Impact of Different Rates of Nitrogen Supplementation on Soil PhysicochemicalProperties and Microbial Diversity in Goji Berry

Goji berry(Lycium barbarum L.)is substantially dependent on nitrogen fertilizer application,which can signifi-cantly enhance fruit yield and Goji berry industrial development in Ningxia,China.This study aimed to analyze the functions of differential nitrogen application rates including low(N1),medium(N2),and high(N3)levels in soil microbial community structure(bacterial and fungal)at 2 diverse soil depths(0-20,20-40 cm)through high-throughput sequencing technology by targeting 16S RNA gene and ITS1&ITS2 regions.All the observed physicochemical parameters exhibited significant improvement(p<0.05)with increased levels of nitrogen and the highest values for most parameters were observed at N2.However,pH decreased(p<0.05)gradually.The alpha and beta diversity analyses for bacterial and fungal communities’metagenome displayed more similarities than differences among all groups.The top bacterial and fungal phyla and genera suggested no obvious(p>0.05)differences among three group treatments(N1,N2,and N3).Furthermore,the functional enrichment analysis demonstrated significant(p<0.05)enrichment of quorum sensing,cysteine and methionine metabolism,and transcriptional machinery for bacterial communities,while various saprotrophic functional roles for fungal communities.Conclusively,moderately reducing the use of N-supplemented fertilizers is conducive to increasing soil nitrogen utilization rate,which can contribute to sustainable agriculture practices through improved soil quality,and microbial community structure and functions.

Path Analysis on the Meteorological Factors Impacting Soil Respiration Rate of Wheat Field

[Objective]The experiment aimed to study the effects of meteorological factors under different weather conditions on soil respiration. [ Method] The path analysis was used to analyze meteorological factors which influenced soil respiration of wheat field under different weather condition and at jointing stage. [ Result] In sunny day, the correlations between ground temperature at 5 cm, solar radiation, air relative humidity, air temperature and soil respiration were all at significant level while solar radiation and ground temperature at 5 cm were the major factors which influenced soil respiration. In cloudy day, solar radiation was a major factor which influenced soil respiration.[ Conclusion] The soil respiration and surplus path coefficient in sunny day were all higher than these in cloudy day, which demonstrated that except influenced by ground temperature, air temperature, solar radiation and air relative humidity, the soil respiration was also influenced by other factors especially biological factor.

Moso bamboo expansion decreased soil heterotrophic respiration but increased arbuscular mycorrhizal mycelial respiration in a subtropical broadleaved forest

Moso bamboo(Phyllostachys Pubescens)expansion into adjacent forests has been widely reported to affect plant diversity and its association with mycorrhizal fungi in subtropical China,which will likely have significant impacts on soil respiration.However,there is still limited information on how Moso bamboo expansion changes soil respiration components and their linkage with microbial community composition and activity.Based on a mesh exclusion method,soil respirations derived from roots,arbuscular mycorrhizal(AM)mycelium,and free-living microbes were investigated in a pure Moso bamboo forest(expanded),an adjacent broadleaved forest(nonexpanded),and a mixed bamboo-broadleaved forest(expanding).Our results showed that bamboo expansion decreased the cumulative CO_(2)effluxes from total soil respiration,root respiration and soil heterotrophic respiration(by 19.01%,30.34%,and 29.92%on average),whereas increased those from AM mycelium(by 78.67%in comparison with the broadleaved forests).Bamboo expansion significantly decreased soil organic carbon(C)content,bacterial and fungal abundances,and enzyme activities involved in C,N and P cycling whereas enhanced the interactive relationships among bacterial communities.In contrast,the ingrowth of AM mycelium increased the activities ofβ-glucosidase and N-acetyl-β-glucosaminidase and decreased the interactive relationships among bacterial communities.Changes in soil heterotrophic respiration and AM mycelium respiration had positive correlations with soil enzyme activities and fungal abundances.In summary,our findings suggest that bamboo expansion decreased soil heterotrophic respiration by decreasing soil microbial activity but increased the contribution of AM mycelial respiration to soil C efflux,which may potentially increase soil C loss from AM mycelial pathway.

