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Roots exert a strong influence on the temperature sensitivityof soil respiration

Author

Listed:
  • Richard D. Boone

    (Institute of Arctic Biology, University of Alaska)

  • Knute J. Nadelhoffer

    (The Ecosystems Center, Marine Biological Laboratory)

  • Jana D. Canary

    (Institute of Arctic Biology, University of Alaska)

  • Jason P. Kaye

    (Colorado State University)

Abstract

The temperature sensitivity of soil respiration will largely determine the effects of a warmer world on net carbon flux from soils to the atmosphere. CO2 flux from soils to the atmosphere is estimated to be 50–70 petagrams of carbon per year and makes up 20–38% of annual inputs of carbon (in the form of CO2) to the atmosphere from terrestrial and marine sources1,2. Here we show that, for a mixed temperate forest, respiration by roots plus oxidation of rhizosphere carbon, which together produce a large portion of total effluxed soil CO2, is more temperature-sensitive than the respiration of bulk soil. We determine that the Q10 value (the coefficient for the exponential relationship between soil respiration and temperature, multiplied by ten) is 4.6 for autotrophic root respiration plus rhizosphere decomposition, 2.5 for respiration by soil lacking roots and 3.5 for respiration by bulk soil. If plants in a higher-CO2 atmosphere increase their allocation of photosynthate to roots3,4,5,6 these findings suggest that soil respiration should be more sensitive to elevated temperatures, thus limiting carbon sequestration by soils.

Suggested Citation

  • Richard D. Boone & Knute J. Nadelhoffer & Jana D. Canary & Jason P. Kaye, 1998. "Roots exert a strong influence on the temperature sensitivityof soil respiration," Nature, Nature, vol. 396(6711), pages 570-572, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:396:y:1998:i:6711:d:10.1038_25119
    DOI: 10.1038/25119
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    Cited by:

    1. Xiaohan Wang & Tusheng Ren, 2017. "Spatial and Temporal Variability of Soil Respiration between Soybean Crop Rows as Measured Continuously over a Growing Season," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(3), pages 1-9, March.
    2. Xiangwen Wu & Shuying Zang & Dalong Ma & Jianhua Ren & Qiang Chen & Xingfeng Dong, 2019. "Emissions of CO 2 , CH 4 , and N 2 O Fluxes from Forest Soil in Permafrost Region of Daxing’an Mountains, Northeast China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(16), pages 1-14, August.
    3. Mykola Kochiieru & Agnė Veršulienė & Virginijus Feiza & Dalia Feizienė, 2023. "Trend for Soil CO 2 Efflux in Grassland and Forest Land in Relation with Meteorological Conditions and Root Parameters," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-14, April.
    4. Łukasz Radosz & Damian Chmura & Dariusz Prostański & Gabriela Woźniak, 2023. "The Soil Respiration of Coal Mine Heaps’ Novel Ecosystems in Relation to Biomass and Biotic Parameters," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(20), pages 1-24, October.

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