Quantifying soil respiration in response to short-term tillage practices: a case study in southern Turkey

Abstract

The study aimed at quantifying the rates of soil CO₂ efflux under the influence of common tillage systems of moldboard plow (PT), chisel plow (CT), rotary tiller (RT), heavy disc harrow (DT), and no-tillage (NT) for 46 days in October and November in a field left fallow after wheat harvest located in southern Turkey. The NT and DT plots produced the lowest soil CO₂ effluxes of 0.3 and 0.7 g m^?2 h^?1, respectively, relative to the other plots (P < 0.001). Following the highest rainfall amount of 87 mm on the tenth day after the tillage, soil CO₂ efflux rates of all the plots peaked on the 12th day, with less influence on soil CO₂ efflux in the NT plot than in the conventional tillage plots. Soil evaporation in NT (64 mmol m^?2 s^?1) was significantly lower than in the PT (85 mmol m^?2 s^?1) and RT (89 mmol m^?2 s^?1) tillage treatments (P < 0.01). The best multiple-regression model selected explained 46% of variation in soil respiration rates as a function of the tillage treatments, soil temperature, and soil evaporation (P < 0.001). The tillage systems of RT, PT, and CT led, on average, to 0.23, 0.22, and 0.18 g m^?2 h^?1 more soil CO₂ efflux than the baseline of NT, respectively (P≤0.001).     

Winter mulch increases soil CO2 efflux under Phyllostachys praecox stands

Purpose

The bamboo species Phyllostachys praecox has been planted in large areas of southern China for the production of edible bamboo shoots. In recent years, high rates of fertilizer application and heavy winter mulch have been employed to achieve an earlier harvest of the shoots and a better economic return. Little is known about the potential impact of these intensive management practices on the receiving environment. Therefore, a field experiment was conducted to quantify the effect of winter mulch on soil CO₂ efflux, which contributes to greenhouse gas emissions.

Materials and methods

The field study was established in 6-year-old P. praecox stands for the period between December 2006 and February 2007 in Lin’an County, Zhejiang Province, China. The treatments included a 200-mm mulch with rice straw and rice husks, and a control without mulch. Soil CO₂ efflux rates and soil temperature changes were measured monthly and comparisons were made between the treatments.

Results and discussion

Soil CO₂ efflux rates in the mulch treatment were 10.98 and 4.27 µmol m^?2?s^?1 in December 2006 and January 2007, respectively, which was eight times greater than soil CO₂ efflux rates measured in the non-mulch control treatment in the corresponding months. The significantly higher temperature and increased dissolved organic carbon in the mulch treatment were considered to have contributed to the enhanced soil CO₂ emission.

Conclusions

Heavy winter mulch in a P. praecox plantation can greatly enhance soil respiration rates due to increases in both soil temperature and readily mineralizable labile organic matter. The increased CO₂ emissions from soil respiration under winter mulch treatments can potentially reduce the greenhouse gas emission mitigation function of the bamboo forest plantations. It is recommended that new management practices be developed to alleviate the impacts of winter mulch on the environment.     

Soil respiration in a tropical grassland

Soil respiration throughout an annual cycle was measured at three different stands in a tropical grassland situated at Kurukshetra at 29°58' N lat. and 76°51' E long. Rates of CO₂ evolution were measured by alkali absorption using 13 cm dia × 23 cm aluminium cylinders inserted 10 cm into the ground. Both movable and permanently-fixed cylinders were used. The CO₂ evolution rates for the three stands were: Stand I (dominated by Sesbania bispinosa) 49–358 mg CO₂ m^?2 h^?1; Stand II (mixed grasses) 55–378 mg CO₂m^?2 h^?1; and Stand III (dominated by Desmostachya bipinnata) 55–448 mg CO₂ m^?2 h^?1. A positive significant relation existed between rate of CO₂ evolution and soil water content (r = 0.59?0.740), and between soil respiration and temperature (r = 0.58?0.69). A statistical model developed on the basis of the relationship between CO₂ evolution rates and certain abiotic environmental factors showed 69% comparability between the calculated and observed values of soil respiration. The contribution of root and root-associated microorganisms to total soil respiration was estimated at 42% using the relationship between root biomass and CO₂ output from movable cylinders.     

