中国亚热带森林转换对土壤呼吸动态及通量的影响

通过用静态碱吸收法对中国亚热带福建三明格氏栲自然保护区内的格氏栲天然林和33年生的格氏栲人工林及杉木人工林的土壤呼吸进行为期2a的定位研究,结果表明,3种森林土壤呼吸速率季节变化均呈单峰曲线,最大值出现在5月至6月份,最小值出现在12月至翌年1月份。格氏栲天然林、格氏栲人工林和杉木人工林土壤呼吸速率一年中变化范围分别在403.47～1001.12mgCO2m-2h-1、193.89～697.86mgCO2m-2h-1和75.97～368.98mgCO2m-2h-1之间。2002年土壤呼吸速率主要受土壤温度影响,但在极端干旱的2003年则主要受土壤湿度的影响。双因素关系模型(R=aebTWc)拟合结果优于仅考虑土壤温度或土壤湿度的单因素关系模型,土壤温度和土壤湿度共同解释不同年份不同森林土壤呼吸速率季节变化的80%～96%。杉木林土壤呼吸对气候变化敏感性高于格氏栲天然林和人工林。格氏栲天然林、格氏栲人工林和杉木人工林土壤呼吸年通量分别为13.742、9.439和4.543tC·hm-2·a-1,前者分别约是后二者的1.5倍和3.0倍。森林转换对土壤呼吸通量的影响可能与枯落物数量和质量、根系呼吸、土壤有机质数量和质量的变化有关。     

米槠和杉木人工林土壤呼吸及其组分分析

区分森林土壤呼吸组分是了解生态系统碳循环的重要环节。该文以福建省三明市格氏栲自然保护区米槠(Castanopsis carlesii)人工林和邻近的杉木(Cunninghamia lanceolata)人工林为研究对象,于2012年8月至2013年7月,采用LI-8100开路式土壤碳通量系统,通过挖壕沟方法,测定了土壤呼吸及异养呼吸的速率,同时测定了5 cm深处的土壤温度和0–12 cm深处的土壤含水量。利用指数模型和双因素模型,分析土壤呼吸及其组分与土壤温度和土壤含水量的关系,同时计算了土壤呼吸各组分在土壤呼吸中所占的比例,并分析了不同森林类型对土壤呼吸及其组分的影响。结果表明:米槠人工林和杉木人工林土壤呼吸及其组分的季节变化显著,均呈单峰型曲线,与5 cm深处的土壤温度呈极显著正相关关系。土壤温度可以分别解释米槠人工林土壤呼吸、自养呼吸和异养呼吸变化的70.3%、73.4%和58.2%,可以解释杉木人工林土壤呼吸、自养呼吸和异养呼吸变化的77.9%、65.7%和79.2%。土壤呼吸及其组分与土壤含水量没有相关关系。米槠和杉木人工林自养呼吸的年通量分别为4.00和2.18 t C·hm–2·a–1,占土壤呼吸年通量的32.5%和24.1%;异养呼吸年通量分别为8.32和6.88 t C·hm–2·a–1,分别占土壤呼吸年通量的67.5%和75.9%,米槠人工林土壤呼吸及其组分的年通量都大于杉木人工林。     

