Episodic rewetting enhances carbon and nitrogen release from chaparral soils

The short-term pulse of carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) mineralization that accompanies the wetting of dry soils may dominate annual C and N production in many arid and semi-arid environments characterized by seasonal transitions. We used a laboratory incubation to evaluate the impact of short-term fluctuations in soil moisture on long-term carbon and nitrogen dynamics, and the degree to which rewetting enhances C and N release. Following repeated drying and rewetting of chaparral soils, cumulative CO₂ release in rewet soils was 2.2-3.7 times greater than from soils maintained at equivalent mean soil moisture and represented 12-18% of the total soil C pool. Rewetting frequency did not affect cumulative CO₂ release but did enhance N turnover, and net N mineralization and nitrification increased with rewetting in spite of significant reductions in nitrification potential. Litter addition decreased inorganic N release but enhanced dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) from dry soils, indicating the potential importance of a litter-derived pulse to short-term nutrient dynamics.     

Repeated drying–rewetting cycles and their effects on the emission of CO2, N2O,NO, and CH4 in a forest soil

Prolonged summer droughts due to climate change are expected for this century, but little is known about the effects of drying and wetting on biogenic trace‐gas fluxes of forest soils. Here, the response of CO₂, N₂O, NO, and CH₄ fluxes from temperate forest soils towards drying–wetting events has been investigated, using undisturbed soil columns from a Norway spruce forest in the “Fichtelgebirge”, Germany. Two different types of soil columns have been used for this study to quantify the contribution of organic and mineral horizons to the total fluxes: (1) organic horizons (O) and (2) organic and mineral soil horizons (O+M). Three drying–wetting treatments with different rewetting intensities (8, 20, and 50 mm of irrigation d^–1) have been compared to a constantly moist control to estimate the influence of rainfall intensity under identical drying conditions and constant temperature (+15°C). Drought significantly reduced CO₂, N₂O, and NO fluxes in most cycles. Following rewetting, CO₂ fluxes quickly recovered back to control level in the O columns but remained significantly reduced in the O+M columns with total CO₂ fluxes from the drying–wetting treatment ranging approx. 80% of control fluxes. Fluxes of N₂O and NO remained significantly reduced in both O and O+M columns even after rewetting, with cumulative fluxes from drying–wetting treatments ranging between 20% and 90% of the control fluxes, depending on gas and cycle. Fluxes of CH₄ were small in all treatments and seem to play no significant role in this soil. No evidence for the release of additional gas fluxes due to drying–wetting was found. The intensity of rewetting had no significant effect on the CO₂, N₂O, NO, and CH₄ fluxes, suggesting that the length of the drought period is more important for the emission of these gases. We can therefore not confirm earlier findings that fluxes of CO₂, N₂O, and NO during wetting of dry soil exceed the fluxes of constantly moist soil.     

Soil CO2 efflux and extractable organic carbon fractions under simulated precipitation events in a Mediterranean Dehesa

The magnitude of CO₂ efflux pulses after rewetting a dry soil is highly variable and the factors regulating these pulses are poorly understood. In this field experiment, we aimed to study the C dynamics after simulated summer rainstorms in a Mediterranean open holm oak woodland (dehesa). We hypothesized that because the herbaceous cover is mostly dead during the summer in this ecosystem, the short-term CO₂ efflux (SR) after rewetting could mainly be explained by different measurable soil C fractions: i) K₂SO₄-extracted soil C (EOC); ii) microbial biomass C (MBC); or iii) chloroform-fumigated extracted C (CFE). On both grazed and abandoned dehesa sites, we simulated three summer rain events at two-week intervals and we measured SR discontinuously in three plots under tree canopy and in another three plots in open grassland. In each plot, C fractions and water content were estimated before (2 h) and after (36 h) each irrigation event. Following rewettings, SR increased up to ten times compared with non-irrigated plots. The CFE actually increased after rewetting in the first two irrigations but not in the third event, suggesting that the capacity of the soil to release labile organic C from soil aggregates or litter was reduced after each irrigation event. Overall, the C released as CO₂ in the first 24 h was related to the CFE existing before rewetting, which may help to explain the spatial variability in SR. However, the explained variability decreased after each irrigation, suggesting a change to a less labile composition of the CFE fraction as a consequence of multiple drying-rewetting cycles.     