Carbon Dioxide Emission from Black Soil as Influenced by Land‐Use Change and Long‐Term Fertilization

Land‐use change and soil management play a vital role in influencing losses of soil carbon (C) by respiration. The aim of this experiment was to examine the impact of natural vegetation restoration and long‐term fertilization on the seasonal pattern of soil respiration and cumulative carbon dioxide (CO₂) emission from a black soil of northeast China. Soil respiration rate fluctuated greatly during the growing season in grassland (GL), ranging from 278 to 1030 mg CO₂ m^?2 h^?1 with an average of 606 mg CO₂ m^?2 h^?1. By contrast, soil CO₂ emission did not change in bareland (BL) as much as in GL. For cropland (CL), including three treatments [CK (no fertilizer application), nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium application (NPK), and NPK together with organic manure (OM)], soil CO₂ emission gradually increased with the growth of maize after seedling with an increasing order of CK < NPM < OM, reaching a maximum on 17 August and declining thereafter. A highly significant exponential correlation was observed between soil temperature and soil CO₂ emission for GL during the late growing season (from 3 August to 28 September) with Q₁₀ = 2.46, which accounted for approximately 75% of emission variability. However, no correlation was found between the two parameters for BL and CL. Seasonal CO₂ emission from rhizosphere soil changed in line with the overall soil respiration, which averaged 184, 407, and 584 mg CO₂ m^?2 h^?1, with peaks at 614, 1260, and 1770 mg CO₂ m^?2 h^?1 for CK, NPK, and OM, respectively. SOM‐derived CO₂ emission of root free‐soil, including basal soil respiration and plant residue–derived microbial decomposition, averaged 132, 132, and 136 mg CO₂ m^?2 h^?1, respectively, showing no difference for the three CL treatments. Cumulative soil CO₂ emissions decreased in the order OM > GL > NPK > CK > BL. The cumulative rhizosphere‐derived CO₂ emissions during the growing season of maize in cropland accounted for about 67, 74, and 80% of the overall CO₂ emissions for CK, NPK, and OM, respectively. Cumulative CO₂ emissions were found to significantly correlate with SOC stocks (r = 0.92, n = 5, P < 0.05) as well as with SOC concentration (r = 0.97, n = 5, P < 0.01). We concluded that natural vegetation restoration and long‐term application of organic manure substantially increased C sequestration into soil rather than C losses for the black soil. These results are of great significance to properly manage black soil as a large C pool in northeast China.     

Winter soil CO2 efflux and its contribution to annual soil respiration in different ecosystems of a forest-steppe ecotone, north China

Most soil respiration measurements are conducted during the growing season. In tundra and boreal forest ecosystems, cumulative winter soil CO₂ fluxes are reported to be a significant component of their annual carbon budgets. However, little information on winter soil CO₂ efflux is known from mid-latitude ecosystems. Therefore, comparing measurements of soil respiration taken annually versus during the growing season will improve the accuracy of ecosystem carbon budgets and the response of soil CO₂ efflux to climate changes. In this study we measured winter soil CO₂ efflux and its contribution to annual soil respiration for seven ecosystems (three forests: Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica plantation, Larix principis-rupprechtii plantation and Betula platyphylla forest; two shrubs: Rosa bella and Malus baccata; and two meadow grasslands) in a forest-steppe ecotone, north China. Overall mean winter and growing season soil CO₂ effluxes were 0.15-0.26 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹ and 2.65-4.61 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹, respectively, with significant differences in the growing season among the different ecosystems. Annual Q₁₀ (increased soil respiration rate per 10 °C increase in temperature) was generally higher than the growing season Q₁₀. Soil water content accounted for 84% of the variations in growing season Q₁₀ and soil temperature range explained 88% of the variation in annual Q₁₀. Soil organic carbon density to 30 cm depth was a good surrogate for SR₁₀ (basal soil respiration at a reference temperature of 10 °C). Annual soil CO₂ efflux ranged from 394.76 g C m⁻² to 973.18 g C m⁻² using observed ecosystem-specific response equations between soil respiration and soil temperature. Estimates ranged from 424.90 g C m⁻² to 784.73 g C m⁻² by interpolating measured soil respiration between sampling dates for every day of the year and then computing the sum to obtain the annual value. The contributions of winter soil CO₂ efflux to annual soil respiration were 3.48-7.30% and 4.92-7.83% using interpolated and modeled methods, respectively. Our results indicate that in mid-latitude ecosystems, soil CO₂ efflux continues throughout the winter and winter soil respiration is an important component of annual CO₂ efflux.     