格氏栲天然林与人工林枯枝落叶层碳库及养分库

通过对福建三明格氏栲天然林及在其采伐迹地上营造的 33年生格氏栲人工林和杉木人工林枯枝落叶层现存量与季节动态、C库及养分库的研究表明 ,格氏栲天然林、格氏栲人工林和杉木人工林枯枝落叶层现存量分别为 8.99t· hm- 2 、7.5 6t· hm- 2 和 4 .81t· hm- 2 ;枯枝落叶层中叶占现存量的比例分别为 6 4 .96 %、6 1.38%和 38.0 5 % ,枝占比例分别为 31.5 9%、37.83%和 4 2 .6 2 %。格氏栲天然林与人工林枯枝落叶层现存量最大值均出现在春季 ,而杉木人工林枯枝落叶层现存量最大值出现在夏季。格氏栲天然林枯枝落叶层 C贮量为 4 .0 2 t· hm- 2 ,分别是格氏栲人工林和杉木人工林的 1.2 2倍和 1.77倍 ;格氏栲天然林和人工林枯枝落叶层 C库与杉木人工林的差异均达到显著水平 (P<0 .0 5 )。格氏栲天然林、格氏栲人工林和杉木人工林枯枝落叶层养分贮量分别为 138.4 2 kg· hm- 2 、113.5 6 kg· hm- 2 和 72 .39kg· hm- 2 ;除 Mg外 ,格氏栲天然林枯枝落叶层中各种养分贮量均最高。与人工林相比 ,天然林枯枝落叶层现存量、C和养分贮量均最大。枯枝落叶层对林地长期生产力维持具有重要作用。     

不同树龄杨树人工林的根系呼吸季节动态

根系呼吸是准确评估森林生态系统土壤碳收支的一个重要依据。基于LI-COR-6400-09土壤呼吸系统连续2a测定的3个生长阶段杨树人工林的根系呼吸数据,分析了根系呼吸的季节变化规律及树龄、土壤水热因子和细根生物量对它的影响。结果表明:3个不同树龄人工林的根系呼吸速率均呈明显的季节变化,最大值出现在夏初,最小值出现在秋末,基本上与表层土壤温度的季节变化相一致。根系呼吸的峰值早于土壤温度和细根生物量的峰值,说明林木根系的季节生长节律、地下碳分配模式都可能影响根系呼吸的季节变化。2年生人工林的根系呼吸速率最高,平均为3.78μmolCO2m-2s-1,并随树龄增长呈下降趋势。3个树龄人工林根系呼吸占土壤呼吸的比例介于38.6%-58.0%之间,且2年生人工林最大。不同林龄之间根系呼吸的差异主要与根系的生长周转速率及代谢活性随生长阶段的变化有关。总的来说,表层土壤温度和细根生物量的协同作用可解释根系呼吸速率变化的76%。此外在评估一个轮伐期内的根系呼吸强度时,应考虑不同生长阶段对它的影响。     

东北东部森林生态系统土壤呼吸组分的分离量化

对森林生态系统的土壤呼吸组分进行分离和量化,确定不同组分CO2释放速率的控制因子,是估测局域和区域森林生态系统碳平衡研究中必不可少的内容。采用挖壕法和红外气体分析法测定无根和有根样地的土壤表面CO2通量(RS),确定东北东部6种典型森林生态系统RS中异养呼吸(RH)和根系自养呼吸(RA)的贡献量及其影响因子。具体研究目标包括:(1)量化各种生态系统的RH及其与主要环境影响因子的关系;(2)量化各种生态系统RS中根系呼吸贡献率(RC)的季节动态;(3)比较6种森林生态系统RH和RA的年通量。土壤温度、土壤含水量及其交互作用显著地影响森林生态系统的RH(R2=0.465~0.788),但其影响程度因森林生态系统类型而异。硬阔叶林和落叶松人工林的RH主要受土壤温度控制,其他生态系统RH受土壤温度和含水量的联合影响。各个森林生态系统类型的RC变化范围依次为:硬阔叶林32.40%~51.44%;杨桦林39.72%~46.65%;杂木林17.94%~47.74%;蒙古栎林34.31%~37.36%;红松人工林33.78%~37.02%;落叶松人工林14.39%~35.75%。每个生态系统类型RH年通量都显著高于RA年通量,其变化范围分别为337~540 gC.m-2.a-1和88~331 gC.m-2.a-1。不同生态系统间的RH和RA也存在着显著性差异。     

