest showed clear rainfall seasonality and only slight temperature seasonality. In the temperate forest, the pattern of seasonal variation in soil respiration was similar at all depths, except the deepest (0.65 m–), and respiration was greater in summer and less in winter. The contribution of the shallowest depth (around 0.1 m) was more than 50% of total soil-surface CO₂ flux all year round, and the annual mean contribution was about 75%. CO₂ production mostly appeared to increase with temperature in shallower layers. In contrast, in the tropical forest, soil CO₂ production seasonality appeared to differ with depth. The CO₂ production rate in the shallowest layer was high during the rainy season and low during the dry season. Soil CO₂ production at greater depths (0.4 and 0.5 m–) showed the opposite seasonality to that in the shallower layer (around 0.1 m). As a result, the contribution from the shallow depth was greatest in the tropical forest during the rainy season (more than 90%), whereas it decreased during the dry season (about 50%). CO₂ production appeared to be controlled by soil water at all depths, and the different ranges of water saturation seemed to cause the difference in seasonality at each depth. Our results suggest the importance of considering the vertical distribution of soil processes, particularly in areas where soil water is a dominant controller of soil respiration.     

Increased atmospheric CO2 concentration enhances the development of photosynthetic capacity beyond the temperature effect for silver birch in simulated future climate

We conducted an experiment to find out how future climate conditions will impact the spring development of photosynthetic capacity of silver birch leaves. We had two greenhouse conditions. In the simulated future climate condition, we had both elevated temperatures and CO₂ concentration, while for reference we had trees growing under current climate conditions. We used two methods to measure the development of photosynthetic capacity: first, the maximum quantum efficiency of photosystem II with a fluorescence meter; and second, the CO₂ assimilation rate with gas exchange measurements. The development of full photosynthetic capacity took around two weeks following the bud burst. The maximum quantum efficiency developed slightly faster than the CO₂ assimilation rate. Both measurement methods showed that an elevated CO₂ concentration enhanced the development of photosynthetic capacity beyond the impact of temperature only. The enhancement under the conditions of our simulated climate change translates to achieving photosynthetic capacity up to five days earlier, which impact should be taken into account in simulations of photosynthetic productivity.     

Effects of long-term elevated CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> on N<Subscript>2</Subscript>-fixing,denitrifying and nitrifying enzyme activities in forest soils under <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pinus sylvestriformis</Emphasis> in Changbai Mountain

A study was conducted to determine the effects of elevated CO₂ on soil N process at Changbai Mountain in Jilin Province, northeastern China (42°24′N, 128°06′E, and 738 m elevation). A randomized complete block design of ambient and elevated CO₂ was established in an open-top chamber facility in the spring of 1999. Changpai Scotch pine (Pinus sylvestris var. sylvestriformis seeds were sowed in May, 1999 and CO₂ fumigation treatments began after seeds germination. In each year, the exposure started at the end of April and stopped at the end of October. Soil samples were collected in June and August 2006 and in June 2007, and soil nitrifying, denitrifying and N₂-fixing enzyme activities were measured. Results show that soil nitrifying enzyme activities (NEA) in the 5–10 cm soil layer were significantly increased at elevated CO₂ by 30.3% in June 2006, by 30.9% in August 2006 and by 11.3% in June 2007. Soil denitrifying enzyme activities (DEA) were significantly decreased by elevated CO₂ treatment in June 2006 (P < 0.012) and August 2006 (P < 0.005) samplings in our study; no significant difference was detected in June 2007, and no significant changes in N₂-fixing enzyme activity were found. This study suggests that elevated CO₂ can alter soil nitrifying enzyme and denitrifying enzyme activities. Foundation project: This research was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 90411020) and Major State Basic Research Development Program of China (973 Program) (2002CB412502).     

The contribution of root respiration of<Emphasis Type="Italic">Pinus koraiensis</Emphasis> seedlings to total soil respiration under elevated CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> concentrations