Microbial respiration and biomass (substrate-induced respiration) in soils of old-growth and regenerating forests on northern Vancouver Island,British Columbia

In studying the basal respiration, microbial biomass (substrate-induced respiration, SIR), and metabolic quotient (qCO₂) in western red cedar (Thuja plicata Donn ex D. Don)-western hemlock [(Tsuga heterophylla Raf.) Sarg.] ecosystems (old-growth forests, 3- and 10-year-old plantations) on northern Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada, we predicted that (1) soil basal respiration would be reduced by harvesting and burning, reflecting the reduction in microbial biomass and activities; (2) the microbial biomass would be reduced by harvesting and slash-burning, due to the excessive heat of the burning or due to reduced substrate availability; (3) microbial biomass in the plantations would tend to recover to the preharvesting levels with growth of the trees and increased substrate availability; and (4) microbial biomass measured by the SIR method would compare well with that measured by the fumigation-extraction (FE) method. Decaying litter layer (F), woody F (Fw) and humus layer (H) materials were sampled four times in the summer of 1992. The results obtained supported the four predictions. Microbial biomass was reduced in the harvested and slash-burned plots. Both SIR and FE methods provided equally good estimates of microbial biomass in the samples [SIR microbial C (mg g^-1)=0.227+0.458 FE microbial C (mg g^-1), r=0.63, P=0.0001] and proved suitable for microbial biomass measurements in this strongly acidic soil. Basal respiration was significantly greater in the old-growth forests than in the young plantations (P<0.05) in both F and H layers, but not in the Fw layer. For the 3- and 10-year-old plantations, there was no difference in basal respiration in F, Fw, and H layers. Basal respiration was related to changes in air temperature, precipitation, and the soil moisture contant at the time of sampling. The qCO₂ values were higher in the old-growth stands than in the plantations. Clear-cutting followed by prescribed burning did not increase soil microbial respiration, but CO₂ released from slash-burning and that contributed from other sources may be of concern to increasing atmospheric CO₂ concentrations.     

Real-Time Soil CO2 Respiration Rate Determination and the Comparison between the Infrared Gas Analyzer and Microrespirometer (MicroRes®) Methods

Soil carbon dioxide (CO₂) respiration is one of the important soil health parameters that provides a general assessment of soil microbial activity and soil quality. Soil respiration rates, however, have not been widely applied in soil testing protocols mainly because the traditional methods are either inconvenient, technically cumbersome or too expensive. Currently, only two methods are available for a true real-time soil respiration rate determination (<2 h): the infrared gas analyzer (IRGA) and the microrespirometer (MR or MicroRes^®) methods. We analyzed the real-time soil respiration rates of 20 soil samples from fifteen states after various periods of incubation using the IRGA method and the MR method. The measured soil respiration rates ranged from 0.4 µL CO₂/h/g to 9.0 µL CO₂/h/g. Both methods show precision in soil respiration determinations (CV = 12.7% and 11.9%, respectively). Comparison of the results between the IRGA and MR methods indicates high degrees of agreement (r² = 0.914). This study shows that the MR method is a simpler and more cost-effective alternative for real-time soil respiration rate determinations.     

Soil CO2 flux in six monospecific forest plantations in Southern Rwanda

Forest soils contain the largest carbon stock of all terrestrial biomes and are probably the most important source of carbon dioxide (CO₂) to atmosphere. Soil CO₂ fluxes from 54 to 72-year-old monospecific stands in Rwanda were quantified from March 2006 to December 2007. The influences of soil temperature, soil water content, soil carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) stocks, soil pH, and stand characteristics on soil CO₂ flux were investigated. The mean annual soil CO₂ flux was highest under Eucalyptus saligna (3.92 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹) and lowest under Entandrophragma excelsum (3.13 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹). The seasonal variation in soil CO₂ flux from all stands followed the same trend and was highest in rainy seasons and lowest in dry seasons. Soil CO₂ flux was mainly correlated to soil water content (R² = 0.36-0.77), stand age (R² = 0.45), soil C stock (R² = 0.33), basal area (R² = 0.21), and soil temperature (R² = 0.06-0.17). The results contribute to the understanding of factors that influence soil CO₂ flux in monocultural plantations grown under the same microclimatic and soil conditions. The results can be used to construct models that predict soil CO₂ emissions in the tropics.     