格氏栲和杉木人工林地下碳分配

通过对福建三明36年生的格氏栲人工林和杉木人工林林木地下C分配(TBCA)进行研究,结果表明,由分室累加法直接测定的格氏栲和杉木人工林的TBCA分别为8.426和4.040 t C.hm-2.-a 1。在格氏栲和杉木人工林TBCA组成中,根系净生产量和根系呼吸各约占50%;在根系年净生产量中,细根年净生产量和粗根年净生产量各约占75%和25%。而格氏栲和杉木人工林的细根年C归还量则均约占各自TBCA的1/3(分别为33%和36%)。在假设地下C库处于稳定状态时,由C平衡法计算的格氏栲和杉木人工林的TBCA(分别为6.039t C.hm-2.-a 1和2.987 t C.hm-2.-a 1)低于分室累加法,这与两种人工林地下C库尚未达到稳定状态有关。利用R a ich and N ade lhoffer全球模式方程推算的格氏栲和杉木人工林的TBCA(分别为9.771t C.hm-2.a-1和5.344 t C.hm-2.-a 1)则高于分室累加法,这与全球模式方程只是一种全球尺度规律有关。     

湖南会同林区杉木人工林呼吸量测定

对杉木人工林的CO2排放动态和杉木各木质器官呼吸量进行了测定,结果表明,杉木树干呼吸的季节变化规律为3~7月份随着树木生长和气温的升高,树干呼吸呈上升的趋势,在7月份达年呼吸速率的最大值,CO2为0.376m g/(m3.m in)。8月至12月呈逐渐递减的趋势,在1~3月份树干呼吸基本上维持在一定数值上,并且杉木树干呼吸在杆材生长时期随着年龄的增大而减小;杉木树干呼吸的日变化规律为:一天中杉木树干呼吸基本上是随着温度升高而增大,随着温度降低而减小,中午前后出现午休现象。在杉木树干呼吸日变化曲线中出现两次高峰期,一次是在12:00~16:00时,另一高峰出现在24:00。根据测出的有关参数,用积分方法推导出杉木树干、树枝和树根的年呼吸量CO2分别为9.67t/(hm2.a)、2.21 t/(hm2.a)和2.12t/(hm2.a),结合叶片呼吸速率测定,计算出杉木林年呼吸量CO2为21.523 t/(hm2.a),其中,叶片年呼吸量CO2为7.523t/(hm2.a)。并初步确定杉木树干的维持呼吸占年呼吸的39.7%。     

亚热带森林转换对土壤微生物呼吸及其熵值的影响

土壤微生物呼吸及其熵值是表征土壤质量变化的敏感性指标,不仅能衡量土壤微生物碳利用效率,还能揭示土壤有机碳的变化。通过比较亚热带米槠天然林转换为马尾松人工林和杉木人工林后土壤微生物呼吸速率、土壤微生物生物量碳以及微生物熵、代谢熵的差异,研究亚热带森林转换对土壤微生物碳利用效率的影响。研究结果显示:(1)与天然林相比,马尾松人工林0—10 cm土壤微生物呼吸速率上升32%(P0.05),马尾松人工林和杉木人工林10—20 cm土壤微生物呼吸速率分别下降26%和24%(P0.05);但在20—40 cm土层和40—60 cm土层,天然林土壤微生物呼吸速率比马尾松人工林分别高50%和43%;(2)马尾松人工林和杉木人工林0—10 cm土层土壤微生物生物量碳(MBC)比天然林分别下降19%和40%(P0.05),但马尾松人工林10—20 cm土壤MBC上升29%(P0.05);(3)人工林表层土壤微生物熵与天然林没有显著差异,但与天然林相比,杉木人工林和马尾松人工林20—40 cm土层土壤微生物熵分别下降51%和71%(P0.05),40—60 cm分别下降52%、66%(P0.05)。土壤微生物代谢熵的变化主要发生在0—10 cm土层,马尾松人工林和杉木人工林分别比天然林增加38%和29%(P0.05),在深层土壤,3种林分微生物代谢熵没有显著差异。亚热带森林转换导致表层土壤微生物碳利用效率下降,深层土壤易分解碳在总有机碳库中占比下降,有机碳可利用程度降低。     