The effects of aerated irrigation on soil respiration, oxygen, and porosity

To ameliorate soil oxygen deficiencies around subsurface drip irrigation(SDI) drippers, aerated irrigation(AI) was introduced to supply aerated water to the soil through venturi installed in the SDI pipeline. The objectives of this study were to assess the effects of AI on soil respiration(SR), air-filled porosity(AFP), soil temperature(ST), and oxygen concentrations(OCC). Total soil respiration(TSR), biological activity temperature index(BAT), and soil oxygen consumption(OCS) based on SR, ST, and OCC, respectively, were subsequently calculated to explore the relationships between TSR, BAT, OCS, OCC, and AFP. Greenhouse-based experiments included two treatments: AI and unaerated SDI(CK), during the tomato growing season in the fall of 2015. The results showed that compared with CK, AI treatment significantly increased OCC and AFP(by 16 and 7.4%, respectively), as well as TSR and OCS(by 24.21 and 22.91%, respectively)(P<0.05). Mean fruit yield with AI treatment was also 23% higher(P<0.05) than that with CK. When BAT was controlled, partial correlations between TSR, OCS, OCC, and AFP were all significant in the AI treatment but not in the CK treatment. TSR was more sensitive to the interaction effects of OCC, OCS, AFP, and BAT under the AI treatment. Thus, the significantly increased TSR with AI appeared to be due to the favorable soil aeration conditi ons(higher OCC and AFP). Furthermore, the improvements in soil aeration conditions and respiration with AI appeared to facilitate the improvement in fruit yields, which also suggests the economic benefits of AI.

Diurnal and Seasonal Dynamics of Soil Respiration at Temperate Leymus Chinensis Meadow Steppes in Western Songnen Plain, China

To evaluate the diurnal and seasonal variations in soil respiration （Rs） and understand the controlling factors, we measured carbon dioxide （CO2） fluxes and their environmental variables using a LI-6400 soil CO2 flux system at a temperate Leymus chinensis meadow steppe in the western Songnen Plain of China in the growing season （May-October） in 2011 and 2012. The diurnal patterns of soil respiration could be expressed as single peak curves, reaching to the maximum at 11：00-15：00 and falling to the minimum at 21：00-23：00 （or before dawn）. The time-window between 7：00 and 9：00 could be used as the optimal measuring time to represent the daily mean soil CO2 efflux. In the growing season, the daily value of soil CO2 efflux was moderate in late spring （1.06-2.51μnol/（m2.s） in May）, increased sharply and presented a peak in summer （2.95-3.94 μmol/（m2.s） in July）, and then decreased in autumn （0.74-0.97 μmol/（m2.s） in October）. Soil temperature （Ts） exerted dominant control on the diurnal and seasonal variations of soil respiration. The temperature sensitivity of soil respiration （Q10） exhibited a large seasonal variation, ranging from 1.35 to 3.32, and decreased with an increasing soil temperature. Rs gradually increased with increasing soil water content （Ws） and tended to decrease when Ws exceeded the optimum water content （27%） of Rs. The Ts and Ws had a confounding effect on Rs, and the two-variable equations could account for 72% of the variation in soil respiration （p 〈 0.01）.

Response of soil respiration to short-term changes in precipitation and nitrogen addition in a desert steppe

Changes in precipitation and nitrogen(N)addition may significantly affect the processes of soil carbon(C)cycle in terrestrial ecosystems,such as soil respiration.However,relatively few studies have investigated the effects of changes in precipitation and N addition on soil respiration in the upper soil layer in desert steppes.In this study,we conducted a control experiment that involved a field simulation from July 2020 to December 2021 in a desert steppe in Yanchi County,China.Specifically,we measured soil parameters including soil temperature,soil moisture,total nitrogen(TN),soil organic carbon(SOC),soil microbial biomass carbon(SMBC),soil microbial biomass nitrogen(SMBN),and contents of soil microorganisms including bacteria,fungi,actinomyces,and protozoa,and determined the components of soil respiration including soil respiration with litter(RS+L),soil respiration without litter(RS),and litter respiration(RL)under short-term changes in precipitation(control,increased precipitation by 30%,and decreased precipitation by 30%)and N addition(0.0 and 10.0 g/(m^(2)·a))treatments.Our results indicated that short-term changes in precipitation and N addition had substantial positive effects on the contents of TN,SOC,and SMBC,as well as the contents of soil actinomyces and protozoa.In addition,N addition significantly enhanced the rates of RS+L and RS by 4.8%and 8.0%(P<0.05),respectively.The increase in precipitation markedly increased the rates of RS+L and RS by 2.3%(P<0.05)and 5.7%(P<0.001),respectively.The decrease in precipitation significantly increased the rates of RS+L and RS by 12.9%(P<0.05)and 23.4%(P<0.001),respectively.In contrast,short-term changes in precipitation and N addition had no significant effects on RL rate(P>0.05).The mean RL/RS+L value observed under all treatments was 27.63%,which suggested that RL is an important component of soil respiration in the desert steppe ecosystems.The results also showed that short-term changes in precipitation and N addition had significant interactive effects on the rates of RS+L,RS,and RL(P<0.001).In addition,soil temperature was the most important abiotic factor that affected the rates of RS+L,RS,and RL.Results of the correlation analysis demonstrated that the rates of RS+L,RS,and RL were closely related to soil temperature,soil moisture,TN,SOC,and the contents of soil microorganisms,and the structural equation model revealed that SOC and SMBC are the key factors influencing the rates of RS+L,RS,and RL.This study provides further insights into the characteristics of soil C emissions in desert steppe ecosystems in the context of climate change,which can be used as a reference for future related studies.