Topographic variation in heterotrophic and autotrophic soil respiration in a tropical seasonal forest in Thailand

Soil respiration is a carbon flux that is indispensable for determining carbon balance despite variations over time and space in forest ecosystems. In Kanchanaburi, western Thailand, we measured the soil respiration rates at different slope positions—ridge (plot R), upper slope (plot U), and lower slope (plot L)—on a hill in a seasonal tropical forest [mixed deciduous forest (MDF)] to determine the seasonal and spatial variations in soil respiration on the slope. The heterotrophic (organic layer and soil) and autotrophic (root) respiration was differentiated by trenching. Soil respiration rates showed clear seasonal patterns: high and low rates in rainy and dry seasons respectively, at all plots, and tended to decrease up the slope. Soil respiration rates responded significantly to soil water content in the 0–30?cm layer, but the response patterns differed between the lower slope (plot L) and the upper slope (plots R and U): a linear model could be applied to the lower slope but exponential quadratic models to the upper slope. The annual carbon dioxide (CO₂) efflux from the forest floor was also associated with the slope position and ranged from 1908?gC?m^?2?year^?1 in plot L to 1199?gC?m^?2?year^?1 in plot R. With ascending position from plot L to R, the contribution of autotrophic respiration increased from 19.4 to 36.6% of total soil respiration, while that of the organic layer decreased from 26.2 to 9.4%. Mineral soil contributed to 46.3 to 54.4% of the total soil respiration. Soil water content was the key factor in controlling the soil respiration rate and the contribution of the respiration sources. However, the variable responses of soil respiration to soil water content create a complex distribution of soil respiration at the watershed scale.     

SOIL CO2 FLUX IN GRASSLAND,AFFORESTED LAND AND RECLAIMED COALMINE OVERBURDEN DUMPS: A CASE STUDY

The aim of this study was to measure the in situ soil CO₂ flux from grassland, afforested land and reclaimed coalmine overburden dumps by using the automated soil CO₂ flux system (LICOR‐8100® infrared gas analyzer, LICOR Inc., Lincoln, NE). The highest soil CO₂ flux was observed in natural grassland (11·16 µmol CO₂ m⁻²s⁻¹), whereas the flux was reduced by 38 and 59 per cent in mowed site and at 15‐cm depth, respectively. The flux from afforested area was found 5·70 µmol CO₂ m⁻²s⁻¹, which is 50 per cent lower than natural grassland. In the reclaimed coalmine overburden dumps, the average flux under tree plantation was found to be lowest in winter and summer (0·89–1·12 µmol CO₂ m⁻²s⁻¹) and highest during late monsoon (3–3·5 µmol CO₂ m⁻²s⁻¹). During late monsoon, the moisture content was found to be higher (6–7·5 per cent), which leads to higher microbial activity and decomposition. In the same area under grass cover, soil CO₂ flux was found to be higher (8·94 µmol CO₂ m⁻²s⁻¹) compared with tree plantation areas because of higher root respiration and microbial activity. The rate of CO₂ flux was found to be determined predominantly by soil moisture and soil temperature. Our study indicates that the forest ecosystem plays a crucial role in combating global warming than grassland; however, to reduce CO₂ flux from grassland, mowing is necessary. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Functional dependencies of soil CO2 emissions on soil biological properties in northern German agricultural soils derived from a glacial till

Agricultural soil CO₂ emissions and their controlling factors have recently received increased attention because of the high potential of carbon sequestration and their importance in soil fertility. Several parameters of soil structure, chemistry, and microbiology were monitored along with soil CO₂ emissions in research conducted in soils derived from a glacial till. The investigation was carried out during the 2012 growing season in Northern Germany. Higher potentials of soil CO₂ emissions were found in grassland (20.40 µg g^?1 dry weight h^?1) compared to arable land (5.59 µg g^?1 dry weight h^?1) within the incubating temperature from 5°C to 40°C and incubating moisture from 30% to 70% water holding capacity (WHC) of soils taken during the growing season. For agricultural soils regardless of pasture and arable management, we suggested nine key factors that influence changes in soil CO₂ emissions including soil temperature, metabolic quotient, bulk density, WHC, percentage of silt, bacterial biomass, pH, soil organic carbon, and hot water soluble carbon (glucose equivalent) based on principal component analysis and hierarchical cluster analysis. Slightly different key factors were proposed concerning individual land use types, however, the most important factors for soil CO₂ emissions of agricultural soils in Northern Germany were proved to be metabolic quotient and soil temperature. Our results are valuable in providing key influencing factors for soil CO₂ emission changes in grassland and arable land with respect to soil respiration, physical status, nutrition supply, and microbe-related parameters.     