沙漠化对沙地土壤呼吸的影响及其对环境变化的响应

为了了解沙漠化过程中土壤呼吸速率变化及其对环境因素变化的响应,于2005年在科尔沁沙地研究了固定、半固定和流动沙地的土壤呼吸日变化和生长季动态及其与环境变化的关系,得出以下结论:(1)3种沙地土壤呼吸日变化在春季和秋季呈单峰曲线,夏季呈多峰曲线;(2)3种沙地土壤呼吸速率从春季到秋季的季节动态均呈双峰曲线,峰值分别出现在6月下旬和8月下旬;(3)固定和半固定沙地的土壤呼吸的日变化幅度明显大于流动沙地,季节变化幅度也是固定沙地半固定沙地流动沙地;(4)随着沙漠化的发展,土壤呼吸平均速率明显下降,生长季平均土壤呼吸速率从固定沙地的2.32μmolCO2/(m·2s)降为半固定的1.65μmolCO2/(m·2s)和流动沙地的1.06μmolCO2/(m·2s);(5)3种沙地土壤呼吸速率日变化均与土壤温度呈正相关,与空气湿度呈负相关,在季节尺度上3种沙地土壤呼吸速率与土壤温度、土壤水分和大气湿度均呈正相关,但只有固定沙地的相关性达到了显著水平;(6)沙漠化过程中,虽然土壤温度、土壤有机碳含量和植物根系碳含量都是导致沙地土壤呼吸发生改变的重要因子,但制约其变化的关键因子还是土壤水分和空气湿度。     

杉木人工林去除根系土壤呼吸的季节变化及影响因子

2007年1月至2008年12月,在长沙天际岭国家森林公园内,采用挖壕法研究杉木人工林去除根系后土壤呼吸速率季节动态及其与5 cm土壤温、湿度的相关关系。结果表明:去除根系与对照5 cm土壤温度的差异性不显著(P=0.987),5 cm土壤湿度差异显著(P=0.035)。杉木林去除根系处理后土壤呼吸速率明显降低,2007至2008两年实验期间去除根系与对照处理变化范围分别为0.19-2.01μmol.m-2s-1和0.26-2.61μmo.lm-2s-1,年均土壤呼吸速率分别为0.90μmo.lm-2s-1和1.30μmol.m-2s-1。去除根系土壤呼吸速率降低幅度为9.4%-59.7%,平均降低了30.4%。去除根系和对照的土壤呼吸速率与5 cm土壤温度之间均呈显著指数相关,模拟方程分别为:y=0.120e0.094t(R2=0.882,P=0.000),y=0.291e0.069t(R2=0.858,P=0.000)。Q10值分别为2.56和2.01。     

小兴安岭4种原始红松林群落类型生长季土壤呼吸特征

为阐明小兴安岭地带性植被原始红松林土壤呼吸各组分的碳排放速率及其对土壤水热变化的响应规律,采用挖壕法和红外气体分析法测定土壤表面CO2通量(Rs),确定4种原始红松林群落类型生长季的土壤总呼吸(Rt)中土壤微生物呼吸(Rh),根系呼吸(Rr)和凋落物呼吸(Rl)的贡献量动态变化及其影响因子。结果表明:生长季内,4种原始红松林群落类型的Rt、Rh、Rr具有明显的季节性变化,7-9月份较高,6月份和10月份较低。Rh对Rt的贡献量最高,平均在58.8%;Rr对Rt的贡献量次之,平均为26.5%;Rl对Rt的贡献量相对较小,平均为12.5%。生长季土壤呼吸速率与5cm深土壤温度相关性极显著(P0.01)。Rr和Rh的Q10值分别为2.88和2.23。表明根呼吸对土壤温度的敏感性高于微生物呼吸。生长季平均土壤呼吸速率的依次为:椴树红松林(6.38μmol·m-·2s-1)云冷杉红松林(6.32μmol·m-·2s-1)枫桦红松林(5.95μmol·m-·2s-1)蒙古栎红松林(2.86μmol·m-·2s-1)。4种原始叶红松林群落类型间的Rh和Rr也存在一定差异。     

