Harvard Forest Symposium Abstract 2010

Title: Spatial variation analysis of soil respiration in Harvard Forest
Primary Author: Michael Lavine (University of Massachusetts - Amherst )
Additional Authors: Zhiyi Sun (UMASS Amherst); Yanbo Wang (UMASS Amherst)
Abstract:
Soil respiration, which normally refers to the total carbon dioxide efflux at the soil surface, is a combination of microbial decomposition and root respiration. It is a key ecosystem process that releases carbon from the soil in the form of carbon dioxide (CO2). Soil respiration is very important because it plays a significant role in the global carbon and nutrition cycles.

Soil respiration has been measured at 110 different locations in Harvard Forest, Massachusetts, USA for a period of 18 years. Due to different soil types and biotic conditions across different sampling locations as well as day to day changes in temperature, moisture and oxygen levels, this soil respiration data (CO2 flux) displays extensive variation over the full range of sampling time and locations. Our goal is to distinguish between the spatial effect and temporal effect on observed variation in soil respiration and to investigate spatial and temporal correlation, so that researchers can make better decisions about how intensively to measure soil respiration.
Research Category: Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Dynamics

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