Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Landscape Modeling of In Situ Soil Respiration in a Forested Watershed of Southeastern Kentucky, USA

  • Published:
Environmental Management Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Data on carbon fluxes such as soil respiration are needed to develop strategies for increased carbon sequestration and reduced levels of atmospheric trace gases. Soil respiration is driven by proximal factors (e.g., soil temperature and soil moisture), which affect soil respiration by regulating microbial and root activity, and distal factors (e.g., topography), which affect soil respiration by influencing proximal factors. The objectives of this study were: (1) to relate measured carbon dioxide flux from forest soils to proximal and distal factors; and (2) to develop predictive soil-landscape models of soil respiration across a forested watershed. Carbon dioxide flux from the soil surface was measured monthly for 12 months at sampling points selected using a random stratified approach, with strata established based on slope aspect (NE and SW), slope shape (concave and convex), and slope position (upper, middle, and lower backslope). We generated empirical models using robust linear regression techniques to examine relationships between soil respiration and both proximal (soil physical and chemical properties) and distal factors (terrain attributes calculated from a 30-m digital elevation model). In situ soil respiration rates were greater on the NE-facing slopes than the SW-facing slopes. The models that we developed and validated explain up to 66% of variability in measured soil respiration, although seasonal model relationships varied. Soil temperature was the most consistent proximal factor for predicting soil respiration rates, while slope aspect was the most consistent distal factor among the models.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Figure 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. R. D. Bowden K. M. Newkirk G. M. Rullo (1998) ArticleTitleCarbon dioxide and methane fluxes by a forest soil under laboratory-controlled moisture and temperature conditions. Soil Biology and Biochemistry 30 1591–1597 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0038-0717(97)00228-9 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK1cXkvV2ntbc%3D

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. J. M. Bremner (1996) Nitrogen-total. D. L. Sparks Particle, and others (Eds) Methods of soil analysis, part 3. Chemical methods. Soil Science Society of America Madison, Wisconsin 1085–1121

    Google Scholar 

  3. F. Chamran P. E. Gessler O. A. Chadwick (2002) ArticleTitleSpatially explicit treatment of soil-water dynamics along a semiarid catena. Soil Science Society of America Journal 66 1571–1583 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD38Xnt1GrtLo%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. J. M. Craine D. A. Wedin F. S. Chapin (1999) ArticleTitlePredominance of ecophysiological controls on soil CO2 flux in a Minnesota grassland. Plant and Soil 207 77–86 Occurrence Handle10.1023/A:1004417419288

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Cremeans, D.W. 1992. Dissertation. Aspect and slope position effects on moisture regime and properties of forest soils in eastern KY. University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky

  6. D. P. Franzmeier E. J. Pedersen T. J. Longwell J. G. Bryne C. K. Losche (1969) ArticleTitleProperties of some soils in the Cumberland Plateau as related to slope aspect and position. Soil Science Society of America Proceedings 33 755–761

    Google Scholar 

  7. J. C. Gallant J. P. Wilson (2000) Primary topographic attributes. J. P. Wilson J. C. Gallant (Eds) Terrain analysis. John Wiley & Sons New York 51–85

    Google Scholar 

  8. W. H. Gardner (1986) Water content. A. Klute (Eds) Methods of soil analysis, part 1. Physical and mineralogical methods. Soil Science Society of America Madison, Wisconsin 493–544

    Google Scholar 

  9. P. E. Gessler I. D. Moore N. J. McKenzie P. J. Ryan (1995) ArticleTitleSoil-landscape modeling and spatial prediction of soil attributes. International Journal of Geographical Information Systems 9 421–432

    Google Scholar 

  10. P. E. Gessler O. A. Chadwick F. Chamran L. D. Althouse K. W. Holmes (2000) ArticleTitleModeling soil-landscape and ecosystem properties using terrain attributes. Soil Science Society of America Journal 64 2046–2056 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3MXhsFSluw%3D%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. C. P. Giardina M. G. Ryan (2002) ArticleTitleTotal belowground carbon allocation in a fast-growing Eucalyptus plantation estimated using a carbon balance approach. Ecosystems 5 487–499 Occurrence Handle10.1007/s10021-002-0130-8 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD38Xnt1WntL4%3D

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. R. C. Graham R. B. Daniels S. W. Buol (1990) ArticleTitleSoil-geomorphic relations on the Blue Ridge Front: I. Regolith types and slope processes. Soil Science Society of America Journal 54 1362–1367

    Google Scholar 

  13. Hayes, R.A. 1998. Soil Survey of Breathitt County, Kentucky. Natural Resources Conservation Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC

  14. P. Högberg A. Nordgren N. Buchmann A. F. S. Taylor A. Ekblad M. N. Högberg G. Nyberg M. Ottosson-Löfvenius D. J. Read (2001) ArticleTitleLarge-scale forest girdling shows that current photosynthesis drives soil respiration. Nature 411 789–792 Occurrence Handle10.1038/35081058 Occurrence Handle11459055