Carbon inputs regulate the temperature sensitivity of soil respiration in temperate forests

Litter and root activities may alter the temperature sensitivity(Q_(10))of soil respiration.However,existing studies have not provided a comprehensive understanding of the effects of litter and root carbon inputs on the Q_(10)of soil respiration in different seasons.In this study,we used the trench method under in situ conditions to measure the total soil respiration(R_(total)),litter-removed soil respiration(R_(no-litter)),root-removed soil respiration(R_(no-root)),and the decomposition of soil organic matter(i.e.,both litter and root removal;R_(SOM))in different seasons of pioneer(Populus davidiana Dode)and climax(Quercus liaotungensis Mary)forests on the Loess Plateau,China.Soil temperature,soil moisture,litter biomass,fine root biomass,litter carbon,and root carbon were analyzed to obtain the drive mechanism of the Q_(10)of soil respiration in the two forests.The results showed that the Q_(10)of soil respiration exhibited seasonality,and the Q_(10)of soil respiration was higher in summer.The litter enhanced the Q_(10)of soil respiration considerably more than the root did.Soil temperature,soil moisture,fine root biomass,and litter carbon were the main factors used to predict the Q_(10)of different soil respiration components.These findings indicated that factors affecting the Q_(10)of soil respiration highly depended on soil temperature and soil moisture as well as related litter and root traits in the two forests,which can improve our understanding of soil carbon–climate feedback in global warming.The results of this study can provide reference for exploring soil respiration under temperate forest restoration.

Potential methane and nitrous oxide production and respiration rates from penguin and seal colony tundra soils during freezing–thawing cycles under different water contents in coastal Antarctica

In coastal Antarctica, frequent freezing-thawing cycles （FTCs） and changes to the hydrological conditions may affect methane （CH4） and nitrous oxide （N2O） production and respiration rates in tundra soils, which are difficult to observe in situ. Tundra soils including omithogenic tundra soil （OAS）, seal colony soil （SCS） and emperor penguin colony soil （EPS） were collected. In laboratory, we investigated the effects of FTCs and water addition on potential N2O and CH4 production and respiration rates in the soils. The CH4 fluxes from OAS and SCS were much less than that from EPS. Meanwhile, the N2O fluxes from OAS and EPS were much less than that from SCS. The N2O production rates from all soils were extremely low during freezing, but rapidly increased following thawing. In all cases, FTC also induced considerably enhanced soil respiration, indicating that soil respiration response was sensitive to the FTCs. The highest cumulative rates of CH4, N2O and CO2 were 59.5 mg CH4-C·kg-1 in EPS, 6268.8μg N2O-N·kg-1 in SCS and 3522.1mg CO2-C·kg-1 in OAS. Soil water addition had no significant effects on CH4 production and respiration rates, but it could reduce N2O production in OAS and EPS, and it stimulated N2O production in SCS. Overall, CH4 and N2O production rates showed a trade-off relationship during the three FTCs. Our results indicated that FTCs greatly stimulated soil N2O and CO2 production, and water increase has an important effect on soil N2O production in coastal Antarctic tundra.

