Change in soil carbon cycling for stand development of Japanese cedar (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Cryptomeria japonica</Emphasis>) plantations following clear-cutting

Soil carbon cycling was studied in Japanese cedar plantations with different stand ages after clear-cutting and was analyzed by a compartment model. The amount of biomass and the litterfall rate increased rapidly with the growth of Japanese cedar, which were approximated by a simple logistic function of stand age. The accumulation of A₀ layer decreased from 21tha^–1 to 5tha^–1 during the 10years following clear-cutting, and then recovered to nearly the same level as before clear-cutting within 20years after clear-cutting, although the amount of soil carbon in the mineral soil recovered more than 40years after clear-cutting. The total and mineral soil respiration rates increased rapidly after clear-cutting and gradually decreased in young stands and stabilized in old stands. The relative decomposition rate of the A₀ layer and organic matters in mineral soil was high in the young stands because of the relatively high soil temperature rather than the soil moisture content. After the closing up of the canopy, the relative decomposition rates of the A₀ layer and humus in the mineral soil stabilized at 0.14 to 0.16y^–1 and 0.005 to 0.013y^–1, respectively. Consequently, soil carbon cycling was strongly affected by clear-cutting. The amount of soil carbon rapidly decreased because of the cessation of litterfall and the increase of the relative decomposition rate of the A₀ layer and humus, and recovered gradually to the level before clear-cutting with the growth of the cedar plantation. The change in soil carbon cycling with stand development was partly caused by the change in soil temperature and moisture content but was mainly caused by the amount of cedar litterfall which changed significantly in the early stage of the stand following clear-cutting, and became slower and leveled off in the late stage with stabilization of the environmental conditions and litterfall rate.     

Cycling of soil carbon in a Japanese red pine forest II. Changes occurring in the first year after a clear-felling

Cycling of soil carbon in the first year after a clear-felling was compared with that before the felling in a Japanese red pine forest in Hiroshima Prefecture, west Japan. The daily mean temperature at the soil surface in summer was increased after the felling in comparison to that before felling, and the water content of both the A₀ layer and the surface mineral soil was decreased due to the loss of the forest canopy. The rate of weight loss of the A₀ layer was reduced after felling. However, accumulation of the A₀ layer rapidly decreased because of the lack of litter supply to the forest floor. Low soil respiration after felling was mainly caused by the cessation of root respiration. Analysis of annual soil carbon cycling was then conducted using a compartment model. The relative decomposition rate of the A₀ layer decreased whereas that of humus and dead roots in mineral soil increased to some extent after felling. The accumulation of carbon in mineral soil, however, increased slightly due to the supply of humus from roots killed by the felling.     

A multiyear synthesis of soil respiration responses to elevated atmospheric CO2 from four forest FACE experiments

The rapidly rising concentration of atmospheric CO₂ has the potential to alter forest and global carbon cycles by altering important processes that occur in soil. Forest soils contain the largest and longest lived carbon pools in terrestrial ecosystems and are therefore extremely important to the land–atmosphere exchange of carbon and future climate. Soil respiration is a sensitive integrator of many soil processes that control carbon storage in soil, and is therefore a good metric of changes to soil carbon cycling. Here, we summarize soil respiration data from four forest free‐air carbon dioxide enrichment (FACE) experiments in developing and established forests that have been exposed to elevated atmospheric [CO₂] (168 μL L^?1 average enrichment) for 2–6 years. The sites have similar experimental design and use similar methodology (closed‐path infrared gas analyzers) to measure soil respiration, but differ in species composition of the respective forest communities. We found that elevated atmospheric [CO₂] stimulated soil respiration at all sites, and this response persisted for up to 6 years. Young developing stands experienced greater stimulation than did more established stands, increasing 39% and 16%, respectively, averaged over all years and communities. Further, at sites that had more than one community, we found that species composition of the dominant trees was a major controller of the absolute soil CO₂ efflux and the degree of stimulation from CO₂ enrichment. Interestingly, we found that the temperature sensitivity of bulk soil respiration appeared to be unaffected by elevated atmospheric CO₂. These findings suggest that stage of stand development and species composition should be explicitly accounted for when extrapolating results from elevated CO₂ experiments or modeling forest and global carbon cycles.     