Temperature dependence of soil CO2 efflux is strongly modulated by seasonal patterns of moisture availability in a Mediterranean ecosystem

Extensive research has focused on the temperature sensitivity of soil respiration. However, in Mediterranean ecosystems, soil respiration may have a pulsed response to precipitation events, especially during prolonged dry periods. Here, we investigate temporal variations in soil respiration (R_s), soil temperature (T) and soil water content (SWC) under three different land uses (a forest area, an abandoned agricultural field and a rainfed olive grove) in a dry Mediterranean area of southeast Spain, and evaluate the relative importance of soil temperature and water content as predictors of R_s. We hypothesize that soil moisture content, rather than soil temperature, becomes the major factor controlling CO₂ efflux rates in this Mediterranean ecosystem during the summer dry season. Soil CO₂ efflux was measured monthly between January 2006 and December 2007 using a portable soil respiration instrument fitted with a soil respiration chamber (LI-6400-09). Mean annual soil respiration rates were 2.06 ± 0.07, 1.71 ± 0.09, and 1.12 ± 0.12 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹ in the forest, abandoned field and olive grove, respectively. R_s was largely controlled by soil temperature above a soil water content threshold value of 10% at 0-15 cm depth for forest and olive grove, and 15% for abandoned field. However, below those thresholds R_s was controlled by soil moisture. Exponential and linear models adequately described R_s responses to environmental variables during the growing and dry seasons. Models combining abiotic (soil temperature and soil rewetting index) and biotic factors (above-ground biomass index and/or distance from the nearest tree) explained between 39 and 73% of the temporal variability of R_s in the forest and olive grove. However, in the abandoned field, a single variable - either soil temperature (growing season) or rewetting index (dry season) - was sufficient to explain between 51 and 63% of the soil CO₂ efflux. The fact that the rewetting index, rather than soil water content, became the major factor controlling soil CO₂ efflux rates during the prolonged summer drought emphasizes the need to quantify the effects of rain pulses in estimates of net annual carbon fluxes from soil in Mediterranean ecosystems.     

清水灌溉在消除土壤多环芳烃中的作用及对土壤微生物特征的影响: 以沈抚灌区为例

To evaluate the effect of groundwater irrigation on the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons(PAHs) pollution abatement and soil microbial characteristics,a case study was performed in the Shenfu irrigation area of Shenyang,Northeast China,where the irrigation with petroleum wastewater had lasted for more than fifty years,and then groundwater irrigation instead of wastewater irrigation was applied due to the gradually serious PAHs pollution in soil.Soil chemical properties,including PAHs and nutrients contents,and soil microbial characteristics,including microbial biomass carbon,substrateinduced respiration,microbial quotient(qM),metabolic quotient(qCO2),dehydrogenase(DH),polyphenol oxidase(PO),urease(UR) and cellulase(CE) in surface and subsurface were determined.Total organic C,total N,total P,and available K were significantly different between the sites studied.The PAHs concentrations ranged from 610.9 to 6362.8 μg kg-1 in the surface layers(0-20 cm) and from 404.6 to 4318.5 μg kg-1 in the subsurface layers(20-40 cm).From the principal component analysis,the first principal component was primarily weighed by total PAHs,total organic C,total N,total P and available K,and it was the main factor that influencing the soil microbial characteristics.Among the tested microbial characteristics,DH,PO,UR,CE,qM and qCO2 were more sensitive to the PAHs stress than the others,thus they could serve as useful ecological assessment indicators for soil PAHs pollution.     

Effects of atmospheric CO2 enrichment on CO2 exchange rates of beech stands in small model ecosystems