Acid Mine Drainage Treatment Assisted by Lignite-Derived Humic Substances

Rewetting of agriculturally used peatlands has been proposed as a measure to stop soil subsidence, conserve peat and rehabilitate ecosystem functioning. Unintended consequences might involve nutrient release and changes in the greenhouse gas (GHG) balance towards CH₄-dominated emission. To investigate the risks and benefits of rewetting, we subjected soil columns from drained peat- and clay-covered peatlands to different water level treatments: permanently low, permanently inundated and fluctuating (first inundated, then drained). Surface water and soil pore water chemistry, soil-extractable nutrients and greenhouse gas fluxes were measured throughout the experiment. Permanent inundation released large amounts of nutrients into pore water, especially phosphorus (up to 11.7 mg P-PO₄ l^?1) and ammonium (4.8 mg N-NH₄ l^?1). Phosphorus release was larger in peat than in clay soil, presumably due to the larger pool of iron-bound phosphorus in peat. Furthermore, substantial amounts of phosphorus and potassium were exported from the soil matrix to the surface water, risking the pollution of local species-rich (semi-)aquatic ecosystems. Rewetting of both clay and peat soil reduced CO₂ emissions. CH₄ emissions increased, but, in contrast to the expectations, the fluxes were relatively low. Calculations showed that rewetting reduced net cumulative GHG emissions expressed as CO₂ equivalents.     

Soil CO2 evolution: Response from arginine additions

Short-term response of soil C mineralization following drying/rewetting has been proposed as an indicator of soil microbial activity. Houston Black clay was amended with four rates of arginine to vary microbial responses and keep other soil properties constant. The evolution of CO₂ during 1 and 3 days following rewetting of dried soil was highly related to CO₂ evolution during 10 days following chloroform fumigation (r² = 0.92 and 0.93, respectively) which is a widely used method for soil microbial biomass C, which disrupts cellular membranes. This study suggest that the release of CO₂ following rewetting of dried soil with no amendments other than heat and water can be highly indicative of soil microbial activity and possibly be used as a quantitative measurement of soil biological quality in Houston Black soils.     

Factors controlling soil CO2 effluxes and the effects of rewetting on effluxes in adjacent deciduous, coniferous, and mixed forests in Korea

To better understand the factors that control forest soil CO₂ efflux and the effects of rewetting on efflux, we measured soil CO₂ efflux in adjacent deciduous, coniferous, and mixed forests in the central part of the Korean Peninsula over the course of one year. We also conducted laboratory rewetting experiments with soil collected from the three sites using three different incubation temperatures (4 °C, 10 °C, and 20 °C). Soil moisture (SM), soil organic matter (SOM), and total root mass values of the three sites were significantly different from one another; however, soil temperature (ST), observed soil CO₂ efflux and sensitivity of soil CO₂ efflux to ST (i.e., Q₁₀ = 3.7 ± 0.1) were not significantly different among the three sites. Soil temperature was a dominant control factor regulating soil CO₂ efflux during most of the year. We infer that soil CO₂ efflux was not significantly different among the sites due to similar ST and Q₁₀. Though a significant increase in soil CO₂ efflux following rewetting of dry soil was observed both in the field observations (60-170%) and laboratory incubation experiments (100-1000%), both the increased rates of soil CO₂ efflux and the magnitude of change in SM were not significantly different among the sites. The increased rates of soil CO₂ efflux following rewetting depended on the initial SM before rewetting. During drying phase after rewetting, a significant correlation between SM and soil CO₂ efflux was found, but the effect of ST on increased soil CO₂ efflux was not clear. Cumulative peak soil CO₂ efflux (11.3 ± 0.7 g CO₂ m⁻²) following rewetting in the field was not significantly different among the sites. Those evidences indicate that the observed similar rewetting effects on soil CO₂ efflux can be explained by the similar magnitude of change in SM after rewetting at the sites. We conclude that regardless of vegetation type, soil CO₂ efflux and the effect of rewetting on soil CO₂ efflux do not differ among the sites, and ST is a primary control factor for soil CO₂ efflux while SM modulates the effect of rewetting on soil CO₂ efflux. Further studies are needed to quantify and incorporate relationship of initial dryness of the soil and the frequency of the dry-wet cycle on soil CO₂ efflux into models describing carbon (C) processes in forested ecosystems.     