Elevated CO2 impacts ectomycorrhiza-mediated forest soil carbon flow: fungal biomass production,respiration and exudation

Large quantities of carbon are exchanged between terrestrial ecosystems and the atmosphere, and extensive research efforts are made to understand carbon cycling and the impact of elevated atmospheric CO₂ levels. The response of soils to increased carbon availability is largely driven by root associated ectomycorrhizal fungi in forest ecosystems, since they partition host derived carbon belowground. In this review I examine how CO₂ enrichment affects ectomycorrhizal fungal biomass production, exudation, respiration, soil carbon fluxes, and other soil microbes, and the importance of the fungal species in these responses. I briefly discuss the significance of CO₂ alterations in the mycorrhizal symbiosis in the context of consequences for carbon sequestration, and present research priorities.     

Carbon balance and water use efficiency of frequently cut Lolium perenne L. swards at elevated carbon dioxide

The impact of doubled atmospheric [CO₂] on the carbon balance of regularly cut Lolium perenne L. swards was studied for two years under semi-field conditions in the Wageningen Rhizolab. CO₂ and H₂O vapour exchange rates of the swards were measured continuously for two years in transparent enclosures. The light utilization efficiencies of the swards ranged between 1.5 g CO₂ MJ^–1 global radiation (high light, ambient [CO₂]) and 2.8 g CO₂ MJ^–1 (low light, doubled [CO₂]). The above-ground net primary productivity (NPP) in the enclosures was greater by 29% in 1994 and 43% in 1995 in the doubled [CO₂] treatments, but only 20% and 25% more carbon was recovered in the periodical cuts. Thus, NPP increased significantly more than did the harvested above-ground biomass. The positive [CO₂] effect on net carbon assimilation is therefore associated with a preferential allocation of extra carbon to the roots and soil. In addition to higher canopy photosynthesis and leaf elongation rates, a small part of the positive [CO₂] effects on NPP could be attributed to a decrease of the specific respiration of the shoots. On a canopy basis however, respiration was equal or slightly higher at doubled [CO₂] due to the higher amount of standing biomass. Comparison of NPP and carbon recovered in different harvests showed that allocation to roots and soil was highest in spring, it was low in early summer and increased again in late summer and autumn. The total gross amount of carbon partitioned to the roots and soil during the two year period was 57% more at doubled [CO₂]. The total amount of carbon that was sequestered in the soil after subtraction of the respiratory losses was 458 g m^–2 and 779 g m^–2 in the ambient and doubled [CO₂] treatments, respectively. The average water use efficiency (WUE) of the swards was increased by a factor 1.5 at doubled [CO₂]. Both WUE and its positive interaction with [CO₂] varied between years and were positively correlated with global irradiance. At doubled [CO₂], the higher WUE was fully compensated for by a higher leaf area index. Therefore, total transpiration on a canopy basis was equal for the ambient and the doubled [CO₂] concentrations in both years.     

Cycling of soil carbon in a Japanese red pine forest I. Before a clear-felling

Cycling of soil carbon was measured synthetically and quantitatively throughout a year in two Japanese red pine forest stands on mid- and foot-slopes at Mt. Takao, Hiroshima Prefecture, west Japan. There was no distinct difference of soil temperature along the slopes, but the soil water content was higher on the foot-slope than on the midslope. The carbon flow (litterfall, soil respiration, etc.) rates were larger on the foot-slope than on the mid-slope, but there was no significant difference of the accumulation of soil carbon (A₀ layer or human in mineral soil) between the areas. The results of the analysis of soil carbon cycling based on a compartment model show that the relative decomposition rate of A₀ layer and humaus in mineral soil increased 1.4–1.5 fold from the mid- to the foot-slopes, corresponding to the soil moisture condition. The relative decomposition rate of A₀ layer was, however, about one-third of that in a evergreen oak forest. This fact suggests that the great resistance of needle litter to decomposition is one of the main limiting factors of the cycling of soil carbon and prevents the fertilization of mineral soil in the pine forest, which was also proven by the simulation of dynamics of soil carbon cycling.     