CO₂ enrichment experiments were performed during two vegetation periods on young beech stands in four closed mini-greenhouses. The houses were climatized according to the outside microclimate (±0,5 °C,±15 % rel. air humidity, wind speed approximately to outside in the range of 0.5 – 2.5 m s^?1, max. 17 % PAR reduction). The model ecosystems — consisting of 36 young beech (2.5 yr-old) in a soil block of 0.38 m³ and an air volume of 0.64 m³ — were exposed to CO₂ concentrations of the unchanged ambient air (350±34 ppmv, control) and of 700 ppmv (698±10 ppmv). Plant growth parameters were measured non distructively and at the end of the 1^st season samples were taken for weighing the phytomass. CO₂ gas exchange of the stands taken as a whole were continuously measured with two entire mini-greenhouses and, in addition, a compact mini-cuvette system (CMS 400, Walz) was used for measuring dark respiration and CO₂ net assimilation rates of single leaves in both stands. Under the influence of the additional CO₂ supply stem diameter (2 cm above the first lateral roots) was increased by 13.5 %, stem height by 27.4 %, and the number of leaves/tree by 33 % at the end of the 2^nd season. The number of buds was not significantly different and the effect on mean area per leaf was insignificant. Leaf area index was by 1.4 units greater. All dry weights of the main organs were increased after the 1^st season: leaf 60 %, stem 34 %, bud 54 %. Roots <2 mm φ weighed 1.5-fold more and roots > 2 mm φ 1.7-fold more under elevated CO₂. CO₂ gas exchange of two systems was measured. Whole system CO₂ losses during night as well as photosynthetic CO₂ gains during days were greater at 700 ppmv than in the control system. However, if one balances CO₂ gains with CO₂ losses over a period of five days in August both model-ecosystems taken as a whole were sinks for CO₂. During this selected time period of 5 days at the peak of the season the beech stand at 350 ppmv was the greater sink. At 350 ppmv CO₂ (control) the average leaf respiration for 20 °C amounted to 0.31±0.18 and at 700 ppmv to 0.57± 0.42 μmol CO₂ m^?2 s^?1 (n=35/40, t=3.48, α < 0.05), and correlated positively with leaf temperature. At light saturation the mean net assimilation rate was 4.48 μmol m^?2 (leaf area) s^?1 in the control and 6.21 μmol m^?2 s^?1 at the high CO₂ concentration corresponding with an enhancement factor of 1.39 for the selected time period. Results from the whole stand and from single leaf measurements are compared by means of mathematical modelling procedures in order to quantify CO₂ enrichment effects on beech model ecosystems.     

九龙江口红树林湿地的土壤呼吸变化研究

The diurnal and seasonal variations of soil respiration (SR) were studied at a subtropical mangrove wetland in the Jiulong River Estuary from May 2010 to April 2011.SR rates were measured continuously from 08:00 to 06:00 local time (24-h time system) on July8–9 and October 3–4,2010;and January 15–16 and April 11–12,2011.Similar patterns in the diurnal variation of SR were observed on October 2–3 and April 11–12,with the maximum values at 14:00 and the minimum at 00:00.However,the diurnal dynamics of SR on July 8–9,2010 and January 15–16,2011 showed diferent patterns,with the maximum values at 08:00–10:00 on above sampling dates and the minimum at 22:00 on July 8 and at 04:00 on January 16.The daily mean values of SR approximated to the values measured at 08:00.SR fluctuated with distinct seasonal patterns.The seasonal variation was characterized by a mono-peak pattern,with the highest rate (6.18μmol CO2m-2s-1) in July and the lowest rate (0.36μmol CO2m-2s-1) in December.The results showed that the variation of SR in mangrove wetland was mainly controlled by soil temperature,and there was no significant correlation between SR and soil water content.It also implied that the model of SR in mangrove wetland should not only consider the efect of soil temperature,but also incorporate other factors,such as water level,precipitation,microbial activity and photosynthesis,which also could affect SR.     

Nitrous oxide and methane fluxes during the growing season from cultivated peat soils,peaty marl and gyttja clay under different cropping systems

Drainage of peatlands affects the fluxes of greenhouse gases (GHGs). Organic soils used for agriculture contribute a large proportion of anthropogenic GHG emissions, and on-farm mitigation options are important. This field study investigated whether choice of a cropping system can be used to mitigate emissions of N₂O and influence CH₄ fluxes from cultivated organic and carbon-rich soils during the growing season. Ten different sites in southern Sweden representing peat soils, peaty marl and gyttja clay, with a range of different soil properties, were used for on-site measurements of N₂O and CH₄ fluxes. The fluxes during the growing season from soils under two different crops grown in the same field and same environmental conditions were monitored. Crop intensities varied from grasslands to intensive potato cultivation. The results showed no difference in median seasonal N₂O emissions between the two crops compared. Median seasonal emissions ranged from 0 to 919?µg?N₂O?m^?2?h^?1, with peaks on individual sampling occasions of up to 3317?µg?N₂O?m^?2?h^?1. Nitrous oxide emissions differed widely between sites, indicating that soil properties are a regulating factor. However, pH was the only soil factor that correlated with N₂O emissions (negative exponential correlation). The type of crop grown on the soil did not influence CH₄ fluxes. Median seasonal CH₄ flux from the different sites ranged from uptake of 36?µg CH₄?m^?2?h^?1 to release of 4.5?µg?CH₄?m^?2?h^?1. From our results, it was concluded that farmers cannot mitigate N₂O emissions during the growing season or influence CH₄ fluxes by changing the cropping system in the field.     