干湿交替对土壤碳库和有机碳矿化的影响

水分是影响土壤活性碳库和惰性碳库周转过程的主导因子,而土壤有机碳的周转速率会对气候变化造成潜在的重要影响。以农田水稻土为供试土壤,通过培育试验研究了干湿交替过程对土壤有机碳矿化的影响,并利用两库叠加模型对土壤不同碳库及其降解动力学进行初步评估。结果表明:干湿交替激发了土壤呼吸,增加了土壤微生物代谢活性。三次湿润过程对土壤呼吸的激发量分别为119.3%、159.5%和87.3%,激发效应随干湿交替频率的增加先升高后降低。多次干湿交替后,土壤累积CO2释放量低于恒湿土壤,湿润所引起的激发的矿化量不足以弥补干旱期降低的矿化量。在湿润的数小时内,土壤溶解性有机碳含量先升高后降低。干湿交替提升了土壤活性碳库的降解速率,降低了惰性碳库的降解速率,湿润后土壤活性碳库显著增加。多次干湿交替降低了土壤真菌/细菌比,使土壤微生物群落结构发生变化,细菌成为优势种群。     

Dry-rewetting cycles regulate wheat carbon rhizodeposition,stabilization and nitrogen cycling

Drying and rewetting of soil can have large effects on carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) dynamics. Drying-rewetting effects have mostly been studied in the absence of plants, although it is well known that plant–microbe interactions can substantially alter soil C and N dynamics. We investigated for the first time how drying and rewetting affected rhizodeposition, its utilization by microbes, and its stabilization into soil (C associated with soil mineral phase). We also investigated how drying and rewetting influenced N mineralization and loss. We grew wheat (Triticum aestivum) in a controlled environment under constant moisture and under dry-rewetting cycles, and used a continuous ¹³C-labeling method to partition plant and soil organic matter (SOM) contribution to different soil pools. We applied a ¹⁵N label to the soil to determine N loss. We found that dry-rewetting decreased total input of plant C in microbial biomass (MB) and in the soil mineral phase, mainly due to a reduction of plant biomass. Plant derived C in MB and in the soil mineral phase were positively correlated (R² = 0.54; P = 0.0012). N loss was reduced with dry rewetting cycles, and mineralization increased after each rewetting event. Overall drying and rewetting reduced rhizodeposition and stabilization of new C, primary through biomass reduction. However, frequency of rewetting and intensity of drought may determine the fate of C in MB and consequently into the soil mineral phase. Frequency and intensity may also be crucial in stimulating N mineralization and reducing N loss in agricultural soils.     

The influence of precipitation pulses on soil respiration - Assessing the “Birch effect” by stable carbon isotopes

Sudden pulse-like events of rapidly increasing CO₂-efflux occur in soils under seasonally dry climates in response to rewetting after drought. These occurrences, termed “Birch effect”, can have a marked influence on the ecosystem carbon balance. Current hypotheses indicate that the “Birch” pulse is caused by rapidly increased respiration and mineralization rates in response to changing moisture conditions but the underlying mechanisms are still unclear. Here, we present data from an experimental field study using straight-forward stable isotope methodology to gather new insights into the processes induced by rewetting of dried soils and evaluate current hypotheses for the “Birch“-CO₂-pulse. Two irrigation experiments were conducted on bare soil, root-free soil and intact vegetation during May and August 2005 in a semi-arid Mediterranean holm oak forest in southern Portugal. We continuously monitored CO₂-fluxes along with their isotopic compositions before, during and after the irrigation. δ¹³C signatures of the first CO₂-efflux burst, occurring immediately after rewetting, fit the hypothesis that the “Birch” pulse is caused by the rapid mineralization of either dead microbial biomass or osmoregulatory substances released by soil microorganisms in response to hypo-osmotic stress in order to avoid cell lyses. The response of soil CO₂-efflux to rewetting was smaller under mild (May) than under severe drought (August) and isotopic compositions indicated a larger contribution of anaplerotic carbon uptake with increasing soil desiccation. Both length and severity of drought periods probably play a key role for the microbial response to the rewetting of soils and thus for ecosystem carbon sequestration.     

