title: Soil CO2 efflux among four coniferous forest types of Kashmir Himalaya, India.
abstract: Soil CO2 efflux was measured in four different coniferous forest types (Cedrus deodara (CD), Pinus wallichiana (PW), mixed coniferous (MC), and Abies pindrow (AP)) for a period of 2 years (April 2012 to December 2013). The monthly soil CO2 efflux ranged from 0.8 to 4.1 μmoles CO2 m(-2) s(-1) in 2012 and 1.01 to 5.48 μmoles CO2 m(-2) s(-1) in 2013. The soil CO2 efflux rate was highest in PW forest type in both the years, while it was lowest in MC and CD forest types during 2012 and 2013, respectively. Soil temperature (TS) at a depth of 10 cm ranged from 3.8 to 19.4 °C in 2012 and 3.5 to 19.1 °C in 2013 in all the four forest types. Soil moisture (MS) ranged from 19.8 to 58.6% in 2012 and 18.5 to 58.6% in 2013. Soil CO2 efflux rate was found to be significantly higher in summer than the other seasons and least during winter. Soil CO2 efflux showed a significant positive relationship with TS (R2=0.52 to 0.74), SOC% (R2=0.67), pH (R2=0.68), and shrub biomass (R2=0.51), whereas, only a weak positive relationship was found with soil moisture (R2=0.16 to 0.41), tree density (R2=0.25), tree basal area (R2=0.01), tree biomass (R2=0.07), herb biomass (R2=0.01), and forest floor litter (R2=0.02). Thus, the study indicates that soil CO2 efflux in high mountainous areas is greatly influenced by seasons, soil temperature, and other environmental factors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Pondicherry University, Puducherry, 605014, India. javiddar29@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Javid Ahmad
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Dar
authors.affiliation: Department of Botany, Islamia College of Science and Commerce, Srinagar, India.
authors.forename: Khursheed Ahmad
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Ganie
authors.affiliation: Department of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Pondicherry University, Puducherry, 605014, India. smspandian65@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Somaiah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sundarapandian
mesh_terms: D018533:Biomass; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000032:analysis*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D065928:Forests; D007194:India; D028223:Pinus / Q000502:physiology*; D012621:Seasons; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry*; D013696:Temperature; D014197:Trees
chemical_list: D012987:Soil; D002245:Carbon Dioxide
keywords: Coniferous forests; Soil respiration; Soil temperature; Understory biomass; Western Himalaya