Soil Carbon Dioxide Emission: Soil Respiration Measurement in Temperate Grassland, Nepal

Soil carbon dioxide emission: soil respiration is representing a major contributor of accumulating carbon dioxide in the atmosphere that aids to accelerate global warming and altering the climate. Soil temperature, soil water content, sun light and vegetation are considered most common regulators of soil respiration variations in ecosystem. The soil respiration was measured in grassland intended to examine how the soil respiration changed with varying climatic factors, for two years (2015 and 2016) in temperate grassland of Annapurna Conservation Area (ACA), Nepal. In the study, soil temperature accounted exponential function of soil respiration variation at 42.9%, 19.1% and 23.3%, and temperature sensitivity of the soil respiration (Q10) obtained at 6.2, 1.4 and 1.8 in October 2015 and April 2016 and both the measurements were combined, respectively. Significant negative (R2 = 0.50, p < 0.05, October 2015) and positive (R2 = 0.084, p < 0.05, April 2016) exponential function of soil respiration and soil water content were determined, where high soil respiration values were always measured between 30% and 35% of the soil water content. However, linear significant relationship was determined (R2 = 0.376, p < 0.05) between soil respiration and photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD). Soil respiration value averaged in October 2015 was 357 mg CO2 m-2 h-1 and in April 2016 it was 444.6 mg CO2 m-2 h-1. Above- and below-ground plant biomasses were obtained at 231.1 g d w m-2 and 1538.8 g d w m-2 in October, and at 449.9 g d w m-2 and 349.0 g d w m-2 in April, respectively. This study showed variation of soil respiration in relation to the factors such as soil temperature, soil water content and photosynthetic photon flux density signifying their importance in governing ecosystem function and carbon balance of the temperate grassland ecosystem.

Heartbeat and Respiration Rate Prediction Using Combined Photoplethysmography and Ballisto Cardiography

Owing to the recent trends in remote health monitoring,real-time appli-cations for measuring Heartbeat Rate and Respiration Rate(HARR)from video signals are growing rapidly.Photo Plethysmo Graphy(PPG)is a method that is operated by estimating the infinitesimal change in color of the human face,rigid motion of facial skin and head parts,etc.Ballisto Cardiography(BCG)is a non-surgical tool for obtaining a graphical depiction of the human body’s heartbeat by inducing repetitive movements found in the heart pulses.The resilience against motion artifacts induced by luminancefluctuation and the patient’s mobility var-iation is the major difficulty faced while processing the real-time video signals.In this research,a video-based HARR measuring framework is proposed based on combined PPG and BCG.Here,the noise from the input video signals is removed by using an Adaptive Kalmanfilter(AKF).Three different algorithms are used for estimating the HARR from the noise-free input signals.Initially,the noise-free sig-nals are subjected to Modified Adaptive Fourier Decomposition(MAFD)and then to Enhanced Hilbert vibration Decomposition(EHVD)andfinally to Improved Var-iation mode Decomposition(IVMD)for attaining three various results of HARR.The obtained values are compared with each other and found that the EHVD is showing better results when compared with all the other methods.

Temperature Sensitivity of Soil Respiration Probed by Numerical Analysis of Field-Observed Data Sets

Temperature sensitivity of soil respiration is essential to predict possible changes in terrestrial carbon budget on various scenarios about atmospheric and soil climates. Although it is often evaluated by using respiratory quotient “Q10”, Q10 values of soil respiration seem to vary depending on methods or scales of evaluation. Aiming at probing how Q10 values of soil respiration are evaluated differently for a field, this study used a model of soil respiration rate, and numerically evaluated soil respiration rates along depth by fitting the model to depth distributions of CO2 concentration measured in a field. And temperature sensitivity of soil respiration rate was evaluated by comparing the determined soil respiration rates with atmospheric and soil temperatures measured in the field. The results showed that the relation between surface CO2 emission rates and atmospheric temperatures was represented by lower Q10 values than that between soil respiration rates and soil temperatures, presumably because the top soil layers had acclimatized in more extent to the existing thermal regime than the underlying deeper layers. Thus, for evaluating effects of long-term rise in atmospheric temperature on soil respiration, it is necessary to precisely predict the long-term change in depth distribution of soil temperature as well as to quantify temperature sensitivity of soil respiration along depth. The evaluated sensitivity of surface CO2 emission rate to atmospheric temperature showed hysteresis, implying the needs for more knowledge about temperature sensitivity of soil respiration evaluated in both warming and cooling processes for better understandings and predictions about terrestrial carbon cycling.