Responses of carbon,nitrogen and phosphorus to two consecutive drying–rewetting cycles in soils

Drying and rewetting cycles are known to be important for the dynamics of carbon (C), phosphorus (P), and nitrogen (N) in soils. This study reports the short‐term responses of these nutrients to consecutive drying and rewetting cycles and how varying soil moisture content affects microbial biomass C and P (MBC and MBP), as well as associated carbon dioxide (CO₂) and nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions. The soil was incubated for 14 d during which two successive drying–rewetting episodes were imposed on the soils. Soils subjected to drying (DRW) were rewetted on the seventh day of each drying period to return them to 60% water holding capacity, whilst continually moist samples (M), with soil maintained at 60% water holding capacity, were used as control samples. During the first seven days, the DRW samples showed significant increases in extractable ammonium, total oxidized nitrogen, and bicarbonate extractable P concentrations. Rewetting after the first drying event produced significant increases only in CO₂ flux (55.4 µg C g^?1 d^?1). The MBC and MBP concentrations fluctuated throughout the incubation in both treatments and only the second drying–rewetting event resulted in a significantly MBC decrease (416.2 and 366.8 mg kg^?1 in M and DRW soils, respectively). The two drying–rewetting events impacted the microbial biomass, but distinguishing the different impacts of microbial versus physical impacts of the perturbation is difficult. However, this study, having a combined approach (C, N, and P), indicates the importance of understanding how soils will react to changing patterns of drying–rewetting under future climate change.     

Effects of temperature,glucose and inorganic nitrogen inputs on carbon mineralization in a Tibetan alpine meadow soil

High levels of available nitrogen (N) and carbon (C) have the potential to increase soil N and C mineralization. We hypothesized that with an external labile C or N supply alpine meadow soil will have a significantly higher C mineralization potential, and that temperature sensitivity of C mineralization will increase. To test the hypotheses an incubation experiment was conducted with two doses of N or C supply at temperature of 5, 15 and 25 °C. Results showed external N supply had no significant effect on CO₂ emission. However, external C supply increased CO₂ emission. Temperature coefficient (Q₁₀) ranged from 1.13 to 1.29. Significantly higher values were measured with C than with N addition and control treatment. Temperature dependence of C mineralization was well-represented by exponential functions. Under the control, CO₂ efflux rate was 425 g CO₂–C m^?2 year^?1, comparable to the in situ measurement of 422 g CO₂–C m^?2 year^?1. We demonstrated if N is disregarded, microbial decomposition is primarily limited by lack of labile C. It is predicted that labile C supply would further increase CO₂ efflux from the alpine meadow soil.     

Carbon and nitrogen mineralization dynamics in different soils of the tropics amended with legume residues and contrasting soil moisture contents

Seasonal drought in tropical agroecosystems may affect C and N mineralization of organic residues. To understand this effect, C and N mineralization dynamics in three tropical soils (Af, An₁, and An₂) amended with haricot bean (HB; Phaseolus vulgaris L.) and pigeon pea (PP; Cajanus cajan L.) residues (each at 5 mg g⁻¹ dry soil) at two contrasting soil moisture contents (pF2.5 and pF3.9) were investigated under laboratory incubation for 100–135 days. The legume residues markedly enhanced the net cumulative CO₂–C flux and its rate throughout the incubation period. The cumulative CO₂–C fluxes and their rates were lower at pF3.9 than at pF2.5 with control soils and also relatively lower with HB-treated than PP-treated soil samples. After 100 days of incubation, 32–42% of the amended C of residues was recovered as CO₂–C. In one of the three soils (An₁), the results revealed that the decomposition of the recalcitrant fraction was more inhibited by drought stress than easily degradable fraction, suggesting further studies of moisture stress and litter quality interactions. Significantly (p < 0.05) greater NH₄⁺–N and NO₃⁻–N were produced with PP-treated (C/N ratio, 20.4) than HB-treated (C/N ratio, 40.6) soil samples. Greater net N mineralization or lower immobilization was displayed at pF2.5 than at pF3.9 with all soil samples. Strikingly, N was immobilized equivocally in both NH₄⁺–N and NO₃⁻–N forms, challenging the paradigm that ammonium is the preferred N source for microorganisms. The results strongly exhibited altered C/N stoichiometry due to drought stress substantially affecting the active microbial functional groups, fungi being dominant over bacteria. Interestingly, the results showed that legume residues can be potential fertilizer sources for nutrient-depleted tropical soils. In addition, application of plant residue can help to counter the N loss caused by leaching. It can also synchronize crop N uptake and N release from soil by utilizing microbes as an ephemeral nutrient pool during the early crop growth period.     