Allometric constraints on,and trade‐offs in,belowground carbon allocation and their control of soil respiration across global forest ecosystems

To fully understand how soil respiration is partitioned among its component fluxes and responds to climate, it is essential to relate it to belowground carbon allocation, the ultimate carbon source for soil respiration. This remains one of the largest gaps in knowledge of terrestrial carbon cycling. Here, we synthesize data on gross and net primary production and their components, and soil respiration and its components, from a global forest database, to determine mechanisms governing belowground carbon allocation and their relationship with soil respiration partitioning and soil respiration responses to climatic factors across global forest ecosystems. Our results revealed that there are three independent mechanisms controlling belowground carbon allocation and which influence soil respiration and its partitioning: an allometric constraint; a fine‐root production vs. root respiration trade‐off; and an above‐ vs. belowground trade‐off in plant carbon. Global patterns in soil respiration and its partitioning are constrained primarily by the allometric allocation, which explains some of the previously ambiguous results reported in the literature. Responses of soil respiration and its components to mean annual temperature, precipitation, and nitrogen deposition can be mediated by changes in belowground carbon allocation. Soil respiration responds to mean annual temperature overwhelmingly through an increasing belowground carbon input as a result of extending total day length of growing season, but not by temperature‐driven acceleration of soil carbon decomposition, which argues against the possibility of a strong positive feedback between global warming and soil carbon loss. Different nitrogen loads can trigger distinct belowground carbon allocation mechanisms, which are responsible for different responses of soil respiration to nitrogen addition that have been observed. These results provide new insights into belowground carbon allocation, partitioning of soil respiration, and its responses to climate in forest ecosystems and are, therefore, valuable for terrestrial carbon simulations and projections.     

森林土壤呼吸及其对全球变化的响应

森林土壤呼吸是全球碳循环的重要流通途径之一 ,其动态变化将直接影响全球 C平衡。森林土壤呼吸由自养呼吸和异养呼吸组成 ,不同森林类型、测定季节和测定方法等直接影响其所占比例。土壤温度和湿度是影响森林土壤呼吸的最主要因素 ,共同解释了森林土壤呼吸变化的大部分。因树种组成、生产力和枯落物数量等不同而使不同森林类型土壤呼吸速率表现出明显差异。采伐对森林土壤呼吸的影响结果有增加、降低或无影响 ,因采伐方式、森林类型、采伐迹地上植被恢复进程和气候条件等而异。火烧一般导致土壤呼吸速率降低。因肥料种类、施用剂量和立地条件不同 ,施肥对森林土壤呼吸的影响出现增加、降低或无影响等不同结果。大气 CO2 浓度升高和升温均可促进森林土壤呼吸。 N沉降有可能刺激了土壤呼吸 ,而酸沉降则可能降低了土壤呼吸。臭氧浓度和 UV-B辐射强度亦会在一定程度上影响森林土壤呼吸。但目前全球变化对森林土壤呼吸的综合影响尚不清楚 ,深入探讨森林土壤呼吸的调控因素及其对全球变化和营林措施的响应等仍是今后努力的主要方向。     

Effects of post-fire conditions on soil respiration in boreal forests with special reference to Northeast China forests

Forest fires frequently occur in boreal forests, and their effects on forest ecosystems are often significant in terms of carbon flux related to climate changes. Soil respiration is the second largest carbon flux in boreal forests and the change in soil respiration is not negligible. Environmental factors controlling the soil respiration, for example, soil temperature, are altered by such fires. The abnormal increase in soil temperature has an important negative effect on soil microbes by reducing their activities or even by killing them directly with strong heat. On the other hand, although vegetation is directly disturbed by fires, the indirect changes in soil respiration are followed by changes in root activities and soil microbes. However, there is very limited information on soil respiration in the forests of Northeast China. This review, by combining what is known about fire influence on soil respiration in boreal forests from previous studies of post-fire effects on soil conditions, soil microbes, and forest regeneration, presents possible scenarios of the impact of anticipated post-fire changes in forest soil respiration in Northeast China.     

