Basal Area Effects on Soil Respiration Rates of a Pinus densiflora Stand

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the relationship between stand and soil environmentalfactors, and soil respiration rates at various levels of basal area in a 40-year-old natural redpine(Pinus densiflora S. et Z.) stand in southern Korea. Soil respiration rates were measuredmonthly using an infrared gas analyzer system from six basal area treatments between 21.4 m2ha-1 and 46.7 m2 ha-1 for one year. Soil respiration at various levels of basal area showed aclear monthly variation, which had a similar pattern to soil temperature. The mean annualsoil respiration rates were positively correlated with increasing basal area(r=0.86, p<0.05),aboveground tree carbon (C) storage(r=0.85, p<0.05) and needle litter C fluxes(r=0.88, p<0.05),but the rates were not correlated by the soil environmental factors(p>0.05) such as the meanannual soil temperature, soil water content, soil pH, and soil organic C content during the studyperiod. The results indicate that it is important to understand the role of stand attributes in themean annual soil respiration rates in a stand level.