Short-term effects of earthworm activity and straw amendment on the microbial C and N turnover in a remoistened arable soil after summer drought

Short-term effects of actively burrowing Octolasion lacteum (Örl.) (Lumbricidae) on the microbial C and N turnover in an arable soil with a high clay content were studied in a microcosm experiment throughout a 16 day incubation. Treatments with or without amendment of winter wheat straw were compared under conditions of a moistening period after summer drought. The use of ¹⁴C labeled straw allowed for analyzing the microbial use of different C components. Microbial biomass C, biomass N and ergosterol were only slightly affected by rewetting and not by O. lacteum in both cases. Increased values of soil microbial biomass were determined in the straw treatments even after 24 h of incubation. This extra biomass corresponded to the initial microbial colonization of the added straw. O. lacteum significantly increased CO₂ production from soil organic matter and from the ¹⁴C-labeled straw. Higher release rates of ¹⁴C-CO₂ were recorded shortly after insertion of earthworms. This effect remained until the end of the experiment. O. lacteum enhanced N mineralization. Earthworms significantly increased both mineral N content of soil and N leaching in the treatments without straw addition. Moreover, earthworms slightly reduced N immobilization in the treatments with straw addition. The immediate increase in microbial activity suggests that perturbation of soil is more important than substrate consumption for the effect of earthworms on C and N turnover in moistening periods after drought.     

Compaction effects on CO2 and N2O production during drying and rewetting of soil

The effects of compaction on soil porosity and soil water relations are likely to influence substrate availability and microbial activity under fluctuating soil moisture conditions. We conducted a short laboratory incubation to investigate the effects of soil compaction on substrate availability and biogenic gas (CO₂ and N₂O) production during the drying and rewetting of a fine-loamy soil. Prior to initiating the drying and wetting treatments, CO₂ production (−10 kPa soil water content) from uncompacted soil was 2.3 times that of compacted soil and corresponded with higher concentrations of microbial biomass C (MBC) and dissolved organic C (DOC). In contrast, N₂O production was 67 times higher in compacted than uncompacted soil at field capacity. Soil aeration rather than substrate availability (e.g. NO₃⁻ and DOC) appeared to be the most important factor affecting N₂O production during this phase. The drying of compacted soil resulted in an initial increase in CO₂ production and a nearly two-fold higher average rate of C mineralization at maximum dryness (owing to a higher water-filled pore space [WFPS]) compared to uncompacted soil. During the drying phase, N₂O production was markedly reduced (by 93-96%) in both soils, though total N₂O production remained slightly higher in compacted than uncompacted soil. The increase in CO₂ production during the first 24 h following rewetting of dry soil was about 2.5 times higher in uncompacted soil and corresponded with a much greater release of DOC than in compacted soil. MBC appeared to be the source of the DOC released from uncompacted soil but not from compacted soil. The production of N₂O during the first 24 h following rewetting of dry soil was nearly 20 times higher in compacted than uncompacted soil. Our results suggest that N₂O production from compacted soil was primarily the result of denitrification, which was limited by substrates (especially NO₃⁻) made available during drying and rewetting and occurred rapidly after the onset of anoxic conditions during the rewetting phase. In contrast, N₂O production from uncompacted soil appeared to be primarily the product of nitrification that was largely associated with an accumulation of NO₃⁻ following rewetting of dry soil. Irrespective of compaction, the response to drying and rewetting was greater for N₂O production than for CO₂ production.     

Carbon pulses but not phosphorus pulses are related to decreases in microbial biomass during repeated drying and rewetting of soils