Soil Air Permeability and Carbon Dioxide Flux Measurements from the Soil Surface

Abstract

Air permeability has been recognized as an index of soil structure and used in attempts to characterize soil pore geometry. The importance of increased carbon dioxide in soil to agriculture comes from the direct effects of carbon dioxide (CO₂) on root respiration of agricultural crops. In this study, the soil air permeability and CO₂ flux values were obtained using two different apparatuses built and designed to measure air permeability and CO₂ flux. Air permeability was obtained in clay soil using two different aggregate sizes. The average values obtained were 9.55×10^?8 and 1.78×10^?7 cm² for the <2-mm and 2- to 5-mm fractions, respectively. Carbon dioxide flux from the soil surface of no‐till and bare plots under winter conditions was measured using another apparatus. The average CO₂ flux for the no‐till plot was 2.88 g/m²‐day and for the bare plot was 1.31 g/m²‐day. These values were within the range of values obtained from other studies.     

Soil carbon dioxide emission from intensively cultivated black soil in Northeast China: nitrogen fertilization effect

Purpose

The aim of this study was to understand the effect of nitrogen fertilization on soil respiration and native soil organic carbon (SOC) decomposition and to identify the key factor affecting soil respiration in a cultivated black soil.

Materials and methods

A field experiment was conducted at the Harbin State Key Agroecological Experimental Station, China. The study consisted of four treatments: unplanted and N-unfertilized soil (U0), unplanted soil treated with 225?kg?N?ha^?1 (UN), maize planted and N-unfertilized soil (P0), and planted soil fertilized with 225?kg?N?ha^?1 (PN). Soil CO₂ and N₂O fluxes were measured using the static closed chamber method.

Results and discussion

Cumulative CO₂ emissions during the maize growing season with the U0, UN, P0, and PN treatments were 1.29, 1.04, 2.30 and 2.27?Mg?C?ha^?1, respectively, indicating that N fertilization significantly reduced the decomposition of native SOC. However, no marked effect on soil respiration in planted soil was observed because the increase of rhizosphere respiration caused by N addition was counteracted by the reduction of native SOC decomposition. Soil CO₂ fluxes were significantly affected by soil temperature but not by soil moisture. The temperature sensitivity (Q ₁₀) of soil respiration was 2.16?C2.47 for unplanted soil but increased to 3.16?C3.44 in planted soil. N addition reduced the Q ₁₀ of native SOC decomposition possibly due to low labile organic C but increased the Q ₁₀ of soil respiration due to the stimulation of maize growth. The estimated annual CO₂ emission in N-fertilized soil was 1.28?Mg?C?ha^?1 and was replenished by the residual stubble, roots, and exudates. In contrast, the lost C (1.53?Mg?C?ha^?1) in N-unfertilized soil was not completely supplemented by maize residues, resulting in a reduction of SOC. Although N fertilization significantly increased N₂O emissions, the global warming potential of N₂O and CO₂ emissions in N-fertilized soil was significantly lower than in N-unfertilized soil.

Conclusions

The stimulatory or inhibitory effect of N fertilization on soil respiration and basal respiration may depend on labile organic C concentration in soil. The inhibitory effect of N fertilization on native SOC decomposition was mainly associated with low labile organic C in tested black soil. N application could reduce the global warming potential of CO₂ and N₂O emissions in black soil.     

Carbon dioxide emissions of soils under pure and mixed stands of beech and spruce, affected by decomposing foliage litter mixtures

