Response of soil respiration to simulated N deposition in a disturbed and a rehabilitated tropical forest in southern China

Responses of soil respiration (CO₂ emission) to simulated N deposition were studied in a disturbed (reforested forest with previous understory and litter harvesting) and a rehabilitated (reforested forest with no understory and litter harvesting) tropical forest in southern China from October 2005 to September 2006. The objectives of the study were to test the following hypotheses: (1) soil respiration is higher in rehabilitated forest than in disturbed forest; (2) soil respiration in both rehabilitated and disturbed tropical forests is stimulated by N additions; and (3) soil respiration is more sensitive to N addition in disturbed forest than in rehabilitated forest due to relatively low soil nutrient status in the former, resulting from different previous human disturbance. Static chamber and gas chromatography techniques were employed to quantify the soil respiration, following different N treatments (Control, no N addition; Low-N, 5 g N m⁻² year⁻¹; Medium-N, 10 g N m⁻² year⁻¹), which had been applied continuously for 26 months before the respiration measurement. Results showed that soil respiration exhibited a strong seasonal pattern, with the highest rates observed in the hot and wet growing season (April–September) and the lowest rates in winter (December–February) in both rehabilitated and disturbed forests. Soil respiration rates exhibited significant positive exponential relationship with soil temperature and significant positive linear relationship with soil moisture. Soil respiration was also significantly higher in the rehabilitated forest than in the disturbed forest. Annual mean soil respiration rate in the rehabilitated forest was 20% lower in low-N plots (71 ± 4 mg CO₂-C m⁻² h⁻¹) and 10% lower in medium-N plots (80 ± 4 mg CO₂-C m⁻² h⁻¹) than in the control plots (89 ± 5 mg CO₂-C m⁻² h⁻¹), and the differences between the control and low-N or medium-N treatments were statistically significant. In disturbed forest, annual mean soil respiration rate was 5% lower in low-N plots (63 ± 3 mg CO₂-C m⁻² h⁻¹) and 8% lower in medium-N plots (61 ± 3 mg CO₂-C m⁻² h⁻¹) than in the control plots (66 ± 4 mg CO₂-C m⁻² h⁻¹), but the differences among treatments were not significant. The depressed effects of experimental N deposition occurred mostly in the hot and wet growing season. Our results suggest that response of soil respiration to elevated N deposition in the reforested tropical forests may vary depending on the status of human disturbance. Responsible Editor: Hans Lambers.     

土壤细菌呼吸对西双版纳热带森林恢复的响应

揭示不同恢复阶段热带森林土壤细菌呼吸季节变化及其主控因素,对于探明土壤细菌呼吸对热带森林恢复的响应机制具有重要的科学意义。以西双版纳不同恢复阶段热带森林(白背桐群落、崖豆藤群落和高檐蒲桃群落)为研究对象,运用真菌呼吸抑制法及高通量宏基因组测序技术分别测定土壤细菌呼吸速率和细菌多样性,并采用回归分析及结构方程模型揭示热带森林恢复过程中土壤细菌多样性、pH、土壤碳氮组分变化对土壤细菌呼吸速率的影响特征。结果表明：1)不同恢复阶段热带森林土壤细菌呼吸速率表现为：高檐蒲桃群落((1.51±0.62)CO₂ mg g^-1 h^-1)显著高于崖豆藤群落((1.16±0.56)CO₂ mg g^-1 h^-1)和白背桐群落((0.82±0.60)CO₂ mg g^-1 h^-1)(P<0.05)。2)不同恢复阶段土壤细菌呼吸速率呈显著的单峰型季节变化(P<0.05),最大值均出现在9月：高檐蒲桃群落((...     