Drying and rewetting cycles are known to be important for the turnover of carbon (C) in soil, but less is known about the turnover of phosphorus (P) and its relation to C cycling. In this study the effects of repeated drying-rewetting (DRW) cycles on phosphorus (P) and carbon (C) pulses and microbial biomass were investigated. Soil (Chromic Luvisol) was amended with different C substrates (glucose, cellulose, starch; 2.5 g C kg⁻¹) to manipulate the size and community composition of the microbial biomass, thereby altering P mineralisation and immobilisation and the forms and availability of P. Subsequently, soils were either subjected to three DRW cycles (1 week dry/1 week moist) or incubated at constant water content (70% water filled pore space). Rewetting dry soil always produced an immediate pulse in respiration, between 2 and 10 times the basal rates of the moist incubated controls, but respiration pulses decreased with consecutive DRW cycles. DRW increased total CO₂ production in glucose and starch amended and non-amended soils, but decreased it in cellulose amended soil. Large differences between the soils persisted when respiration was expressed per unit of microbial biomass. In all soils, a large reduction in microbial biomass (C and P) occurred after the first DRW event, and microbial C and P remained lower than in the moist control. Pulses in extractable organic C (EOC) after rewetting were related to changes in microbial C only during the first DRW cycle; EOC concentrations were similar in all soils despite large differences in microbial C and respiration rates. Up to 7 mg kg⁻¹ of resin extractable P (P_resin) was released after rewetting, representing a 35-40% increase in P availability. However, the pulse in P_resin had disappeared after 7 d of moist incubation. Unlike respiration and reductions in microbial P due to DRW, pulses in P_resin increased during subsequent DRW cycles, indicating that the source of the P pulse was probably not the microbial biomass. Microbial community composition as indicated by fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) analysis showed that in amended soils, DRW resulted in a reduction in fungi and an increase in Gram-positive bacteria. In contrast, the microbial community in the non-amended soil was not altered by DRW. The non-selective reduction in the microbial community in the non-amended soil suggests that indigenous microbial communities may be more resilient to DRW. In conclusion, DRW cycles result in C and P pulses and alter the microbial community composition. Carbon pulses but not phosphorus pulses are related to changes in microbial biomass. The transient pulses in available P could be important for P availability in soils under Mediterranean climates.     

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.     

Experimental drought alters rates of soil respiration and methanogenesis but not carbon exchange in soil of a temperate fen

The impact of intensified drought and rewetting on C cycling in peatlands is debated. We conducted drying/rewetting (DW) experiments with intact monoliths of a temperate fen over a period of 10 months. One treatment with original vegetation (DW-V) and one defoliated treatment (DW-D) were rewetted after an experimental drought of 50 days; another treatment was kept permanently wet (W-V). Soil water content was determined by the TDR technique, C fluxes from chamber measurements and gas profiles in the soils, and respiration from mass balancing CO₂ and CH₄ fluxes in the peat using hourly to weekly data. Zones of high root associated respiration were determined from a ¹³C labeling experiment. Autotrophic respiration contributed from 55 to 65% to an average ecosystem respiration (ER) of 92 (DW-D), 211 (DW-V), and 267 mmol m^?2 d^?1 (W-V). Photosynthesis ranged from 0 (DW-D) to 450 mmol m^?2 d^?1 (W-V), and strongly declined for about 30 days after rewetting (DW-V), while ER remained constant during the drying and rewetting event. Drying raised air-filled porosity in the soil to 2–13%, temporarily increased respiration to estimated anaerobic and aerobic rates of up to 550 and 1000 nmol cm^?3 d^?1, and delayed methane production and emission by weeks to months. Root associated respiration was concentrated in the uppermost peat layer. In spite of clear relative changes in respiration during and after drought, the impact on carbon exchange with the atmosphere was small. We attribute this finding to the importance of respiration in the uppermost and soil layer, which remained moist and aerated, and the insensitivity of autotrophic respiration to drought. We expect a similar dynamics to occur in other temperate wetland soils in which soil respiration is concentrated near the peatland surface, such as rich minerotrophic fens.     

Differences in soil CO2 flux between different land use types in mid-subtropical China

