Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Relationships between soil CO2 concentration and CO2 production, temperature, water content, and gas diffusivity: implications for field studies through sensitivity analyses

  • ORIGINAL ARTICLE
  • Published:
Journal of Forest Research

Abstract

Soil CO2 levels reflect CO2 production and transport in soil and provide valuable information about soil CO2 dynamics. However, extracting information from soil CO2 profiles is often difficult because of the complexity of these profiles. In this study, we constructed a simple numerical model that simulated soil CO2 dynamics and performed sensitivity analyses for CO2 production rates, soil water content and temperature, and gas diffusivity at the soil surface to clarify the relationships among these parameters. Increased soil surface CO2 flux did not always coincide with higher soil CO2 concentrations; increased CO2 production at shallow depths had little effect on soil CO2 concentrations, while the opposite may be true for high levels of soil water content. Higher soil CO2 concentration did not always coincide with greater soil surface CO2 flux; under high soil water conditions, soil surface CO2 flux sometimes decreased despite increased soil CO2 concentration. Increases in soil water content did not always enhance both soil surface CO2 flux and soil CO2 concentration. Under high soil water conditions, increases in soil water content could lower soil surface CO2 flux and increase soil CO2 concentration. Increases in soil temperature resulted in greater soil surface CO2 flux and higher soil CO2 concentration in our simulation (extremely high temperatures were not assumed in this study). Gas diffusivity in very shallow layers did affect, albeit weakly, soil CO2 concentration. The findings of this study may help direct future observations and aid in the interpretation of their results.

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.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • GS Campbell (1985) Soil physics with BASIC: transport models for soil–plant systems Elsevier Amsterdam

    Google Scholar 

  • EA Davidson SE Trumbore (1995) ArticleTitleGas diffusivity and production of CO2 in deep soils of the eastern Amazon Tellus 47B 550–565 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK28Xot1Wkug%3D%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • EA Davidson FY Ishida DC Nepstad (2004) ArticleTitleEffects of an experimental drought on soil emissions of carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and nitric oxide in a moist tropical forest Glob Change Biol 10 718–730

    Google Scholar 

  • C Fang JB Moncrieff (1999) ArticleTitleA model for soil CO2 production and transport 1: model development Agric Forest Meteorol 95 225–236 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0168-1923(99)00036-2

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • JA Foley (1995) ArticleTitleAn equilibrium model of the terrestrial carbon budget Tellus 47B 310–319 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK2MXotFekurw%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • T Fujikawa T Miyazaki H Imoto (2003) ArticleTitleStudy on behavior of CO2 and O2 gas in soil with a hard pan (in Japanese with English summary) Trans Jpn Soc Irrig Drain Reclam Eng 225 111–118

    Google Scholar 

  • JB Gaudinski SE Trumbore EA Davidson S Zheng (2000) ArticleTitleSoil carbon cycling in a temperate forest: radiocarbon-based estimates of residence times, sequestration rates and partitioning of fluxes Biogeochemistry 51 33–69 Occurrence Handle10.1023/A:1006301010014

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • ML Goulden SC Wofsy JW Harden SE Trumbore PM Crill ST Gower T Fries BC Daube S-M Fan DJ Sutton A Bazzaz JW Munger (1998) ArticleTitleSensitivity of boreal forest carbon balance to soil thaw Science 279 214–217 Occurrence Handle10.1126/science.279.5348.214 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK1cXkvFWisw%3D%3D Occurrence Handle9422691

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • M Hamada N Ohte S Kobashi (1996) ArticleTitleA measurement of soil CO2 profile in a forest watershed (in Japanese with English summary) J Jpn For Soc 78 376–383

    Google Scholar 

  • Y Hamada T Tanaka (1997) ArticleTitleTemporal and spatial distribution of carbon dioxide concentration in forest soil air (in Japanese with English summary) Jpn Assoc Hydrol Sci 27 3–16

    Google Scholar 

  • Y Hamada T Tanaka (2001) ArticleTitleDynamics of soil carbon dioxide during a storm event Annual Report of the Institute of Geoscience, University of Tsukuba 27 3–6

    Google Scholar 

  • PJ Hanson SD Wullschleger SA Bohlman DE Todd (1993) ArticleTitleSeasonal and topographic patterns of forest floor CO2 efflux from an upland oak forest Tree Physiol 13 1–15 Occurrence Handle14969897

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hashimoto S (2004) Studies on carbon dioxide production and its transport in forest soil. PhD thesis. The University of Tokyo, Tokyo

  • S Hashimoto M Suzuki (2002) ArticleTitleVertical distributions of carbon dioxide diffusion coefficients and production rates in forest soils Soil Sci Soc Am J 66 1151–1158 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD38XlslOrsbw%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • S Hashimoto M Suzuki (2004) ArticleTitleThe impact of forest clear-cutting on soil temperature: a comparison between before and after cutting, and between clear-cut and control sites J For Res 9 125–132