Long-term Effects of Free Air CO2 Enrichment (FACE) on Soil Respiration

Emissions of CO₂ from soils make up one of the largest fluxes in the global C cycle, thus small changes in soil respiration may have large impacts on global C cycling. Anthropogenic additions of CO₂ to the atmosphere are expected to alter soil carbon cycling, an important component of the global carbon budget. As part of the Duke Forest Free-Air CO₂ Enrichment (FACE) experiment, we examined how forest growth at elevated (+200 ppmv) atmospheric CO₂ concentration affects soil CO₂ dynamics over 7 years of continuous enrichment. Soil respiration, soil CO₂ concentrations, and the isotopic signature of soil CO₂ were measured monthly throughout the 7 years of treatment. Estimated annual rates of soil CO₂ efflux have been significantly higher in the elevated plots in every year of the study, but over the last 5 years the magnitude of the CO₂ enrichment effect on soil CO₂ efflux has declined. Gas well samples indicate that over 7 years fumigation has led to sustained increases in soil CO₂ concentrations and depletion in the δ¹³C of soil CO₂ at all but the shallowest soil depths.     

Quantitative evaluation of atmospheric CO2 sink into forest soils from the tropics to the boreal zone during the past three decades

A model of soil carbon cycling in forest ecosystems was applied to predict the soil carbon balance in nine forest ecosystems from the tropics to the boreal zone during the past three decades (1965–95). The parameters of carbon flows and initial conditions of carbon pools were decided based on data obtained in each forest stand. Assumptions for model calculation were: (i) primary production (i.e. litterfall and root turnover rates) increased with increasing CO₂ concentrations in the atmosphere (10% per 40 p.p.m. CO₂); and (ii) temperature increased by 0.6°C per 100 years, but precipitation changed little. The simulation employed a daily time step and used daily air temperature and precipitation observed near each forest stand over an average year during the last decade. The model calculations suggest that the accumulation of total soil carbon increased 8.5–10.4 tC (ton of carbon) ha^–1 in broad-leaved forests from the tropics to the cool-temperate zone during the past three decades, but the amount of soil carbon (3.0–8.4 tC ha^–1) increased much less in needle forests from the subtropical to boreal zones during the same period. There is a linear relationship between the increasing rate of soil carbon stock during the past three decades (1965–95) in forest stands concerned (R_MS, % per 30 years) and annual mean temperature of their soils (T₀,°C), as: R_MS = 0.34T₀ + 4.1. Based on the data of carbon stock in forest soil in each climate zone reported, the global sink of atmospheric CO₂ into forest soil was roughly estimated to be 42 GtC (billion tons of carbon) per 30 years, which was 1.4 GtC year^–1 on average over the past three decades.     

Mycorrhizal and rhizomorph dynamics in a loblolly pine forest during 5 years of free-air-CO2-enrichment

Soil fungi couple plant and ecosystem resource demands to pools of soil resources. Research on these organisms is needed to predict how rising atmospheric CO₂ will influence forest ecosystem processes and soil carbon (C) sequestration potential. We examined the influence of free‐air‐CO₂‐enrichment (FACE) on mycorrhizal and extraradical rhizomorph dynamics over a 5‐year period in a loblolly pine forest using minirhizotrons. Standing crop of mycorrhizal root tips varied greatly spatially and through time. Summed across all years, CO₂ enrichment increased mycorrhizal root tip production by 194% in deep soil (15–30 cm) but did not influence mycorrhizal production in shallow soil (0–15 cm). Production and mortality of soil rhizomorph length was 27% and 25% greater in CO₂‐enriched plots compared with controls over a 5‐year period beginning in January of 2000 and running through autumn 2004. Effects of atmospheric CO₂ enrichment on longevity of mycorrhizal root tips and rhizomorphs varied with soil depth (mycorrhizae and rhizomorphs) and with diameter (rhizomorphs). For instance, survival of mycorrhizal tips was reduced in CO₂‐enriched plots in deep soil (15–30 cm depth) but was increased in shallower soil (0–15 cm). Rhizomorph turnover was accelerated in shallow soil but effects on survivorship in deep soil varied according to diameter. A drought in 2002 coupled with loss of leaf area to an ice storm late in 2002 were followed by reductions in rhizomorph and mycorrhizal production, increases in mortality, and decreases in standing crop during 2003 and 2004. These effects tended to be more severe in CO₂‐enriched plots. Positive effects of atmospheric CO₂ enrichment on mycorrhizal fungi, primarily observed in deeper soil, are probably contributing to the prolonged stimulation of NPP by CO₂ enrichment at the Duke FACE study site.     

