SUNY-ESF Kikang Bae (kbae02@syr.edu) Still waiting for fertilization effects on soil respiration and root respiration SUNY-ESF Kikang Bae (kbae02@syr.edu)
Introduction Soil respiration is a major flux of carbon to the atmosphere. Nutrient additions to forest soils can affect soil respiration. The global carbon cycle http://sitemaker.umich.edu/section2group4/the_link__human_influences_on_storm_intensity
aboveground respiration root + microbial respiration Introduction Ways nutrient addition affects soil respiration: Altering root activity Altering microbial activity Change above- and below- ground carbon production Soil respiration will increase or decrease after nutrient addition? photosynthesis aboveground respiration CO2 CO2 soil respiration root + microbial respiration
Objectives To determine effects of nutrient additions on soil respiration and root respiration between forest ages To understand which component (root or microbial) causes changing soil respiration, if there is a change at all To know which nutrients (N, P, N+P) have the greatest effect on soil respiration in our stands.
(root/microbial respiration) Hypothesis Adding nutrients (N, P, N+P) Soil respiration (root/microbial respiration) Forest age
Soil respiration before fertilization Hypothesis Adding nutrients (N, P, N+P) Soil respiration (root/microbial respiration) Annual soil respiration (gC/m2) Bartlett Hubbard Brook Jeffers Brook Age: P = 0.11 Site: P = 0.02 Soil respiration before fertilization (09’-11’)
Hypothesis Soil respiration Adding nutrients (N, P, N+P) Soil respiration (root/microbial respiration) Forest age Soil respiration more Young: N+P > N > P > Control Old: N+P > P > N > Control
Study sites Bartlett Experimental Forest (BEF) Hubbard Brook (HB, WS 101) Jeffers Brook (JB) Intensive trenching Young (20~22 yrs) Middle (30~40 yrs) Old (77~127 yrs) Bartlett C1 C2 C3 C4 C5 C6 Jeffers Brook Mid Hubbard Brook C7 C8 C9 Old
Methods Soil respiration: Chamber (Licor 8100). Root respiration (Soil respiration – without live root respiration): Trenching
Results (Fertilization on soil respiration) Fertilization start Fertilization start P < 0.001
P = 0.006 Fertilization start Fertilization start Fertilization start
Fertilization start Fertilization start Fertilization start Fertilization start
Results (Root contribution on soil respiration) Soil respiration – without live root respiration
Results (Fertilization on trenching) Fertilization start Fertilization start
Fertilization start Fertilization start Fertilization start
Summary Soil respiration No change (except C9 and HB mid) Root respiration No change Adding nutrients (N, P, N+P) Regardless of nutrients (N, P, N+P) and forest age Soil respiration No change
Conclusion There was little evidence of fertilization effects on soil respiration after 2 years nutrient addition.
Future plans Keep measuring soil respiration. How do N, P, and N+P additions affect root growth? good May June http://wric.ucdavis.edu/yst/images/none/nc5.JPG
Acknowledge Ruth Yanai Tim Fahey Melany Fisk
Acknowledge
Thank you... kbae02@syr.edu