海南岛尖峰岭热带山地雨林土壤和凋落物呼吸研究

采用 CI-30 1 PS红外 CO2 测定系统对海南岛尖峰岭热带山地雨林土壤和凋落物的呼吸进行测定结果表明 ,原始林土壤呼吸速率昼夜变化表现为多峰曲线 ,最高峰在 2 0 :0 0 ,在 1 2 :0 0和 4 :0 0～ 6 :0 0出现 2个次高峰 ,平均呼吸速率为1 0 .6 85 3μmol· m- 2· s- 1;更新林土壤呼吸速率变化大 ,平均为 1 4 .75 36 μmol· m- 2· s- 1,高峰主要在 1 3:0 0和 2 :0 0 ;凋落物分解过程在林地 CO2 排放总量中贡献很少 ,仅占 1 .74 1 %～ 2 .831 % ;原始林凋落物 CO2 排放量明显比更新林大 ,而各层的排放比例不一样 ,原始林是 b层 (半分解凋落物及腐殖质层 ) >a层 (未分解凋落物层 ) ,更新林是 b层相似文献   

土壤湿度对中国南部热带森林土壤甲烷吸收的影响

森林土壤是一个重要的大气甲烷的汇。然而,相较于寒带和温带,在热带尤其是东南亚地区,森林土壤甲烷通量的观测较少,这限制了目前对热带森林土壤甲烷通量与环境因子之间关系的认识,也给热带森林土壤甲烷汇的估算带来了一定的不确定性。在中国海南省吊罗山国家森林公园的热带森林土壤,采用激光光谱法测量了2016年9月至2018年9月逐月的土壤甲烷通量,并分析了其与周围环境因子的关系。结果表明：研究区土壤是甲烷的汇,山顶样地的年平均吸收量为0.95 kg CH₄-C hm^-2 a^-1,山脚样地的年平均吸收量为1.93 kg CH₄-C hm^-2 a^-1。干季(11月—次年4月)的甲烷吸收通量明显高于湿季(5—10月),占到全年甲烷吸收的68%。山顶样地年平均土壤湿度为19.2%,年内的波动较小(2.8%)。而山脚样地的年平均湿度相对较低,为12.7%,且年内波动大(5.4%)。土壤湿度是控制甲烷吸收最主要的环境因子,可以解释月际甲烷吸收变化的76%,甲烷吸收通量与土壤温度的相...     

蚂蚁筑巢对高檐蒲桃热带森林群落土壤呼吸的影响

蚂蚁筑巢能够改变热带森林土壤微生物与土壤理化性质的状况,从而对土壤呼吸时间动态产生重要影响。本研究以西双版纳高檐蒲桃热带森林群落为研究对象,采用Li-6400-09便携式土壤呼吸测定仪对蚂蚁筑巢地与非筑巢地土壤呼吸进行测定。研究结果表明:(1)高檐蒲桃群落土壤呼吸呈明显的单峰型季节变化趋势,且土壤呼吸速率蚂蚁筑巢地(4.96μmol CO_2m~(-2)s~(-1))高于非筑巢地(4.42μmol CO_2m~(-2)s~(-1))。(2)土壤温度和土壤水分显著影响土壤呼吸的时间动态(P0.01);蚂蚁筑巢显著改变巢内温度与水分(P0.05),进而影响土壤呼吸动态。土壤温度对土壤呼吸动态的贡献:蚁巢(83.8%—91.8%)大于非巢地(81.2%—83.1%),但由于筑巢地土壤湿度低于非巢地,土壤水分对土壤呼吸动态的贡献率表现为蚁巢低于非筑巢地。(3)蚂蚁筑巢显著增加土壤微生物生物量(P0.05),从而对土壤呼吸速率产生极显著的影响(P0.01)。蚂蚁筑巢引起微生物生物量碳的增加能够解释76.9%—71.1%的土壤呼吸变化。(4)蚂蚁筑巢引起土壤理化性质变化对土壤呼吸产生一定的影响。土壤容重与土壤呼吸速率呈显著负相关;土壤呼吸速率与土壤微生物量碳、有机质、易氧化有机碳、全氮、硝氮和铵氮显著正相关(P0.05或P0.01)。因此,蚂蚁筑巢显著改变土壤微生物(如微生物生物量碳)、土壤物理性质(如土壤温度与水分)、土壤化学性质(如碳和氮养分),进而对热带森林土壤呼吸产生重要影响。     

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。     

Partitioning soil respiration of temperate forest ecosystems in northeastern China