易分解有机碳对不同恢复年限森林土壤激发效应的影响

土壤有机碳库作为陆地生态系统最大的碳库,其微小的改变都将引起大气CO_2浓度的急剧改变。易分解有机碳的输入可以通过正/负激发效应加快/减缓土壤有机碳(SOC)的矿化,并最终影响土壤碳平衡。以长汀县不同恢复年限森林(裸地、5年、15年、30年马尾松林以及天然林)土壤为研究对象,通过室内培养向土壤中添加~(13)C标记葡萄糖研究易分解有机碳输入对不同恢复阶段森林土壤激发效应的影响。研究结果表明,易分解有机碳输入引起的土壤激发效应的方向和强度因不同恢复阶段而异。易分解有机碳输入的初期对各恢复阶段森林土壤均产生正的激发效应,然而随着时间的推移,15年、30年马尾松林以及天然林相继出现负的激发效应。从整个培养期(59 d)来看,易分解有机碳的输入促进了裸地与5年生马尾松林土壤有机碳的矿化,有机碳的矿化量分别提高了131%±27%与25%±5%;但是减缓了15年生马尾松林土壤有机碳的矿化,使其矿化量减少了10%±1%;然而,易分解有机碳输入对30年生马尾松林及天然林土壤有机碳的矿化则无明显影响。土壤累积激发碳量与葡萄糖添加前后土壤氮素的改变百分比呈显著正相关关系(R~2=0.44,P0.05),表明易分解有机碳输入诱导的土壤激发效应受土壤氮素可利用性的调控,土壤微生物需要通过分解原有土壤有机碳释放的氮素来满足自身的需求。     

Seasonal patterns and environmental control of carbon dioxide and water vapour exchange in an ecotonal boreal forest

Carbon dioxide, water vapour, and sensible heat fluxes were measured above and within a spruce dominated forest near the southern ecotone of the boreal forest in Maine, USA. Summer, mid-day carbon dioxide uptake was higher than at other boreal coniferous forests, averaging about – 13 μmol CO₂ m^–2 s^–1. Nocturnal summer ecosystem respiration averaged ≈ 6 μmol CO₂ m^–2 s^–1 at a mean temperature of ≈ 15 °C. Significant ecosystem C uptake began with the thawing of the soil in early April and was abruptly reduced by the first autumn frost in early October. Half-hourly forest CO₂ exchange was regulated mostly by the incident photosynthetically active photon flux density (PPFD). In addition to the threshold effects of freezing temperatures, there were seasonal effects on the inferred photosynthetic parameters of the forest canopy. The functional response of this forest to environmental variation was similar to that of other spruce forests. In contrast to reports of carbon loss from northerly boreal forest sites, in 1996 the Howland forest was a strong carbon sink, storing about 2.1 t C ha^–1.     

Snow distribution, soil temperature and late winter CO2 efflux from soils near the Arctic treeline in northwest Alaska

The Arctic treeline is advancing in many areas and changes in carbon (C) cycling are anticipated. Differences in CO₂ exchange between adjacent forest and tundra are not well known and contrasting conclusions have been drawn about the effects of forest advance on ecosystem C stocks. Measurements of CO₂ exchange in tundra and adjacent forest showed the forest was a greater C sink during the growing season in northern Canada. There is, however, reason to expect that forests lose more C than tundra during the wintertime, as forests may accumulate and retain more snow. Deeper snow insulates the soil and warmer soils should lead to greater rates of belowground respiration and CO₂ efflux. In this study, I tested the hypotheses that forests maintain a deeper snowpack, have warmer soils and lose more C during winter than adjacent tundra near the Arctic treeline in northwest Alaska. Measurements of snow depth, soil temperature and CO₂ efflux were made at five forest and two treeline sites in late winter of three consecutive years. Snow depth and soil temperature were greater in forest than treeline sites, particularly in years with higher snowfall. There was a close exponential correlation between soil temperature and CO₂ efflux across sites and years. The temperature-efflux model was driven using hourly soil temperatures from all the sites to provide a first approximation of the difference in winter C loss between treeline and forest sites. Results showed that greater wintertime C loss from forests could offset greater summertime C gain.     

