The relationship of respiration in organic and mineral soil layers to soil chemical properties

✍ Scribed by J. R. Jorgensen; C. G. Well

• Publisher: Springer
• Year: 1973
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 726 KB
• Volume: 39
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0032-079X
• DOI: 10.1007/bf00014804

✦ Synopsis

R e s p i r a t i o n rates of t h e forest floor, exclusive of t h e L layer, a n d of t h e m i n e r a l horizons from t h r e e soils developed u n d e r pine a n d h a r d w o o d s in t h e N o r t h Carolina P i e d m o n t were m e a s u r e d w i t h a W a r b u r g respirometer.

Respiration, based on c a r b o n c o n t e n t of t h e soil, decreased w i t h d e p t h t h r o u g h t h e A1 horizon, b u t subdivisions of t h e A2 showed no difference.

W h e n all soil layers were considered, there were no significant differences in respiration b e t w e e n cover t y p e or soil series. However, in t h e least decomposed organic layer, t h e F1, respiration of pine litter was 77 per cent of t h a t of h a r d w o o d litter, a n d respiration of Georgeville or Colfax soils was only 58 per cent of t h a t of Iredell soil. Regression analyses, primarily w i t h inorganic soil n u t r i e n t factors, a c c o u n t e d for over 90 per cent of t h e variation in respiration in t h e organic layers b u t for less t h a n 50 per cent in t h e m i n e r a l soil u n d e r hardwoods. U p to 15 factors were included in equations, b u t four factors explained a t least 70 per cent of t h e v a r i a t i o n acc o u n t e d for b y regression.