Soil respiration is the largest terrestrial source of CO₂ to the atmosphere. In forests, roughly half of the soil respiration is autotrophic (mainly root respiration) while the remainder is heterotrophic, originating from decomposition of soil organic matter. Decomposition is an important process for cycling of nutrients in forest ecosystems. Hence, tree species induced changes may have a great impact on atmospheric CO₂ concentrations. Since studies on the combined effects of beech-spruce mixtures are very rare, we firstly measured CO₂ emission rates in three adjacent stands of pure spruce (Picea abies), mixed spruce-beech and pure beech (Fagus sylvatica) on three base-rich sites (Flysch) and three base-poor sites (Molasse; yielding a total of 18 stands) during two summer periods using the closed chamber method. CO₂ emissions were higher on the well-aerated sandy soils on Molasse than on the clayey soils on Flysch, characterized by frequent water logging. Mean CO₂ effluxes increased from spruce (41) over the mixed (55) to the beech (59) stands on Molasse, while tree species effects were lower on Flysch (30-35, mixed > beech = spruce; all data in mg CO₂-C m⁻² h⁻¹). Secondly, we studied decomposition after fourfold litter manipulations at the 6 mixed species stands: the O_i - and O_e horizons were removed and replaced by additions of beech -, spruce - and mixed litter of the adjacent pure stands of known chemical quality and one zero addition (blank) in open rings (20 cm inner diameter), which were covered with meshes to exclude fresh litter fall. Mass loss within two years amounted to 61-68% on Flysch and 36-44% on Molasse, indicating non-additive mixed species effects (mixed litter showed highest mass loss). However, base cation release showed a linear response, increasing from the spruce - over the mixed - to the beech litter. The differences in N release (immobilization) resulted in a characteristic converging trend in C/N ratios for all litter compositions on both bedrocks during decomposition. In the summers 2006 and 2007 we measured CO₂ efflux from these manipulated areas (a closed chamber fits exactly over such a ring) as field indicator of the microbial activity. Net fluxes (subtracting the so-called blank values) are considered an indicator of litter induced changes only and increased on both bedrocks from the spruce - over the mixed - to the beech litter. According to these measurements, decomposing litter contributed between 22-32% (Flysch) and 11-28% (Molasse) to total soil respiration, strengthening its role within the global carbon cycle.     

Effects of warming, wetting and nitrogen addition on substrate-induced respiration and temperature sensitivity of heterotrophic respiration in a temperate forest soil

Soil heterotrophic respiration and its temperature sensitivity are affected by various climatic and environmental factors.However,little is known about the combined effects of concurrent climatic and environmental changes,such as climatic warming,changing precipitation regimes,and increasing nitrogen(N)deposition.Therefore,in this study,we investigated the individual and combined effects of warming,wetting,and N addition on soil heterotrophic respiration and temperature sensitivity.We incubated soils collected from a temperate forest in South Korea for 60 d at two temperature levels(15 and 20℃,representing the annual mean temperature of the study site and 5℃warming,respectively),three moisture levels(10%,28%,and 50%water-filled pore space(WFPS),representing dry,moist,and wet conditions,respectively),and two N levels(without N and with N addition equivalent to 50 kg N ha^-1year^-1).On day 30,soils were distributed across five different temperatures(10,15,20,25,and 30℃)for 24 h to determine short-term changes in temperature sensitivity(Q₁₀,change in respiration with 10℃increase in temperature)of soil heterotrophic respiration.After completing the incubation on day 60,we measured substrate-induced respiration(SIR)by adding six labile substrates to the three types of treatments.Wetting treatment(increase from 28%to 50%WFPS)reduced SIR by 40.8%(3.77 to 2.23μg CO₂-C g^-1h^-1),but warming(increase from 15 to 20℃)and N addition increased SIR by 47.7%(3.77 to 5.57μg CO₂-C g^-1h^-1)and 42.0%(3.77 to 5.35μg CO₂-C g^-1h^-1),respectively.A combination of any two treatments did not affect SIR,but the combination of three treatments reduced SIR by 42.4%(3.70 to 2.20μg CO₂-C g^-1h^-1).Wetting treatment increased Q₁₀by 25.0%(2.4 to 3.0).However,warming and N addition reduced Q₁₀by 37.5%(2.4 to 1.5)and 16.7%(2.4 to 2.0),respectively.Warming coupled with wetting did not significantly change Q₁₀,while warming coupled with N addition reduced Q₁₀by 33.3%(2.4 to 1.6).The combination of three treatments increased Q₁₀by 12.5%(2.4 to 2.7).Our results demonstrated that among the three factors,soil moisture is the most important one controlling SIR and Q₁₀.The results suggest that the effect of warming on SIR and Q₁₀can be modified significantly by rainfall variability and elevated N availability.Therefore,this study emphasizes that concurrent climatic and environmental changes,such as increasing rainfall variability and N deposition,should be considered when predicting changes induced by warming in soil respiration and its temperature sensitivity.