皆伐火烧对亚热带森林不同深度土壤CO2通量的影响

评估不同深度土壤的CO_2通量是研究土壤碳动态的重要手段。目前有关皆伐火烧对森林土壤碳排放的影响研究仅局限于表层土壤,而对不同深度土壤碳排放影响鲜见报道。以米槠(Castanopsis carlesii)次生林(对照)及其皆伐火烧后林地为研究对象,利用非红外散射CO_2探头测定土壤CO_2浓度,并结合Fick第一扩散法则估算不同深度(0—80 cm)土壤CO_2通量。结果表明:(1)皆伐火烧改变土壤向大气排放的表观CO_2通量,在皆伐火烧后的2个月内土壤表观CO_2通量显著高于对照68%;2个月后,土壤表观CO_2通量低于对照37%。(2)皆伐火烧后,除10—20 cm的CO_2通量提高外,其余各深度(0—10、20—40、40—60 cm和60—80 cm)的CO_2通量均降低。同时,皆伐火烧改变不同土层对土壤呼吸的贡献率,降低0—10 cm土层的贡献率,提高10—20 cm土层的贡献率。(3)对照样地仅0—10 cm土壤CO_2通量与温度呈显著指数相关,10—40 cm深度CO_2通量则与土壤含水率呈显著线性相关。皆伐火烧后0—10 cm和10—20 cm处土壤的CO_2通量均与温度呈指数相关。说明皆伐火烧改变了不同深度土壤CO_2通量对于环境因子的响应。因此为准确评估和预测皆伐火烧对土壤与大气间碳交换的影响,应考虑皆伐火烧后不同时期土壤CO_2通量的变化,以及不同深度土壤CO_2通量对皆伐火烧的响应。     

Effects of elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide on amino acid and NH4+-N cycling in a temperate pine ecosystem

Rising atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂) is expected to increase forest productivity, resulting in greater carbon (C) storage in forest ecosystems. Because elevated atmospheric CO₂ does not increase nitrogen (N) use efficiency in many forest tree species, additional N inputs will be required to sustain increased net primary productivity (NPP) under elevated atmospheric CO₂. We investigated the importance of free amino acids (AAs) as a source for forest N uptake at the Duke Forest Free Air CO₂ Enrichment (FACE) site, comparing its importance with that of better‐studied inorganic N sources. Potential proteolytic enzyme activity was monitored seasonally, and individual AA concentrations were measured in organic horizon extracts. Potential free AA production in soils ranged from 190 to 690 nmol N g⁻¹ h⁻¹ and was greater than potential rates of soil NH₄⁺ production. Because of this high potential rate of organic N production, we determined (1) whether intact AA uptake occurs by Pinus taeda L., the dominant tree species at the FACE site, (2) if the rate of cycling of AAs is comparable with that of ammonium (NH₄⁺), and (3) if atmospheric CO₂ concentration alters the aforementioned N cycling processes. A field experiment using universally labeled ammonium (¹⁵NH₄⁺) and alanine (¹³C₃H₇¹⁵NO₂) demonstrated that ¹⁵N is more readily taken up by plants and heterotrophic microorganisms as NH₄⁺. Pine roots and microbes take up on average 2.4 and two times as much NH₄^{+ 15}N compared with alanine ¹⁵N 1 week after tracer application. N cycling through soil pools was similar for alanine and NH₄⁺, with the greatest ¹⁵N tracer recovery in soil organic matter, followed by microbial biomass, dissolved organic N, extractable NH₄⁺, and fine roots. Stoichiometric analyses of ¹³C and ¹⁵N uptake demonstrated that both plants and soil microorganisms take up alanine directly, with a ¹³C : ¹⁵N ratio of 3.3 : 1 in fine roots and 1.5 : 1 in microbial biomass. Our results suggest that intact AA (alanine) uptake contributes substantially to plant N uptake in loblolly pine forests. However, we found no evidence supporting increased recovery of free AAs in fine roots under elevated CO₂, suggesting plants will need to acquire additional N via other mechanisms, such as increased root exploration or increased N use efficiency.     