Quantifying soil respiration components and their relations to environmental controls are essential to estimate both local and regional carbon (C) budgets of forest ecosystems. In this study, we used the trenching-plot and infrared gas exchange analyzer approaches to determine heterotrophic (R_H) and autotrophic respiration (R_A) in the soil surface CO₂ flux for six major temperate forest ecosystems in northeastern China. The ecosystems were: Mongolian oak forest (dominated by Quercus mongolica), aspen-birch forest (dominated by Populous davidiana and Betula platyphylla), mixed wood forest (composed of P. davidiana, B. platyphylla, Fraxinus mandshurica, Tilia amurensis, Acer amono, etc.), hardwood forest (dominated by F. mandshurica, Juglans mandshurica, and Phellodendron amurense), Korean pine (Pinus koraiensis), and Dahurian larch (Larix gmelinii) plantations, representing the typical secondary forest ecosystems in this region. Our specific objectives were to: (1) quantify R_H and its relationship with the environmental factors of the forest ecosystems, (2) characterize seasonal dynamics in the contribution of root respiration to total soil surface CO₂ flux (RC), and (3) compare annual CO₂ fluxes from R_H and R_A among the six forest ecosystems. Soil temperature, water content, and their interactions significantly affected R_H in the ecosystems and accounted for 46.5%–78.8% variations in R_H. However, the environmental controlling factors of R_H varied with ecosystem types: soil temperature in hardwood and Dahurian larch forest ecosystems, soil temperature, and water content in the others. The RC for hardwood, poplar-birch, mixed wood, Mongolian oak, Korean pine, and Dahurian larch forest ecosystems varied between 32.40%–51.44%, 39.72%–46.65%, 17.94%–47.74%, 34.31%–37.36%, 33.78%–37.02%, and 14.39%–35.75%, respectively. The annual CO₂ fluxes from R_H were significantly greater than those from R_A for all the ecosystems, ranging from 337–540 g Cm^-2a^-1 and 88‐331 gCm^-2a^-1 for R_H and R_A, respectively. The annual CO₂ fluxes from R_H and R_A differed significantly among the six forest ecosystems.     

Different responses of soil respiration to environmental factors across forest stages in a Southeast Asian forest

Soil respiration (SR) in forests contributes significant carbon dioxide emissions from terrestrial ecosystems and is highly sensitive to environmental changes, including soil temperature, soil moisture, microbial community, surface litter, and vegetation type. Indeed, a small change in SR may have large impacts on the global carbon balance, further influencing feedbacks to climate change. Thus, detailed characterization of SR responses to changes in environmental conditions is needed to accurately estimate carbon dioxide emissions from forest ecosystems. However, data for such analyses are still limited, especially in tropical forests of Southeast Asia where various stages of forest succession exist due to previous land‐use changes. In this study, we measured SR and some environmental factors including soil temperature (ST), soil moisture (SM), and organic matter content (OM) in three successional tropical forests in both wet and dry periods. We also analyzed the relationships between SR and these environmental variables. Results showed that SR was higher in the wet period and in older forests. Although no response of SR to ST was found in younger forest stages, SR of the old‐growth forest significantly responded to ST, plausibly due to the nonuniform forest structure, including gaps, that resulted in a wide range of ST. Across forest stages, SM was the limiting factor for SR in the wet period, whereas SR significantly varied with OM in the dry period. Overall, our results indicated that the responses of SR to environmental factors varied temporally and across forest succession. Nevertheless, these findings are still preliminary and call for detailed investigations on SR and its variations with environmental factors in Southeast Asian tropical forests where patches of successional stages dominate.     

Clean rain promotes fine root growth and soil respiration in a Norway spruce forest