Effects of post-fire conditions on soil respiration in boreal forests with special reference to Northeast China forests

Forest fires frequently occur in boreal forests,and their effects on forest ecosystems are often significant in terms of carbon flux related to climate changes.Soil respiration is the second largest carbon flux in boreal forests and the change in soil respiration is not negligible.Environmental factors controlling the soil respiration,for example,soil temperature,are altered by such fires.The abnormal increase in soil temperature has an important negative effect on soil microbes by reducing their activities or even by killing them directly with strong heat.On the other hand,although vegetation is directly disturbed by fires,the indirect changes in soil respiration are followed by changes in root activities and soil microbes.However,there is very limited information on soil respiration in the forests of Northeast China.This review,by combining what is known about fire influence on soil respiration in boreal forests from previous studies of post-fire effects on soil conditions,soil microbes,and forest regeneration,presents possible scenarios of the impact of anticipated post-fire changes in forest soil respiration in Northeast China.     

帽儿山3种森林生态系统土壤动物与土壤呼吸及其相互关系研究

土壤呼吸是森林生态系统碳循环的关键过程,土壤动物可通过自身代谢及影响微生物活动调控土壤呼吸,因此研究土壤动物与土壤呼吸的相互关系对进一步揭示生态系统碳循环的规律和机理具有重要意义。通过野外定点,以帽儿山3种森林生态系统的土壤呼吸及土壤动物为研究对象,探讨不同森林生态系统的土壤呼吸、土壤动物个体密度和生物量的时间变化规律及二者相互关系。结果表明:(1)3种森林生态系统土壤总呼吸速率与土壤异养呼吸速率均呈现先增强后减弱的时间动态变化(P<0.05),且不同森林生态系统土壤异养呼吸速率差异显著(P<0.05),表现为硬阔叶林最高,红松人工林最低;(2)3种森林生态系统土壤动物生物量也具有显著的时间动态变化(P<0.05),均在9月份达到最大,且不同森林生态系统土壤动物个体密度显著不同(P<0.05),蒙古栎林土壤动物个体密度显著小于红松人工林与硬阔叶林;(3)通过回归分析可得,土壤动物数量及生物量的增加抑制了土壤呼吸速率,尤其在生长季初期、末期。研究表明土壤动物可通过抑制微生物生命活动和降低根系呼吸从而对土壤总呼吸及异养呼吸产生负反馈作用,三者是不可分割的整体,与土壤温度、水分等环境因子共同调控着土壤呼吸。     

锐齿栎林年龄序列土壤呼吸组分特征研究

林龄作为影响土壤呼吸的因素已是碳循环关注的热点问题之一,且林龄在模拟演替及长期碳动态的监测过程中发挥重要作用。该研究采用Li-Co-r8100土壤呼吸仪,研究林龄对土壤呼吸通量及其组分的影响。结果表明：锐齿栎林年龄序列(40 a,80 a,>160 a)及不同组分的土壤呼吸速率都表现出明显的单峰型季节动态,且与5 cm土壤温度呈显著指数相关。这可能是由于温度变化影响土壤生物活性引起的,土壤温度与土壤呼吸关系的指数方程可以解释80％以上的土壤呼吸变化。土壤呼吸及其不同组分在林龄间均无明显差异,土壤呼吸对温度的敏感性在锐齿栎林年龄序列及各组分间也无显著差异,这可能与林龄间土壤特性、森林生产力、微环境条件等相差不大有关。加倍凋落物的累计土壤呼吸通量显著( P<0.05)高于对照、断根和去除凋落物处理的累积呼吸量,说明增加凋落物输入为土壤提供了更丰富的养分,改善了样地微环境,有利于激发土壤微生物活性。锐齿栎林累计土壤呼吸通量与土壤有机碳( SOC)、细根生物量( FR)和微生物呼吸( MR)也显著相关,表明该地区土壤特性以及地下新陈代谢能很好地解释锐齿栎林土壤呼吸格局。     