Discussion of“Site observations of weathered granitic soils subjected to cementation and partial drainage using SCPTU”[J Rock Mech Geotech Eng 15(2023)984e996]

Comprehensive data from in situ and laboratory tests in residual soil have been presented by Zhang et al.(2023).A number of issues addressed in the paper have been the interest of the discussers,namely the characterisation and behaviour of residual soils,limitation of piezocone testing due to the capacity of the entire system,measurement of shear wave velocity,rate effect of piezocone(CPTU)testing and piezocone testing with dual pore pressure penetrometers.Clarification and complementation of these issues are required with regard to both the execution and interpretation of the tests.

A bounding surface visco-plasticity model considering generalized spacing ratio of soils

The non-unique critical state of soils with time-dependent behaviors is a significant issue in geotechnical engineering problems.However,previous bounding surface plasticity models cannot predict accurately the non-unique critical state of soils,because the distance between the compression line and critical state line charged by strain-rate effect is basically neglected.To fill this gap,a generalized spacing ratio of soils is defined in the elasto-viscoplastic framework,and a bounding surface visco-plasticity model is formulated and verified,which can consider the generalized spacing ratio.Specifically,the generalized spacing ratio of soils reflects the distance between the compression line and the critical state line of soils with time-dependent behaviors.Then,the generalized spacing ratio is introduced into an improved anisotropic bounding surface.A new expression of the visco-plastic multiplier is derived by solving the consistency equation of an anisotropic bounding surface.In the expression,a strain rate index is proposed to account for the strain-rate effect on visco-plastic strain increment,and a visco-plastic hardening modulus is derived to predict the visco-plastic response of soils in overconsolidation conditions.The model is then verified through constant strain rate tests and creep tests.Notably,it can capture the non-unique critical states of soils with time-dependent behaviors due to the generalized spacing ratio and the creep rupture of soils due to the visco-plastic multiplier that considers the stress ratio and visco-plastic strain rate.

Gravel hardness effect on compaction characteristics of gravelly soil

The compaction characteristics of gravelly soil are affected by gravel hardness.To investigate the evolution and influencing mechanism of different gravel hardness on the compaction characteristics of gravelly soil,heavy compaction tests and crushing tests were conducted on gravelly soils with gravels originated from hard,soft and extremely soft rocks.According to orthogonal experiments and variance analysis,it was found that hardness has a significant impact on the maximum dry density of gravelly soil,followed by gravel content,and lastly,moisture content.For gravel compositions with an average saturated uniaxial compressive strength less than 60 MPa,the order of compacted maximum dry density is soft gravels>hard gravels>extremely soft gravels.Each type of gravelly soil has a threshold for gravel content,with 60%for hard and soft gravels and 50%for extremely soft gravels.Beyond these thresholds,the compacted dry density decreases significantly.There is a certain interaction between hardness,gravel content,and moisture content.Higher hardness increases the influence of gravel content,whereas lower hardness increases the influence of moisture content.Gravelly soils with the coarse aggregate(CA)between 0.7 and 0.8 typically achieve higher dry densities after compaction.In addition,the prediction equations for the particle breakage rate and CA ratio in the Bailey method were proposed to estimate the compaction performance of gravelly soil preliminarily.The results further revealed the compaction mechanism of different gravelly soils and can provide reference for subgrade filling construction.

Evaluation of Rhizobium tropici-Derived Extracellular Polymeric Substances on Selected Soil Properties, Seed Germination, and Growth of Black-Eyed Peas (Vigna unguiculata)