Soil acidification and N saturation are considered to affect the decomposition of soil organic matter as well as growth and mortality of fine roots in many forest soils. Here we report from a field experiment where ‘clean rain’ has been applied to the soil for about 10 years under a roofed plot of a 71‐year‐old Norway spruce plantation at Solling, Central Germany. Reduced amounts of protons (?78%), sulphate (?53%), ammonium (?86%), and nitrate (?49%) were sprayed on the soil surface of the clean rain plot between 1992 and 2001. In an adjacent roofed control plot, throughfall was collected and immediately re‐sprinkled below the roof construction without any chemical manipulation. One year before the clean rain treatment started, live and dead fine root masses (≤2 mm) were determined from undisturbed soil cores down to 40 cm mineral soil depth. Total live fine root mass was significantly lower in the clean rain plot than in the control plot. After the first sampling, the soil holes were refilled with quartz sand and repeatedly sampled in June 1992, June 1996, and October 2001. There were no differences in live and dead fine root masses between the plots in 1992 and 1996. In 2001, both live and dead fine root masses of the clean rain plot were about twice as high as in the control plot, indicating that fine root growth recovered in the mineral soil following 10 years of clean rain treatment. Moreover, the clean rain treatment significantly reduced the total N concentrations of live fine roots and 1‐year‐old needles. Our results suggest that the reduced N input promoted fine root growth to compensate N deficiency. Reduced Al concentration in soil solution may have contributed to the recovery of fine root growth, however, the toxicity of Al species is largely unknown. Mean annual soil respiration rate was 24% higher in the period from 2000 to 2001, indicating that the clean rain treatment increased respiration of roots and heterotrophic microorganisms within the rhizosphere. Laboratory incubation of samples from the organic horizon and the top mineral soil revealed no differences between the plots in the decay rate of soil organic matter. Our results suggest that strong reductions in atmospheric N deposition from about 30 to 10 kg N ha^?1 yr^?1 and decreasing acid stress can have beneficial effects on growth of fine roots in the mineral soil within a decade. We conclude that biological recovery under reduced atmospheric loads can affect the nutrient and carbon budget of spruce soils in the long run.     

Effect of clear-cutting silviculture on soil respiration in a subtropical forest of China

Aims Clear-cutting is a common forest management practice, especially in subtropical China. However, the potential ecological consequences of clear-cutting remain unclear. In particular, the effect of clear-cutting on soil processes, such as the carbon cycle, has not been quantified in subtropical forests. Here, we investigated the response of soil respiration (Rs) to clear-cutting during a 12-month period in a subtropical forest in eastern China.Methods We randomly selected four clear-cut (CC) plots and four corresponding undisturbed forest (UF) plots. Measurements of Rs were made at monthly time points and were combined with continuous climatic measurements in both CC and UF. Daily Rs was estimated by interpolating data with an exponential model dependent on soil temperature. Daily Rs was cumulated to annual Rs estimates.Important findings In the first year after clear-cutting, annual estimates of Rs in CC (508±23g C m ?2 yr^-1) showed no significant difference to UF plots (480±12g C m ?2 yr^-1). During the summer, soil temperatures were usually higher, whereas the soil volumetric water content was lower in CC than in UF plots. The long-term effects of clear-cutting on Rs are not significant, although there might be effects during the first several months after clear-cutting. Compared with previous work, this pattern was more pronounced in our subtropical forest than in the temperate and boreal forests that have been studied by others. With aboveground residuals off-site after clear-cutting, our results indicate that the stimulation of increasing root debris, as well as environmental changes, will not lead to a significant increase in Rs. In addition, long-term Rs will not show a significant decrease from the termination of root respiration, and this observation might be because of the influence of fast-growing vegetation after clear-cutting in situ .     

Long‐term nitrogen addition modifies microbial composition and functions for slow carbon cycling and increased sequestration in tropical forest soil

Nitrogen (N) deposition is a component of global change that has considerable impact on belowground carbon (C) dynamics. Plant growth stimulation and alterations of fungal community composition and functions are the main mechanisms driving soil C gains following N deposition in N‐limited temperate forests. In N‐rich tropical forests, however, N deposition generally has minor effects on plant growth; consequently, C storage in soil may strongly depend on the microbial processes that drive litter and soil organic matter decomposition. Here, we investigated how microbial functions in old‐growth tropical forest soil responded to 13 years of N addition at four rates: 0 (Control), 50 (Low‐N), 100 (Medium‐N), and 150 (High‐N) kg N ha^?1 year^?1. Soil organic carbon (SOC) content increased under High‐N, corresponding to a 33% decrease in CO₂ efflux, and reductions in relative abundances of bacteria as well as genes responsible for cellulose and chitin degradation. A 113% increase in N₂O emission was positively correlated with soil acidification and an increase in the relative abundances of denitrification genes (narG and norB). Soil acidification induced by N addition decreased available P concentrations, and was associated with reductions in the relative abundance of phytase. The decreased relative abundance of bacteria and key functional gene groups for C degradation were related to slower SOC decomposition, indicating the key mechanisms driving SOC accumulation in the tropical forest soil subjected to High‐N addition. However, changes in microbial functional groups associated with N and P cycling led to coincidentally large increases in N₂O emissions, and exacerbated soil P deficiency. These two factors partially offset the perceived beneficial effects of N addition on SOC storage in tropical forest soils. These findings suggest a potential to incorporate microbial community and functions into Earth system models considering their effects on greenhouse gas emission, biogeochemical processes, and biodiversity of tropical ecosystems.     