    Google Scholar 

  • S Hashimoto N Tanaka M Suzuki A Inoue H Takizawa I Kosaka K Tanaka C Tantasirin N Tangtham (2004) ArticleTitleSoil respiration and soil CO2 concentration in a tropical forest, Thailand J For Res 9 75–79 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD2cXjsFegs78%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • AI Hirsch SE Trumbore ML Goulden (2002) ArticleTitleDirect measurement of the deep soil respiration accompanying seasonal thawing of a boreal forest soil J Geophys Res 108 8221–8230 Occurrence Handle10.1029/2001JD000921

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • DM Howard PJA Howard (1993) ArticleTitleRelationships between CO2 evolution, moisture content and temperature for a range of soil types Soil Biol Biochem 25 1537–1546

    Google Scholar 

  • Y Ino M Monsi (1969) ArticleTitleAn experimental approach to the calculation of CO2 amount evolved from several soils Jpn J Bot 20 153–188 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaF1MXlt1aqsbc%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ishizuka S, Tsuruta H, Murdiyarso D (2002) An intensive field study on CO2, CH4, and N2O emissions from soils at four land-use types in Sumatra, Indonesia. Glob Biogeochem Cy 16:1049. DOI10.1029/2001GB001614

  • RB Jackson J Canadell JR Ehleringer HA Mooney OE Sala ED Schulze (1996) ArticleTitleA global analysis of root distributions for terrestrial biomes Oecologia 108 389–411 Occurrence Handle10.1007/BF00333714

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • RB Jackson HA Mooney E-D Shulze (1997) ArticleTitleA global budget for fine root biomass, surface area, and nutrient contents Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 94 7362–7366 Occurrence Handle10.1073/pnas.94.14.7362 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK2sXksFOmtL4%3D Occurrence Handle11038557

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Y Jin WA Jury (1996) ArticleTitleCharacterizing the dependence of gas diffusion coefficient on soil properties Soil Sci Soc Am J 60 66–71 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK28Xns1SlsQ%3D%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • EG Jobbágy RB Jackson (2000) ArticleTitleThe vertical distribution of soil organic carbon and its relation to climate and vegetation Ecol Appl 10 423–436

    Google Scholar 

  • WA Jury R Horton (2004) Soil physics Wiley New Jersey

    Google Scholar 

  • N Kajitani N Hotta H Komatsu T Kume M Suzuki (2005) ArticleTitleDifferences in diurnal pattern of transpiration between young sugi trees (Cryptomeria japonca) located at the ridge and the bottom of a slope (in Japanese with English summary) J Jpn For Soc 87 63–72

    Google Scholar 

  • T Kumagai (1998) ArticleTitleProcess of formation of CO2 gas environment in forest soil – examination using numerical model (in Japanese with English summary) J Jpn For Sci 80 214–222

    Google Scholar 

  • T Kumagai M Kaneko K Shiraki Y Shuin M Suzuki T Ohta (1997) ArticleTitleHydraulic properties of forest soil in Fukuroyama-sawa watershed in the Tokyo University forest in Chiba (in Japanese with English summary) Bull Tokyo Univ For 98 135–150

    Google Scholar 

  • WL Kutsch A Staack J Wotzel U Middelhoff L Kappen (2001) ArticleTitleField measurements of root respiration and total soil respiration in an alder forest New Phytol 150 157–168 Occurrence Handle10.1046/j.1469-8137.2001.00071.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • M-S Lee K Nakane T Nakatsubo W-H Mo H Koizumi (2002) ArticleTitleEffects of rainfall events on soil CO2 flux in a cool temperate deciduous broad-leaved forest Ecol Res 17 401–409 Occurrence Handle10.1046/j.1440-1703.2002.00498.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • E Maita M Suzuki T Ohta (2005) ArticleTitleChange in the annual discharge after clear-cutting a 70-year-old mixed plantation of Sugi and Hinoki in a Tertiary formation area (in Japanese with English summary) J Jpn For Soc 87 124–132

    Google Scholar 

  • P Moldrup CW Kruse DE Rolston T Yamaguchi (1996) ArticleTitleModeling diffusion and reaction in soils: III. Predicting gas diffusivity from the Campbell soil-water retention model Soil Sci 161 366–375 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK28XjslWhu7k%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • P Moldrup T Olesen P Schjonning T Yamaguchi DE Rolston (2000) ArticleTitlePredicting the gas diffusion coefficient in undisturbed soil from soil water characteristics Soil Sci Soc Am J 64 94–100 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3cXmslyhsbk%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • P Moldrup T Olesen S Yoshikawa T Komatsu DE Rolston (2004) ArticleTitleThree-porosity model for predicting the gas diffusion coefficient in undisturbed soil Soil Sci Soc Am J 68 750–759 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD2cXktV2gtLo%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • JB Moncrieff C Fang (1999) ArticleTitleA model for soil CO2 production and transport 2: application to florida Pinus elliotte plantation Agric Forest Meteorol 95 237–256 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0168-1923(99)00035-0

