Soil respiration during secondary succession: Influence of temperature and moisture

The development of soil respiration was investigated from the beginning of secondary succession of a newly-exposed rubble-dump cover with and without additional management. Special interest was paid to the influence of soil temperature and soil moisture. CO₂-concentrations were measured every 2 weeks for 3 yr in the field by using an air current method with conical chambers and infrared gas analysis. No significant influence of soil moisture conditions (range of soil moisture 4–80 kPa soil water suction) on respiration rates was found. Carbon dioxide evolution generally followed soil temperature patterns in both ecosystems and showed a positive correlation with temperature T at 5 cm depth (mgCO₂m^?2h^?1 = a + b (T°C)²). Moreover both plots showed the same tendency of increasing soil respiration during the first 3 yr after reclamation, in spite of great differences in vegetation structure and coverage. This change in soil respiration rates describes the succession of soil microflora.