Large seasonal variation of soil respiration in a secondary tropical moist forest in Puerto Rico

Tropical forests are the largest contributors to global emissions of carbon dioxide (CO₂) to the atmosphere via soil respiration (R_s). As such, identifying the main controls on R_s in tropical forests is essential for accurately projecting the consequences of ongoing and future global environmental changes to the global C cycle. We measured hourly R_s in a secondary tropical moist forest in Puerto Rico over a 3‐year period to (a) quantify the magnitude of R_s and (b) identify the role of climatic, substrate, and nutrient controls on the seasonality of R_s. Across 3 years of measurements, mean R_s was 7.16 ± 0.02 μmol CO₂ m^‐2 s^‐1 (or 2,710 g C m^‐2 year^‐1) and showed significant seasonal variation. Despite small month‐to‐month variation in temperature (~4°C), we found significant positive relationships between daily and monthly R_s with both air and soil temperature, highlighting the importance of temperature as a driver of R_s even in warm ecosystems, such as tropical forests. We also found a significant parabolic relationship between mean daily volumetric soil moisture and mean daily R_s, with an optimal moisture value of 0.34 m³ m^‐3. Given the relatively consistent climate at this site, the large range in mean monthly R_s (~7 μmol CO₂ m^‐2 s^‐1) was surprising and suggests that even small changes in climate can have large implications for ecosystem respiration. The strong positive relationship of R_s with temperature at monthly timescales particularly stands out, as moisture is usually considered a stronger control of R_s in tropical forests that already experience warm temperatures year‐round. Moreover, our results revealed the strong seasonality of R_s in tropical moist forests, which given its high magnitude, can represent a significant contribution to the seasonal patterns of atmospheric (CO₂) globally.     

西双版纳热带季节雨林与橡胶林土壤呼吸的季节变化

采用挖壕沟法与红外气体分析法,研究了西双版纳热带季节雨林和人工橡胶林内土壤呼吸包括根系呼吸、异养呼吸的干湿季动态变化.结果表明：季节雨林内土壤呼吸和异养呼吸速率均显著大于橡胶林(P＜0.01),但根系呼吸差异不显著;土壤温湿度是呼吸速率变化的主要影响因子,季节雨林和橡胶林内土壤呼吸和异养呼吸速率均为雨季＞干热季＞雾凉季,但季节雨林内根系呼吸为雨季＞雾凉季＞干热季,而橡胶林内为雾凉季＞雨季＞干热季;季节雨林内根系呼吸对土壤呼吸的贡献率(29%)小于橡胶林(42%,P＜0.01),而季节雨林内异养呼吸对土壤呼吸的贡献率为71%、橡胶林为58%;当5 cm土壤温度在12 ℃～32 ℃范围内变化时,季节雨林内土壤呼吸及根系呼吸、异养呼吸的Q₁₀值均大于橡胶林,且异养呼吸的Q₁₀值最大而根系呼吸的Q₁₀值最小.     

