Moisture and soil texture effects on soil CO2 efflux components in southeastern mixed pine forests
John J. Dilustro*, Beverly Collins, Lisa Duncan, Chris Crawford
Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, University of Georgia, Drawer E,
Aiken, SC 29802, USA
Received 27 April 2004; received in revised form 8 September 2004; accepted 9 September 2004
Abstract
Monitoring soil CO2 efflux rates and identifying controlling
factors, such as forest composition or soil texture, can help guide forest
management and will likely gain relevance as atmospheric CO2
continues to increase. We examined soil CO2 efflux and potential
controlling factors in managed mixed pine forests in southwestern Georgia.
Soil CO2 efflux was monitored periodically in two stands that
differed in soil texture in 2001 and 2002, and in six additional stands
in 2003. We also monitored controlling factors: soil temperature, moisture,
organic layer mass, and A layer depth. Soil moisture and CO2
efflux varied with soil texture differences among the stands. As expected,
soil temperature had a strong influence on soil CO2 efflux.
Soil moisture, organic layer mass, and A layer depth also were correlated
with soil CO2 efflux during periods of water stress, but these
relationships differed with soil texture. Forest management activities
can alter components of soil CO2 efflux, including soil carbon
pools, temperature, and moisture; understanding the underlying variation
of these components and resultant CO2 efflux over soil types
can help guide management toward desired forest carbon balance trends
in southeastern mixed pine forests.
Keywords: Soil CO2 efflux; Soil respiration;
Mixed pine; Soil temperature; Microbial biomass carbon
SREL Reprint #2806
Dilustro, J., B. Collins, L. Duncan and C. Crawford. 2005. Moisture and soil texture effects on soil C02 efflux components in southeastern mixed pine forests. Forest Ecology and Management 204:85-95.