The impacts of elevated atmospheric CO₂ concentrations (500 μmol·mol⁻¹ and 700 μmol·mol⁻¹) on total soil respiration and the contribution of root respiration ofPinus koraiensis seedlings were investigated from May to October in 2003 at the Research Station of Changbai Mountain Forest Ecosystems, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Jilin Province, China. After four growing seasons in top-open chambers exposed to elevated CO₂, the total soil respiration and roots respiration ofPinus koraiensis seedlings were measured by a Li-6400-09 soil CO₂ flux chamber. Three PVC cylinders in each chamber were inserted about 30 cm into the soil instantaneously to terminate the supply of current photosynthates from the tree canopy to roots for separating the root respiration from total soil respiration. Soil respirations both inside and outside of the cylinders were measured on June 16, August 20 and October 8, respectively. The results indicated that: there was a marked diurnal change in air temperature and soil temperature at depth of 5 cm on June 16, the maximum of soil temperature at depth of 5 cm lagged behind that of air temperature, no differences in temperature between treatments were found (P>0.05). The total soil respiration and soil respiration with roots severed showed strong diurnal and seasonal patterns. There was marked difference in total soil respiration and soil respiration with roots severed between treatments (P<0.01); Mean total soil respiration and contribution of root under different treatments were 3.26, 4.78 and 1.47 μmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹, 11.5%, 43.1% and 27.9% on June 16, August 20 and October 8, respectively. Foundation item: This study was supported by the Knowledge Innovation Project of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (KZCX1-SW-01) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (30070158). Biography: LIU Ying (1976-), female, Ph. D. Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110016, P. R. China. Responsible editor: Song Funan     

Turbulent exchange of CO2 over a broadleaf-Korean pine forest in Changbai Mountain, northeast China

Turbulent exchange of CO₂ was measured continuously via the open-path eddy covariance technique over a broadleaf-Korean pine forest in Changbai Mountain, northeast China. The results show that with near-neutral atmospheric stratification, CO₂ and vertical wind components measured over the forest canopy in the inertial sub-range followed the expected −2/3 power law. The dominant vertical eddy scale was about 100 m. The frequency ranges of eddy contributions to CO₂ fluxes were mostly within 0.01–2.0 Hz. Large eddies with low frequency over the canopy contributed more to CO₂ fluxes than small eddies. The open-path eddy covariance system could satisfy the estimation of turbulent fluxes over the canopy, but the CO₂ fluxes between forest and atmosphere were generally underestimated at night because of the increment non-turbulent processes, suggesting that the CO₂ fluxes estimated under weak turbulence need to be revised correspondingly. __________ Translated from Chinese Journal of Applied Ecology, 2007, 18(5): 951–956 [译自: 应用生态学报]     

Effects of [CO2] and nitrogen on morphological and biomass traits of white birch (Betula papyrifera) seedlings

To investigate the interactive effects of CO₂ concentration ([CO₂]) and nitrogen supply on the growth and biomass of boreal trees, white birch seedlings (Betula papyrifera) were grown under ambient (360 μmol mol⁻¹) and elevated [CO₂] (720 μmol mol⁻¹) with five nitrogen supply regimes (10, 80, 150, 220, and 290 μmol mol⁻¹) in greenhouses. After 90 days of treatment, seedling height, root-collar diameter, biomass of different organs, leaf N concentration, and specific leaf area (SLA) were measured. Significant interactive effects of [CO₂] and N supply were found on height, root-collar diameter, leaf biomass, stem biomass and total biomass, stem mass ratio (SMR), and root mass ratio (RMR), but not on root mass, leaf mass ratio (LMR), leaf to root ratio (LRR), or leaf N concentration. The CO₂ elevation generally increased all the growth and biomass parameters and the increases were generally greater at higher levels of N supply or higher leaf N concentration. However, the CO₂ elevation significantly reduced SLA (13.4%) and mass-based leaf N concentration but did not affect area-based leaf N concentration. Increases in N supply generally increased the growth and biomass parameters, but the relationships were generally curvilinear. Based on a second order polynomial model, the optimal leaf N concentration was 1.33 g m⁻² for height growth under ambient [CO₂] and 1.52 g m⁻² under doubled [CO₂]; 1.48 g m⁻² for diameter under ambient [CO₂] and 1.64 g m⁻² under doubled [CO₂]; 1.29 g m⁻² for stem biomass under ambient [CO₂] and 1.43 g m⁻² under doubled [CO₂]. The general trend is that the optimal leaf N was higher at doubled than ambient [CO₂]. However, [CO₂] did not affect the optimal leaf N for leaf and total biomass. The CO₂ elevation significantly increased RMR and SMR but decreased LMR and LRR. LMR increased and RMR decreased with the increasing N supply. SMR increased with increase N supply up to 80 μmol mol⁻¹ and then leveled off (under elevated [CO₂]) or stated to decline (under ambient [CO₂]) with further increases in N supply. The results suggest that the CO₂ elevation increased biomass accumulation, particularly stem biomass and at higher N supply. The results also suggest that while modest N fertilization will increase seedling growth and biomass accumulation, excessive application of N may not stimulate further growth or even result in growth decline.