格氏栲天然林和人工林土壤呼吸对干湿交替的响应

通过室外定位观测前期连续干旱情况下天然降雨及室内模拟不同温度 (10℃、19℃和 2 8℃ )下测定格氏栲天然林、格氏栲人工林和杉木人工林土壤增湿后呼吸动态 ,探讨不同林型土壤呼吸对土壤干湿交替的响应。结果发现室外定位观测和室内模拟试验均出现了增湿后土壤呼吸骤升至最大值及随后逐渐衰减的现象 ,且这种变化可由时间过程模型 (R=ate- bt c)较好地进行拟合。温度升高提升了土壤呼吸对干湿交替的响应值 RV。格氏栲天然林土壤呼吸对干湿交替的响应对温度最为敏感 ,随温度升高其响应指数 RE增加 ;杉木林土壤呼吸对干湿交替的响应指数 RE最高 ,且对土壤水分变化最敏感 ,但随温度升高超过一定限度后其响应指数 RE反而降低     

Nitrogen deposition and forest nitrogen cycling along an urban–rural transect in southern China

There is increasing concern over the impact of atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition on forest ecosystems in the tropical and subtropical areas. In this study, we quantified atmospheric N deposition and revealed current plant and soil N status in 14 forests along a 150 km urban to rural transect in southern China, with an emphasis on examining whether foliar δ¹⁵N can be used as an indicator of N saturation. Bulk deposition ranged from 16.2 to 38.2 kg N ha^?1 yr^?1, while the throughfall covered a larger range of 11.7–65.1 kg N ha^?1 yr^?1. Foliar N concentration, NO₃^? leaching to stream, and soil NO₃^? concentration were low and NO₃^? production was negligible in some rural forests, indicating that primary production in these forests may be limited by N supply. But all these N variables were enhanced in suburban and urban forests. Across the study transect, throughfall N input was correlated positively with soil nitrification and NO₃^? leaching to stream, and negatively with pH values in soil and stream water. Foliar δ¹⁵N was between ?6.6‰ and 0.7‰, and was negatively correlated with soil NO₃^? concentration and NO₃^? leaching to stream across the entire transect, demonstrating that an increased N supply does not necessarily increase forest δ¹⁵N values. We proposed several potential mechanism that could contribute to the δ¹⁵N pattern, including (1) increased plant uptake of ¹⁵N‐depleted soil NO₃^?, (2) foliage uptake of ¹⁵N‐depleted NH₄⁺, (3) increased utilization of soil inorganic N relative to dissolved organic N, and (4) increased fractionation during plant N uptake under higher soil N availability.     

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.     

Evaluation of soil respiration and soil CO2 concentration in a lowland moist forest in Panama

Soil gas exchange was investigated in a lowland moist forest in Panama. Soil water table level and soil redox potentials indicate that the soils are not waterlogged. Substantial microspatial variation exists for soil respiration and soil CO₂ concentration. During the rainy season, soil CO₂ at 40 cm below the surface accumulates to 2.3%–4.6% and is correlated with rainfall during the previous two weeks. Temporal changes in soil CO₂ are rapid, large and share similar trends between sampling points. Possible effects of soil CO₂ changes on plant growth or phenology are discussed.     

模拟氮沉降凋落物管理对樟树人工林土壤呼吸的影响

以湖南省植物园樟树人工林为对象,研究了模拟氮沉降下,不同凋落物处理对土壤呼吸的影响。设置4个施氮水平,分别为CK(0 kg N hm~(-2)a~(-1))、LN(50 kg N hm~(-2)a~(-1))、NM(150 kg N hm~(-2)a~(-1))以及HN(300 kg N hm~(-2)a~(-1));凋落物处理分别为去除凋落物、添加凋落物以及凋落物对照组。经过为期2年的观测研究,结果表明:(1)模拟氮沉降不同凋落物处理下,土壤温度呈现显著的季节性变化,但不存在显著差异;土壤湿度呈现显著的波动性变化,施氮及凋落物管理对土壤温度无影响。土壤湿度仅受凋落物管理的影响。在不同施氮水平下,去除凋落物的土壤湿度与加倍凋落物的土壤湿度均存在显著差异性。(2)模拟氮沉降不同凋落物处理下,土壤呼吸均呈现显著的季节性变化,最大值出现在6—8月;最小值出现在1月,且在生长季期间(4—8月),不同处理下土壤呼吸存在显著差异。(3)施氮对土壤呼吸表现为抑制作用,添加凋落物对土壤呼吸起促进作用,去除凋落物对土壤呼吸起抑制作用。(4)在凋落物对照组中,LN、MN、HN较CK相比,土壤呼吸速率年均值分别降低了35.4%、30.6%、36.8%,且各施氮水平与CK存在显著差异(P0.05);添加凋落物处理下,LN、MN、HN处理较CK相比,土壤呼吸速率年均值土壤呼吸分别降低了23.2%、15.8%、14.7%。去除凋落物处理下,LN、MN、HN较CK相比,土壤呼吸速率年均值分别降低了3.5%、0.5%、-11.6%。且添加或去除凋落物均能削弱施氮对土壤呼吸的抑制作用,且这种作用随着施氮水平的增加而增大。(5)土壤呼吸与5 cm处土壤温度存在显著相关性(P0.05),土壤温度可解释土壤呼吸变异的47.76%—72.61%;与土壤湿度呈现正相关,但未达到显著相关水平(P0.05)。     

