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Effects of tree species composition on the CO2 and N2O efflux of a Mediterranean mountain forest soil

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Abstract

Background and Aims

Tree species composition shifts can alter soil CO2 and N2O effluxes. We quantified the soil CO2 and N2O efflux rates and temperature sensitivity from Pyrenean oak, Scots pine and mixed stands in Central Spain to assess the effects of a potential expansion of oak forests.

Methods

Soil CO2 and N2O effluxes were measured from topsoil samples by lab incubation from 5 to 25 °C. Soil microbial biomass and community composition were assessed.

Results

Pine stands showed highest soil CO2 efflux, followed by mixed and oak forests (up to 277, 245 and 145 mg CO2-C m−2 h−1, respectively). Despite contrasting soil microbial community composition (more fungi and less actinomycetes in pine plots), carbon decomposability and temperature sensitivity of the soil CO2 efflux remain constant among tree species. Soil N2O efflux rates and its temperature sensitivity was markedly higher in oak stands than in pine stands (70 vs. 27 μg N2O-N m−2 h−1, Q10, 4.5 vs. 2.5).

Conclusions

Conversion of pine to oak forests in the region will likely decrease soil CO2 effluxes due to decreasing SOC contents on the long run and will likely enhance soil N2O effluxes. Our results present only a seasonal snapshot and need to be confirmed in the field.

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Acknowledgments

Authors are grateful to Nicolás Elizalde for his laboratory work. We thank Tommaso Chiti and three anonymous referees for their valuable comments to the manuscript. This work was partially funded by the Projects AGL2010-16862/FOR from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation and P2009/AMB-1478 from the Community of Madrid.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Meteorology and Climate Research, Atmospheric Environmental Research, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Kreuzeckbahnstrasse 19, 82467, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany

    Eugenio Díaz-Pinés

  2. Federal Research Centre for Forests, Seckendorf Gudent Weg 8, 1131, Vienna, Austria

    Andreas Schindlbacher, Barbara Kitzler & Robert Jandl

  3. Department of Silviculture and Pasciculture, Technical University of Madrid, Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingenieros de Montes, Ciudad Universitaria s/n, 28040, Madrid, Spain

    Marina Godino & Agustín Rubio

  4. Institute of Soil Research, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Jordan Straße 82, 1190, Vienna, Austria

    Sophie Zechmeister-Boltenstern

Authors
  1. Eugenio Díaz-Pinés
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  2. Andreas Schindlbacher
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  3. Marina Godino
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  4. Barbara Kitzler
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  5. Robert Jandl
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  6. Sophie Zechmeister-Boltenstern
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  7. Agustín Rubio
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Correspondence to Eugenio Díaz-Pinés.

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Responsible Editor: Ute Skiba.

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Díaz-Pinés, E., Schindlbacher, A., Godino, M. et al. Effects of tree species composition on the CO2 and N2O efflux of a Mediterranean mountain forest soil. Plant Soil 384, 243–257 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-014-2200-z

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