大气CO2浓度升高对土壤碳库稳定性的影响

工业革命以来,大气CO₂浓度持续上升,升高的CO₂浓度会改变植物光合产物积累、土壤碳库的碳输入和碳输出过程,进而通过影响有机碳组成和周转特征来调控土壤碳库动态变化。土壤碳库是陆地生态系统碳库的重要组成部分,其碳储量的微小变化都会对大气CO₂浓度和气候变化产生巨大影响。但目前关于CO₂浓度升高对土壤碳库动态和稳定性的影响还不清楚,很大程度上限制了预测陆地生态系统碳循环对气候变化的反馈。系统综述国内外大气CO₂浓度升高对植被生产力、植被碳输入和土壤碳库影响的研究进展,旨在揭示土壤碳库物理、化学组成以及周转特征对CO₂浓度升高的响应过程和机理,探讨CO₂升高情境下土壤微生物特征对土壤碳库稳定性的影响和驱动机制,为深入理解全球变化下的土壤碳循环特征提供理论支撑。     

Simulating effects of changing climate and CO2 emissions on soil carbon pools at the Hubbard Brook experimental forest

Carbon (C) sequestration in forest biomass and soils may help decrease regional C footprints and mitigate future climate change. The efficacy of these practices must be verified by monitoring and by approved calculation methods (i.e., models) to be credible in C markets. Two widely used soil organic matter models – CENTURY and RothC – were used to project changes in SOC pools after clear‐cutting disturbance, as well as under a range of future climate and atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂) scenarios. Data from the temperate, predominantly deciduous Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest (HBEF) in New Hampshire, USA, were used to parameterize and validate the models. Clear‐cutting simulations demonstrated that both models can effectively simulate soil C dynamics in the northern hardwood forest when adequately parameterized. The minimum postharvest SOC predicted by RothC occurred in postharvest year 14 and was within 1.5% of the observed minimum, which occurred in year 8. CENTURY predicted the postharvest minimum SOC to occur in year 45, at a value 6.9% greater than the observed minimum; the slow response of both models to disturbance suggests that they may overestimate the time required to reach new steady‐state conditions. Four climate change scenarios were used to simulate future changes in SOC pools. Climate‐change simulations predicted increases in SOC by as much as 7% at the end of this century, partially offsetting future CO₂ emissions. This sequestration was the product of enhanced forest productivity, and associated litter input to the soil, due to increased temperature, precipitation and CO₂. The simulations also suggested that considerable losses of SOC (8–30%) could occur if forest vegetation at HBEF does not respond to changes in climate and CO₂ levels. Therefore, the source/sink behavior of temperate forest soils likely depends on the degree to which forest growth is stimulated by new climate and CO₂ conditions.     

Net mineralization of N at deeper soil depths as a potential mechanism for sustained forest production under elevated [CO2]

Elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations [CO₂] is projected to increase forest production, which could increase ecosystem carbon (C) storage. This study contributes to our broad goal of understanding the causes and consequences of increased fine‐root production and mortality under elevated [CO₂] by examining potential gross nitrogen (N) cycling rates throughout the soil profile. Our study was conducted in a CO₂‐enriched sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua L.) plantation in Oak Ridge, TN, USA. We used ¹⁵N isotope pool dilution methodology to measure potential gross N cycling rates in laboratory incubations of soil from four depth increments to 60 cm. Our objectives were twofold: (1) to determine whether N is available for root acquisition in deeper soil and (2) to determine whether elevated [CO₂], which has increased inputs of labile C resulting from greater fine‐root mortality at depth, has altered N cycling rates. Although gross N fluxes declined with soil depth, we found that N is potentially available for roots to access, especially below 15 cm depth where rates of microbial consumption of mineral N were reduced relative to production. Overall, up to 60% of potential gross N mineralization and 100% of potential net N mineralization occurred below 15 cm depth at this site. This finding was supported by in situ measurements from ion‐exchange resins, where total inorganic N availability at 55 cm depth was equal to or greater than N availability at 15 cm depth. While it is likely that trees grown under elevated [CO₂] are accessing a larger pool of inorganic N by mining deeper soil, we found no effect of elevated [CO₂] on potential gross or net N cycling rates. Thus, increased root exploration of the soil volume under elevated [CO₂] may be more important than changes in potential gross N cycling rates in sustaining forest responses to rising atmospheric CO₂.     

Impact of climate change on grassland production and soil carbon worldwide

The impact of climate change and increasing atmospheric CO₂ was modelled for 31 temperate and tropical grassland sites, using the CENTURY model. Climate change increased net primary production, except in cold desert steppe regions, and CO₂ increased production everywhere. Climate change caused soil carbon to decrease overall, with a loss of 4 Pg from global grasslands after 50 years. Combined climate change and elevated CO₂ increased production and reduced global grassland C losses to 2 Pg, with tropical savannas becoming small sinks for soil C. Detection of statistically significant change in plant production would require a 16% change in measured plant production because of high year to year variability in plant production. Most of the predicted changes in plant production are less than 10%.     