Rhizobium tropici-derived extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) have been used in soils to enhance soil structures and mitigate soil erosions. However, information on their use to improve soil health and fertility indicators, and plant growth is limited. In a greenhouse study, we investigated their effects on some soil health, soil fertility indices, and the growth of black-eyed peas (Vigna unguiculate). Results showed that soils incubated with EPS significantly increased basal soil respiration, soil microbial biomass, permanganate oxidizable carbon (POC), and potentially mineralizable nitrogen (PMN). The EPS shifted microbial populations from bacteria to fungi and Gram (−ve) to Gram ( ve) bacteria. However, it had little or no effects on soil pH, soil organic matter (SOM), and cation exchange capacity (CEC). The EPS decreased soil moisture loss, increased soil aggregate stability, but delayed blacked-eyed peas germinations in the soils. At 0.1% (w/w) concentrations in soils, there was increase in plant root nodulations and vegetative growth. This study was carried out within 40 days of incubating soils with EPS or growing the black-eyed peas in a greenhouse study. The plant growth parameters were taken before flowering and fruiting. Further studies of the effects of incubating soils with the extracellular polymeric substances on plant growth. Soil microbial biomass, microbial diversities, and other soil fertility indices are deemed necessary.

Field Soil Respiration Rate on a Sub-Antarctic Island: Its Relation to Site Characteristics and Response to Added C, N and P

Botanical, soil chemistry and soil microbiology variables were tested as predictors of in situ soil respiration rate in the various terrestrial habitats on sub-Antarctic Marion Island (47oS, 38oE). Inorganic P and total N concentration were the best predictors amongst the chemistry variables and bacteria plate count the best of the microbiology variables. However, while these chemistry and microbiology variables could accurately predict soil respiration rate for particular habitats, they proved inadequate predictors across the whole range of habitats. The best suite of predictors comprised only botanical variables (relative covers of five plant guilds) and accounted for 94% of the total across-habitat variation in soil respiration rate. Mean field soil respiration rates (2.1 - 15.5 mmol CO2 m-2 h-1) for habitats not influenced by seabirds or seals are similar to rates in comparable Northern Hemisphere tundra habitats. Seabird and seal manuring enhances soil respiration rates to values (up to 27.6 mmol CO2 m-2 h-1) higher than found at any tundra site. Glucose, N, P or N plus P were added to three habitats with contrasting soil types;a fellfield with mineral, nutrient-poor soil, a mire with organic, nutrient-poor soil and a shore-zone herbfield heavily manured by penguins and with organic, nutrient-rich soil. Glucose addition stimulated soil respiration in the fellfield and mire (especially the former) but not in the coastal herbfield soil. N and P, alone or together, did not stimulate respiration at any of the habitats, but adding glucose to fellfield soils that had previously been fortified with P or NP caused a similar increase in respiration rate, which was greater than the increase when adding glucose to soils fortified only with N. This suggests that fellfield soil respiration is limited by P rather than N, and that there is no synergism between the two nutrients. For the mire and coastal herbfield, adding glucose to soils previously fortified with N, P or NP did not enhance rates more than adding glucose to soils that had received no nutrient pre-treatment.

Correlations Between Plant Biomass and Soil Respiration in a Leymus chinensis Community in the Xilin River Basin of Inner Mongolia

This paper reports on two years of measurement of soil respiration and canopy-root biomass in a Leymus chinensis community in the Xilin River basin of Inner Mongolia. Correlations between components of plant biomass and soil respiration rates were examined. From respiration data based on CO2 uptake by NaOH and corresponding root biomass values for each run of 10 plots, a linear regression of CO2 evolution rates on root dry weights has been achieved for every ten days. By applying the approach of extrapolating the regressive line to zero root biomass, the proportion of the total soil respiration flux that is attributable to live root respiration was estimated to be about 27% on average, ranging from 14% to 39% in the growing season in 1998. There were no evident relations between the total canopy biomass or root biomass and CO2 evolution rates, but a significant exponential relation did exist between tire live-canopy biomass and CO2 evolution rates.

Effects of soil temperature and soil water content on soil respiration in three forest types in Changbai Mountain