Disentangling the long‐term effects of disturbance on soil biogeochemistry in a wet tropical forest ecosystem

Climate change is increasing the intensity of severe tropical storms and cyclones (also referred to as hurricanes or typhoons), with major implications for tropical forest structure and function. These changes in disturbance regime are likely to play an important role in regulating ecosystem carbon (C) and nutrient dynamics in tropical and subtropical forests. Canopy opening and debris deposition resulting from severe storms have complex and interacting effects on ecosystem biogeochemistry. Disentangling these complex effects will be critical to better understand the long‐term implications of climate change on ecosystem C and nutrient dynamics. In this study, we used a well‐replicated, long‐term (10 years) canopy and debris manipulation experiment in a wet tropical forest to determine the separate and combined effects of canopy opening and debris deposition on soil C and nutrients throughout the soil profile (1 m). Debris deposition alone resulted in higher soil C and N concentrations, both at the surface (0–10 cm) and at depth (50–80 cm). Concentrations of NaOH‐organic P also increased significantly in the debris deposition only treatment (20–90 cm depth), as did NaOH‐total P (20–50 cm depth). Canopy opening, both with and without debris deposition, significantly increased NaOH‐inorganic P concentrations from 70 to 90 cm depth. Soil iron concentrations were a strong predictor of both C and P patterns throughout the soil profile. Our results demonstrate that both surface‐ and subsoils have the potential to significantly increase C and nutrient storage a decade after the sudden deposition of disturbance‐related organic debris. Our results also show that these effects may be partially offset by rapid decomposition and decreases in litterfall associated with canopy opening. The significant effects of debris deposition on soil C and nutrient concentrations at depth (>50 cm), suggest that deep soils are more dynamic than previously believed, and can serve as sinks of C and nutrients derived from disturbance‐induced pulses of organic matter inputs.     

Winter soil respiration during soil-freezing process in a boreal forest in Northeast China

Aims Boreal forest is the largest and contains the most soil carbon among global terrestrial biomes. Soil respiration during the prolonged winter period may play an important role in the carbon cycles in boreal forests. This study aims to explore the characteristics of winter soil respiration in the boreal forest and to show how it is regulated by environmental factors, such as soil temperature, soil moisture and snowpack.Methods Soil respiration in an old-growth larch forest (Larix gmelinii Ruppr.) in Northeast China was intensively measured during the winter soil-freezing process in 2011 using an automated soil CO₂ flux system. The effects of soil temperature, soil moisture and thin snowpack on soil respiration and its temperature sensitivity were investigated.Important findings Total soil respiration and heterotrophic respiration both showed a declining trend during the observation period, and no significant difference was found between soil respiration and heterotrophic respiration until the snowpack exceeded 20cm. Soil respiration was exponentially correlated with soil temperature and its temperature sensitivity (Q 10 value) for the entire measurement duration was 10.5. Snow depth and soil moisture both showed positive effects on the temperature sensitivity of soil respiration. Based on the change in the Q 10 value, we proposed a 'freeze–thaw critical point' hypothesis, which states that the Q 10 value above freeze–thaw critical point is much higher than that below it (16.0 vs. 3.5), and this was probably regulated by the abrupt change in soil water availability during the soil-freezing process. Our findings suggest interactive effects of multiple environmental factors on winter soil respiration and recommend adopting the freeze–thaw critical point to model soil respiration in a changing winter climate.