Effects of forest clear-cutting on the sulphur, phosphorus and base cations fluxes through podzolic soil horizons

Clear-cutting considerably alters the flow of nutrients through the forest ecosystem. These changes are reflected in soil solution concentrations and fluxes. The effects of clear-cutting (stems only) on the fluxes of water soluble phosphorus (P), sulphur (S) and base cations (Ca, Mg and K) through a podzolic soil were studied in a Norway spruce dominated mixed boreal forest in eastern Finland. Bulk deposition, total throughfall (throughfall + stemflow) and soil percolate from below the organic (O), eluvial (E) and illuvial (B) horizons were collected for 4 years before and for 3 years after cutting. Annual deposition loads (kg ha^–1) to the forest floor were less after clear-cutting, averaging 1.7 S, 0.84 Ca, 0.14 Mg, 0.64 K and 0.10 P. Before cutting, the loads were 4.6 S, 2.7 Ca, 0.70 Mg, 6.2 K and 0.20 P. Annual fluxes of total S and sulphate (SO ₄ ^2– ) from below the O-horizon were also lower (33%) after clear-cutting, total S averaging 2.0 kg ha^–1, the flux from below the B-horizon also diminished after clear-cutting. The flux of total P (mainly inorganic) from below the O-horizon increased threefold (6.9 kg ha^–1; sum over the 3-year period) compared to period before cutting. The fluxes of base cations from below the O-horizon increased twofold. The flux of K⁺ from below the O- and E-horizons was most strongly correlated with that of phosphate (PO ₄ ^3– ) and those of Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ with the DOC flux. Increased fluxes of P and base cations to the mineral soil generated only slightly increased fluxes from below the B-horizon. The retention of base cations and P in the mineral soil indicates there was little change in leaching to ground and surface waters after clear-cutting.     

The contribution of bryophytes to the carbon exchange for a temperate rainforest

Bryophytes blanket the floor of temperate rainforests in New Zealand and may influence a number of important ecosystem processes, including carbon cycling. Their contribution to forest floor carbon exchange was determined in a mature, undisturbed podocarp‐broadleaved forest in New Zealand, dominated by 100–400‐year‐old rimu (Dacrydium cupressimum) trees. Eight species of mosses and 13 species of liverworts contributed to the 62% cover of the diverse forest floor community. The bryophyte community developed a relatively thin (depth <30 mm), but dense, canopy that experienced elevated CO₂ partial pressures (median 46.6 Pa immediately below the bryophyte canopy) relative to the surrounding air (median 37.6 Pa at 100 mm above the canopy). Light‐saturated rates of net CO₂ exchange from 14 microcosms collected from the forest floor were highly variable; the maximum rate of net uptake (bryophyte photosynthesis – whole‐plant respiration) per unit ground area at saturating irradiance was 1.9 μmol m^?2 s^?1 and in one microcosm, the net rate of CO₂ exchange was negative (respiration). CO₂ exchange for all microcosms was strongly dependent on water content. The average water content in the microcosms ranged from 1375% when fully saturated to 250% when air‐dried. Reduction in water content across this range resulted in an average decrease of 85% in net CO₂ uptake per unit ground area. The results from the microcosms were used in a model to estimate annual carbon exchange for the forest floor. This model incorporated hourly variability in average irradiance reaching the forest floor, water content of the bryophyte layer, and air and soil temperature. The annual net carbon uptake by forest floor bryophytes was 103 g m^?2, compared to annual carbon efflux from the forest floor (bryophyte and soil respiration) of ?1010 g m^?2. To put this in perspective of the magnitude of the components of CO₂ exchange for the forest floor, the bryophyte layer reclaimed an amount of CO₂ equivalent to only about 10% of forest floor respiration (bryophyte plus soil) or ～11% of soil respiration. The contribution of forest floor bryophytes to productivity in this temperate rainforest was much smaller than in boreal forests, possibly because of differences in species composition and environmental limitations to photosynthesis. Because of their close dependence on water table depth, the contribution of the bryophyte community to ecosystem CO₂ exchange may be highly responsive to rapid changes in climate.