Soil incubation experiments were conducted in lab to delineate the effect of soil temperature and soil water content on soil respirations in broad-leaved/Korean pine forest (mountain dark brown forest soil), dark coniferous forest (mountain brown coniferous forest soil) and erman's birch forest (mountain soddy forest soil) in Changbai Mountain in September 2001. The soil water content was adjusted to five different levels (9%, 21%, 30%, and 43%) by adding certain amount of water into the soil cylinders, and the soil sample was incubated at 0, 5, 15, 25 and 35°C for 24 h. The results indicated that in broad-leaved/Korean pine forest the soil respiration rate was positively correlated to soil temperature from 0 to 35°C. Soil respiration rate increased with increase of soil water content within the limits of 21% to 37%, while it decreased with soil water content when water content was over the range. The result suggested the interactive effects of temperature and water content on soil respiration. There were significant differences in soil respiration among the various forest types. The soil respiration rate was highest in broad-leaved/Korean pine forest, middle in erman's birch forest and the lowest in dark coniferous forest. The optimal soil temperature and soil water content for soil respiration was 35°C and 37% in broad-leaved/Korean pine forest, 25°C and 21% in dark coniferous forest, and 35°C and 37% in erman's birch forest. Because the forests of broad-leaved/Korean pine, dark coniferous and erman's birch are distributed at different altitudes, the soil temperature had 4–5°C variation in different forest types during the same period. Thus, the soil respiration rates measured in brown pine mountain soil were lower than those in dark brown forest and those measured in mountain grass forest soil were higher than those in brown pine mountain soil. Key words Soil temperature - Soil water content - Soil respiration - The typical forest ecosystem in Changbai Mountain CLC number S7118.51 Document code A Foundation item: This study was supported by grant from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 30271068), the grant of the Knowledge Innovation Program of Chinese Academy of Sciences (KZ-CX-SW-01-01B-12) and the grant from Advanced Programs of Institute of Applied Ecology Chinese Academy of Sciences.Biography: WANG Miao (1964-), male, associate professor in Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Science, Shenyang 110016, P. R. China.Responsible editor: Song Funan

The contribution of root respiration of Pinus koraiensis seedlings to total soil respiration under elevated CO_2 concentrations

The impacts of elevated atmospheric CO2 concentrations (500 靘olmol-1and 700 靘olmol-1) on total soil respiration and the contribution of root respiration of Pinus koraiensis seedlings were investigated from May to October in 2003 at the Research Station of Changbai Mountain Forest Ecosystems, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Jilin Province, China. After four growing seasons in top-open chambers exposed to elevated CO2, the total soil respiration and roots respiration of Pinus koraiensis seedlings were measured by a LI-6400-09 soil CO2 flux chamber. Three PVC cylinders in each chamber were inserted about 30 cm into the soil in-stantaneously to terminate the supply of current photosynthates from the tree canopy to roots for separating the root respiration from total soil respiration. Soil respirations both inside and outside of the cylinders were measured on June 16, August 20 and October 8, respectively. The results indicated that: there was a marked diurnal change in air temperature and soil temperature at depth of 5 cm on June 16, the maximum of soil temperature at depth of 5 cm lagged behind that of air temperature, no differences in temperature between treatments were found (P>0.05). The total soil respiration and soil respiration with roots severed showed strong diurnal and seasonal patterns. There was marked difference in total soil respiration and soil respiration with roots severed between treatments (P<0.01); Mean total soil respiration and contribution of root under different treatments were 3.26, 4.78 and 1.47 靘olm 2s-1, 11.5%, 43.1% and 27.9% on June 16, August 20 and October 8, respectively.

Soil Carbon Balance in a Native Temperate Grassland in the Xilin River Basin of Inner Mongolia

Based on historical data and field investigation, some major fluxes and reserves of carbon were estimated, and a tentative analysis of the soil carbon balance was made in a native grassland community in the Xilin River basin of Inner Mongolia. Major results were reported as follows: 1) Annual average carbon input from above-ground biomass production was 79.8 g C(.)m(-2.)a(-1), and from root biomass to 30 cm. depth averaged 311.9 g C(.)m(-2.)a(-1). The summed mean annual carbon input of shoot and root materials in the study site was approximately 391.7 g C(.)m(-2.)a(-1). 2) The annual amount of above-ground biomass consumed by insects averaged 14.7 g C(.)m(-2.)a(-1), and the carbon output by leaching or light-chemical oxidation was 3.2 g C(.)m(-2.)a(-1) The annual evolution rate of CO2 from net soil respiration averaged 346.9 g C(.)m(-2.)a(-1), and the summed mean annual output was approximately 364.8 g C(.)m(-2.)a(-1). 3) A mature, steady-state system could be assumed for the community for which growth and decay were approximately in balance, with a net carbon accumulation of about 26.9 g C(.)m(-2.)a(-1). Based on the soil organic carbon density of the field, the turnover Irate of soil carbon in 0 - 30 cm depth was calculated to be 6.2%, with a turnover time of 16 years.