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. R. B. Hutchins R. L. Blevins J. D. Hill E. H. White (1972) ArticleTitleThe influence of soils and microclimate on vegetation of forested slopes in eastern Kentucky. Soil Science 121 234–241

    Google Scholar 

  16. I. A. Janssens A. S. Kowalski B. Longdoz R. Ceulemans (2000) ArticleTitleAssessing forest soil CO2 efflux: an in situ comparison of four techniques. Tree Physiology 20 23–32 Occurrence Handle12651523

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. C. E. Johnson J. J. Ruiz-Mendez G. B. Lawrence (2000) ArticleTitleForest soil chemistry and terrain attributes in a Catskills watershed. Soil Science Society of America Journal 64 1804–1814 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3cXntlGlsrc%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. P. A. Matson R. C. Harriss (1995) Trace gas exchange in an ecosystem context: Multiple approaches to measurement and analysis. P. A. Matson R. C. Harriss (Eds) Biogenic gas fluxes: measuring emissions from soil and water. Blackwell Science Cambridge Massachusetts 1–13

    Google Scholar 

  19. A. Mehlich (1984) ArticleTitleMehlich 3 soil test extractant: A modification of the Mehlich 2 extractant. Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis 15 1409–1416 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaL2MXhvVChsro%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. I. D. Moore P. E. Gessler G. A. Nielsen G. A. Peterson (1993) ArticleTitleSoil attribute prediction using terrain analysis. Soil Science Society of America Journal 57 443–452

    Google Scholar 

  21. D. W. Nelson L. E. Sommers (1996) Total carbon, organic carbon, and organic matter. D. L. and others Sparks (Eds) Methods of soil analysis, part 3. Chemical methods. Soil Science Society of America Madison, Wisconsin 961–1010

    Google Scholar 

  22. J. Neter W. Wasserman M. H. Kutner (1989) Applied linear regression models. 2nd ed. Richard D. Irwin Homewood, Illinois

    Google Scholar 

  23. P. J. Rousseeuw A. M. Leroy (1987) Robust regression and outlier detection. John Wiley & Sons New York

    Google Scholar 

  24. M. E. Summer W. P. Miller (1996) Cation exchange capacity and exchange coefficients. D. L. and others Sparks (Eds) Methods of soil analysis, part 3. Chemical methods. Soil Science Society of America Madison, Wisconsin 1201–1229

    Google Scholar 

  25. G. W. Thomas (1996) Soil pH and soil acidity. D. L. and others Sparks (Eds) Methods of soil analysis, part 3. Chemical methods. Soil Science Society of America Madison, Wisconsin 475–490

    Google Scholar 

  26. J. A. Thompson J. C. Bell C. A. Butler (1997) ArticleTitleQuantitative soil-landscape modeling for estimating the areal extent of hydromorphic soils. Soil Science Society of America Journal 61 971–980 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK2sXjvVOqsbg%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. J. A. Thompson J. C. Bell C. A. Butler (2001) ArticleTitleDigital elevation model resolution: Effects on terrain attribute calculation and quantitative soil-landscape modeling. Geoderma 100 67–89 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0016-7061(00)00081-1

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. H. Tiessen C. Feller E. V. S. B. Sampaio P. Garin (1998) ArticleTitleCarbon sequestration and turnover in semiarid savannas and dry forest. Climatic Change 40 105–117 Occurrence Handle10.1023/A:1005342932178 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK1cXmslWgu7s%3D

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. J. P. Wilson J. C. Gallant (2000) Digital terrain analysis. J. P. Wilson J. C. Gallant (Eds) Terrain analysis. John Wiley & Sons New York 1–27

    Google Scholar 

  30. D. R. Zak W. E. Holmes N. W. MacDonald K. S. Pregitzer (1999) ArticleTitleSoil temperature, matric potential, and the kinetics of microbial respiration and nitrogen mineralization. Soil Science Society of America Journal 63 575–584 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK1MXks1ajtb0%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. L. M. Zibilski (1994) Carbon mineralization. R. W. and others Weaver (Eds) Methods of soil analysis, part 2. Microbiological and biogeochemical properties. Soil Science Society of America Madison, Wisconsin 835–863

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Agronomy, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40546-0091, USA

    Amanda C. Abnee

  2. Department of Soil Science, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695-7619, USA

    James A. Thompson

  3. USDA Forest Service, North Central Research Station, Grand Rapids, Minnesota 55744-3399, USA

    Randall K. Kolka

Authors
  1. Amanda C. Abnee
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. James A. Thompson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Randall K. Kolka
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to James A. Thompson.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Abnee, A., Thompson, J. & Kolka, R. Landscape Modeling of In Situ Soil Respiration in a Forested Watershed of Southeastern Kentucky, USA . Environmental Management 33 (Suppl 1), S168–S175 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-003-9127-0

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-003-9127-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation