Partitioning soil respiration in lower subtropical forests at different successional stages in southern China

doi:10.3724/SP.J.1258.2011.00946

Abstract

Abstract:

Aims Quantifying forest soil respiration (R_S) components is vital to accurately evaluate carbon sequestration of forest ecosystems. Our objectives were to determine (1) seasonal variations in R_S and its components of autotrophic (R_A) and heterotropic respiration (R_H) in subtropical forests, (2) the relative contributions of R_A and R_H to R_S in the three subtropical forests and (3) relationships between R_S and temperature and water content.
Methods We used the trenching-plot and infrared gas exchange analyzer approaches to determine R_A and R_H in the soil surface CO₂ flux for monsoon evergreen broad-leaved forest (MEBF) and its early succession communities, coniferous and broad-leaved mixed forest (MF) and coniferous masson pine forest (MPF) in southern China. Rate of R_S was measured twice a month in the hot, humid season (April-September) and once a month in the cool, dry season (October-March). Soil temperature and soil water content were measured at the same time.
Important findings R_S, R_A and R_H varied markedly during the year with high rates in the hot, humid season and low rates in the cool, dry season. R_S rate measured in the trenched plots (R_H) at these forests showed an increasing trend with succession, but the change was not statistically significant. R_S and R_A followed a similar seasonal trend and were highest in MEBF and lowest in MF. Contribution of R_A to R_S was (39.48±15.49)%, (33.29±17.19)% and (44.52±10.67)% in MPF, MF and MEBF, respectively. Repeated measurement ANOVA indicated that soil temperature was the main factor that affected R_S and its components, and there was a significant exponential relationship between them. While there was no significant relationship between soil water content and soil respiration flux, there appears to be a mild inhibition phenomenon. Soil Q₁₀ values increased with succession, whereas autotrophic respiration (R_A) is more sensitive to temperature in all stands.

Key words: autotrophic respiration, forest succession, heterotrophic respiration, lower subtropical forest, Q₁₀

HAN Tian-Feng, ZHOU Guo-Yi, LI Yue-Lin, LIU Ju-Xiu, ZHANG De-Qiang. Partitioning soil respiration in lower subtropical forests at different successional stages in southern China[J]. Chin J Plant Ecol, 2011, 35(9): 946-954.

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Figures/Tables 10

References 41

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样地 Site	马尾松针叶林 Coniferous masson pine forest (MPF)	针阔叶混交林 Coniferous and broad- leaved mixed forest (MF)	季风常绿阔叶林 Monsoon evergreen broad- leaved forest (MEBF)
演替阶段 Successional stage	初级 Initial	过渡 Transitional	顶级 Climax
生物量 Biomass (t·hm^-2)^a	122	260	380
细根生物量 Fine root biomass (mg C·hm^-2)^b	1.9	2.8	4.9
凋落物量 Litterfall production (t·hm^-2·a^-1)^a	3.31	8.50	8.28
土壤微生物生物量 Soil microbial biomass (t^-1 dry soil)^c	1.2	1.4	2.1
乔木密度 Tree density (No.·hm^-2)^d	767	1 933	1 729
平均树高 Mean tree height (m)^d	5.81	5.46	7.02
平均胸径 Mean diameter at breast height (cm)^d	12.16	7.32	10.18
叶面积指数 Leaf area index^a	3.6	4.8	6.2
郁闭度 Canopy coverage (%)^a	50	>90	>95
优势种 Dominant species^e	马尾松 Pinus massoniana, 三叉苦 Evodia lept, 桃金娘 Rhodomyrtus tomentosa	木荷 Schima superba, 锥栗 Castanopsis chinensis, 马尾松 Pinus massoniana	锥栗 Castanopsis chinensis, 木荷 Schima superba, 厚壳桂 Cryp tocarya chinensis

样地 Site	马尾松针叶林 Coniferous masson pine forest (MPF)	针阔叶混交林 Coniferous and broad- leaved mixed forest (MF)	季风常绿阔叶林 Monsoon evergreen broad- leaved forest (MEBF)
演替阶段 Successional stage	初级 Initial	过渡 Transitional	顶级 Climax
生物量 Biomass (t·hm^-2)^a	122	260	380
细根生物量 Fine root biomass (mg C·hm^-2)^b	1.9	2.8	4.9
凋落物量 Litterfall production (t·hm^-2·a^-1)^a	3.31	8.50	8.28
土壤微生物生物量 Soil microbial biomass (t^-1 dry soil)^c	1.2	1.4	2.1
乔木密度 Tree density (No.·hm^-2)^d	767	1 933	1 729
平均树高 Mean tree height (m)^d	5.81	5.46	7.02
平均胸径 Mean diameter at breast height (cm)^d	12.16	7.32	10.18
叶面积指数 Leaf area index^a	3.6	4.8	6.2
郁闭度 Canopy coverage (%)^a	50	>90	>95
优势种 Dominant species^e	马尾松 Pinus massoniana, 三叉苦 Evodia lept, 桃金娘 Rhodomyrtus tomentosa	木荷 Schima superba, 锥栗 Castanopsis chinensis, 马尾松 Pinus massoniana	锥栗 Castanopsis chinensis, 木荷 Schima superba, 厚壳桂 Cryp tocarya chinensis

森林类型 Forest type	土壤呼吸 Soil respiration R_S (μmol CO₂·m^-2·s^-1)	异养呼吸 Heterotropic respiration R_H (μmol CO₂·m^-2·s^-1)	自养呼吸 R_A (μmol CO₂·m^-2·s^-1)
2009
马尾松针叶林 MPF	2.34 ± 0.63^a	1.55 ± 0.67^a	0.79 ± 0.51^a
针阔叶混交林 MF	2.45 ± 0.85^a	1.78 ± 0.88^a	0.66 ± 0.39^a
季风常绿阔叶林 MEBF	2.60 ± 0.66^a	1.88 ± 0.86^a	0.72 ± 0.45^a
2010
马尾松针叶林 MPF	4.16 ± 1.59^a	2.51 ± 0.95^a	1.65 ± 0.98^ab
针阔叶混交林 MF	3.89 ± 2.00^a	2.57 ± 1.06^a	1.33 ± 1.29^b
季风常绿阔叶林 MEBF	4.90 ± 2.48^b	2.69 ± 1.15^a	2.21 ± 1.61^a

森林类型 Forest type	土壤呼吸 Soil respiration R_S (μmol CO₂·m^-2·s^-1)	异养呼吸 Heterotropic respiration R_H (μmol CO₂·m^-2·s^-1)	自养呼吸 R_A (μmol CO₂·m^-2·s^-1)
2009
马尾松针叶林 MPF	2.34 ± 0.63^a	1.55 ± 0.67^a	0.79 ± 0.51^a
针阔叶混交林 MF	2.45 ± 0.85^a	1.78 ± 0.88^a	0.66 ± 0.39^a
季风常绿阔叶林 MEBF	2.60 ± 0.66^a	1.88 ± 0.86^a	0.72 ± 0.45^a
2010
马尾松针叶林 MPF	4.16 ± 1.59^a	2.51 ± 0.95^a	1.65 ± 0.98^ab
针阔叶混交林 MF	3.89 ± 2.00^a	2.57 ± 1.06^a	1.33 ± 1.29^b
季风常绿阔叶林 MEBF	4.90 ± 2.48^b	2.69 ± 1.15^a	2.21 ± 1.61^a

森林类型 Forest type	自养呼吸 R_A (g C·m^-2·a^-1)	异养呼吸 R_H (g C·m^-2·a^-1)	土壤呼吸 R_S (g C·m^-2·a^-1)	自养呼吸的贡献率 RC (%)
马尾松针叶林 MPF	558.94^ab	856.92^a	1692.1^ab	39.48 ± 15.49^ab
针阔叶混交林 MF	448.21^a	898.28^a	1346.5^a	33.29 ± 17.19^a
季风常绿阔叶林 MEBF	753.34^b	938.72^a	1415.9^b	44.52 ± 10.67^b