It is crucial to advance the understanding of the soil carbon dioxide (CO₂) flux and environmental factors for a better comprehension of carbon dynamics in subtropical ecosystems. Red soil, one of the typical agricultural soils in subtropical China, plays important roles in the global carbon budget due to their large potential to sequester C and replenish atmospheric C through soil CO₂ flux. We examined the relationship between soil CO₂ flux and environmental determinants in four different land use types of subtropical red soil-paddy (P), orchard (O), woodland (W) and upland (U) using static closed chamber method. Objectives were to evaluate the relationship of soil temperature, water-filled pore space (WFPS), and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) with the soil CO₂ flux. Soil CO₂ fluxes were measured on each site about every 14 days between 09:00 and 11:00 a.m. during 14-July 2004 to 25-April 2007 at the experimental station of Heshengqiao at Xianning, Hubei, China. Soil CO₂ fluxes revealed seasonal fluctuations, with the tendency that maximum values occurred in summer, minimum in winter and intermediate values in spring and autumn except for paddy soil when it was submerged. Further, significant differences in soil CO₂ fluxes were observed among the four soils, following the order of P > O > U  W. Average soil CO₂ fluxes were estimated as 901 ± 114, 727 ± 55, 554 ± 22 and 533 ± 27 (±S.D.) g CO₂ m⁻² year⁻¹ in paddy, orchard, upland and woodland soils, respectively. Variations in soil CO₂ flux were related to soil temperature, WFPS, and dissolved organic carbon with a combined R² of 0.49–0.75. Soil temperature was an important variable controlling 26–59% of soil CO₂ flux variability. The interaction of soil temperature and WFPS could explain 31–60% of soil CO₂ flux variations for all the land use types. We conclude that soil CO₂ flux from red soil is under environmental controls, soil temperature being the main variable, which interact with WFPS and DOC to control the supply of readily mineralizable substrates.     

Interactions between physical and biotic factors influence CO2 flux in Antarctic dry valley soils

Soil carbon dioxide (CO₂) flux is an integrative measure of ecosystem functioning representing both biotic and physical controls over carbon (C) balance. In the McMurdo Dry Valleys of Antarctica, soil CO₂ fluxes (approximately −0.1-0.15 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹) are generally low, and negative fluxes (uptake of CO₂) are sometimes observed. A combination of biological respiration and physical mechanisms, driven by temperature and mediated by soil moisture and mineralogy, determine CO₂ flux and, therefore, soil organic C balance. The physical factors important to CO₂ flux are being altered with climate variability in many ecosystems including arid forms such as the Antarctic terrestrial ecosystems, making it critical to understand how climate factors interact with biotic drivers to control soil CO₂ fluxes and C balances. We measured soil CO₂ flux in experimental field manipulations, microcosm incubations and across natural environmental gradients of soil moisture to estimate biotic soil respiration and abiotic sources of CO₂ flux in soils over a range of physical and biotic conditions. We determined that temperature fluctuations were the most important factor influencing diel variation in CO₂ flux. Variation within these diel CO₂ cycles was explained by differences in soil moisture. Increased temperature (as opposed to temperature fluctuations) had little or no effect on CO₂ flux if moisture was not also increased. We conclude that CO₂ flux in dry valley soils is driven primarily by physical factors such as soil temperature and moisture, indicating that future climate change may alter the dry valley soil C cycle. Negative CO₂ fluxes in arid soils have recently been identified as potential net C sinks. We demonstrate the potential for arid polar soils to take up CO₂, driven largely by abiotic factors associated with climate change. The low levels of CO₂ absorption into soils we observed may not constitute a significant sink of atmospheric CO₂, but will influence the interpretation of CO₂ flux for the dry valley soil C cycle and possibly other arid environments where biotic controls over C cycling are secondary to physical drivers.     

Different responses of soil CO2 and N2O emissions to simulated N deposition in forests with divergent N transformation characteristics

CO₂ and N₂O are important greenhouse gases that are related to soil mineralization–immobilization turnover and nitrification. To explore the responses of CO₂ and N₂O emissions to N deposition in forests with different N transformation characteristics, CO₂ and N₂O fluxes were measured in two NH₄NO₃ fertilized plots. One plot was in a temperate pine plantation in Heilongjiang Liangshui National Nature Reserve (LS) with slow and minimally coupled mineralization–immobilization turnover and a high nitrification rate. The other plot was in a subtropical bamboo forest in the Fujian Daiyun Mountain National Nature Reserve (DY) in China with rapid and coupled mineralization–immobilization turnover but a low nitrification rate. The results showed that CO₂ emissions in the DY with a high mineralization rate were greater than those in the LS. Cumulative CO₂ emissions were significantly enhanced by N addition in DY, but in LS, they were not affected. The mean N₂O fluxes in the control were 0.010 and 0.008 mg N m^?2 hr^?1 for LS and DY, respectively. High N addition stimulated N₂O emissions in both LS and DY, but the response ratio for N₂O flux in LS (8.6) was larger than that in DY (2.9). These results suggested that soils with rapid and coupled mineralization–immobilization turnover are beneficial to CO₂ emissions and their positive response to N deposition. A high nitrification rate contributed to high N₂O emissions and the sensitive response of N₂O emissions to N deposition.