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • A-S Morén A Lindroth (2000) ArticleTitleCO2 exchange at the floor of a boreal forest Agric Forest Meteorol 101 1–14 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0168-1923(99)00160-4

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • T Nobuhiro K Tamai Y Kominami T Miyama Y Goto Y Kanazawa (2003) ArticleTitleDevelopment of the IRGA enclosed-chamber system for soil CO2 efflux measurement and its application to a spatial variation measurement J For Res 8 297–301 Occurrence Handle10.1007/s10310-003-0040-4 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD2cXjs1Clt7o%3D

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • K Noguchi T Sakata T Mizoguchi M Takahashi (2004) ArticleTitleEstimation of the fine root biomass in a Japanese ceder (Cryptomeria japonica) planting using minirhizotrons J For Res 9 261–264 Occurrence Handle10.1007/s10310-004-0079-x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • M Ohashi K Gyokusen A Saito (1995) ArticleTitleEffects of carbon dioxide concentration and wind speed using the chamber method on soil respiration J Jpn For Soc 77 599–601

    Google Scholar 

  • M Ohashi K Gyokusen A Saito (1999) ArticleTitleMeasurement of carbon dioxide evolution from a Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica D. Don) forest floor using an open-flow chamber method Forest Ecol Manag 123 105–114

    Google Scholar 

  • S Osozawa S Hasegawa (1995) ArticleTitleDiel and seasonal changes in carbon dioxide concentration and flux in an Andisol Soil Sci 160 117–124 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK2MXnslemu7s%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • J Pumpanen H Ilvesniemi P Hari (2003) ArticleTitleA process-based model for predicting soil carbon dioxide efflux and concentration Soil Sci Soc Am J 67 402–413 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3sXkslChs70%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • JW Raich A Tufekcioglu (2000) ArticleTitleVegetation and soil respiration: correlations and controls Biogeochemistry 48 71–90 Occurrence Handle10.1023/A:1006112000616 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3cXitVOjsro%3D

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • LE Rustad TG Huntington RD Boone (2000) ArticleTitleControls on soil respiration: implications for climate change Biogeochemistry 48 1–6 Occurrence Handle10.1023/A:1006255431298

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • WH Schlesinger JA Andrews (2000) ArticleTitleSoil respiration and the global carbon cycle Biogeochemistry 48 7–20 Occurrence Handle10.1023/A:1006247623877 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3cXitVOjsr8%3D

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • H Shimada H Toda K Haibara T Koike (1998) ArticleTitleSeasonal changes of CO2 gas concentration in forest soils at different slope sites (in Japanese with English summary) Jpn J Soil Sci Plant Nutr 69 170–177 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK1cXit12hu74%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • J Šimunek DL Suarez (1993) ArticleTitleModeling of carbon dioxide transport and production in soil 1. Model development Water Resource Res 29 487–497

    Google Scholar 

  • DL Suarez J Šimunek (1993) ArticleTitleModeling of carbon dioxide transport and production in soil 2. Parameter selection, sensitivity analysis, and comparison of model predictions to field data Water Resource Res 29 499–513 Occurrence Handle10.1029/92WR02226 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK3sXkt1Ogtr0%3D

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Suwa M, Katul GG, Oren R, Andrews J, Pippen J (2004) Impact of elevated atmospheric CO2 on forest floor respiration in a temperate pine forest. Glob Biogeochem Cy 18:GB2013, DOI 10.1029/2003GB002182

  • K Tamai Y Kominami T Miyama Y Goto (2005) ArticleTitleTemporal fluctuations in the CO2 efflux on a forest floor – the case of an extremely immature forest soil J Agric Meteorol 60 773–776

    Google Scholar 

  • J Tang DD Baldocchi Y Qi L Xu (2003) ArticleTitleAssessing soil CO2 efflux using continuous measurements of CO2 profiles in soils with small solid-state sensors Agric Forest Meteorol 118 207–220 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0168-1923(03)00112-6

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • DR Zak WE Holmes NW MacDonald KS Pregitzer (1999) ArticleTitleSoil temperature, matric potential, and the kinetics of microbial respiration and nitrogen mineralization Soil Sci Soc Am J 63 575–584 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK1MXks1ajtb0%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Soil Resources Evaluation Laboratory, Department of Forest Site Environment, Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute, 1 Matsunosato, Tsukuba, 305-8687, Japan

    Shoji Hashimoto

  2. Oki/Kanae Laboratory, Institute of Industrial Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan

    Hikaru Komatsu

Authors
  1. Shoji Hashimoto
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Hikaru Komatsu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Shoji Hashimoto.

About this article

Cite this article

Hashimoto, S., Komatsu, H. Relationships between soil CO2 concentration and CO2 production, temperature, water content, and gas diffusivity: implications for field studies through sensitivity analyses. J For Res 11, 41–50 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10310-005-0185-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10310-005-0185-4

Key words

Search

Navigation