Root respiration rate before and just after clear-felling in a mature,deciduous, broad-leaved forest

Soil respiration was measured throughout the year (June 1992 to May 1993) in a mature, deciduous, broad-leaved forest and an adjacent, clear-felled stand which was made in November 1991, in Hiroshima Prefecture, west Japan. The same soil temperature and soil moisture content as those in the forest stand were maintained in two frame boxes covered with sheets of white netting in the clear-felled stand to observe soil respiration. A herbicide was applied to the cut end of all stumps in one of the two frame boxes in order to kill the root system. There was no significant difference in the aboveground biomass and soil environmental conditions between the forest and the frame boxes in the clear-felled stands. The difference in soil respiration rate between the forest and the frame box, in which the root system was killed by the herbicide, was considered to be due largely to the contribution of root respiration. Taking into consideration CO₂ evolution due to the decomposition of roots killed and the change in A₀ layer respiration rate after clear-felling, the proportion of root respiration to the total soil respiration before clear-felling was estimated to be 51% annually, which coincides closely with those values estimated previously in mature forests by other methods. The difference in the soil respiration rate between the two frame boxes (one with killed roots and the other with undisturbed roots) suggested that the annual root respiration rate just after clear-felling dropped to about two-thirds (70%) of that before clear-felling.     

Separating root and soil microbial contributions to soil respiration: A review of methods and observations

Forest soil respiration is the sum of heterotrophic (microbes, soil fauna) and autotrophic (root) respiration. The contribution of each group needs to be understood to evaluate implications of environmental change on soil carbon cycling and sequestration. Three primary methods have been used to distinguish hetero- versus autotrophic soil respiration including: integration of components contributing to in situ forest soil CO₂ efflux (i.e., litter, roots, soil), comparison of soils with and without root exclusion, and application of stable or radioactive isotope methods. Each approach has advantages and disadvantages, but isotope based methods provide quantitative answers with the least amount of disturbance to the soil and roots. Published data from all methods indicate that root/rhizosphere respiration can account for as little as 10 percent to greater than 90 percent of total in situ soil respiration depending on vegetation type and season of the year. Studies which have integrated percent root contribution to total soil respiration throughout an entire year or growing season show mean values of 45.8 and 60.4 percent for forest and nonforest vegetation, respectively. Such average annual values must be extrapolated with caution, however, because the root contribution to total soil respiration is commonly higher during the growing season and lower during the dormant periods of the year.     

Supply-side controls on soil respiration among Oregon forests

To test the hypothesis that variation in soil respiration is related to plant production across a diverse forested landscape, we compared annual soil respiration rates with net primary production and the subsequent allocation of carbon to various ecosystem pools, including leaves, fine roots, forests floor, and mineral soil for 36 independent plots arranged as three replicates of four age classes in three climatically distinct forest types. Across all plots, annual soil respiration was not correlated with aboveground net primary production (R²=0.06, P>0.1) but it was moderately correlated with belowground net primary production (R²=0.46, P<0.001). Despite the wide range in temperature and precipitation regimes experienced by these forests, all exhibited similar soil respiration per unit live fine root biomass, with about 5 g of carbon respired each year per 1 g of fine root carbon (R²=0.45, P<0.001). Annual soil respiration was only weakly correlated with dead carbon pools such as forest floor and mineral soil carbon (R²=0.14 and 0.12, respectively). Trends between soil respiration, production, and root mass among age classes within forest type were inconsistent and do not always reflect cross‐site trends. These results are consistent with a growing appreciation that soil respiration is strongly influenced by the supply of carbohydrates to roots and the rhizosphere, and that some regional patterns of soil respiration may depend more on belowground carbon allocation than the abiotic constraints imposed on subsequent metabolism.