Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Soil CO 2 efflux and fungal and bacterial biomass in a plantation and a secondary forest in wet tropics in Puerto Rico

  • Published:
Plant and Soil Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

We examined the effects of root and litter exclusion on the rate of soil CO2 efflux and microbial biomass using trenching and tent separation techniques in a secondary forest (SF) and a pine (Pinus caribaea Morelet) plantation in the Luquillo Experimental Forest in Puerto Rico. Soil surface CO2 efflux was measured using the alkali trap method at 12 randomly-distributed locations in each treatment (control, root exclusion, litter exclusion, and both root and litter exclusion) in the plantation and the SF, respectively. We measured soil CO2 efflux every two months and collected soil samples at each sampling location in different seasons to determine microbial biomass from August 1996 to July 1997. We found that soil CO2 efflux was significantly reduced in the litter and root exclusion plots (7-year litter and/or root exclusion) in both the secondary forest and the pine plantation compared with the control. The reduction of soil CO2 efflux was 35.6% greater in the root exclusion plots than in the litter exclusion plots in the plantation, whereas a reversed pattern was found in the secondary forest. Microbial biomass was also reduced during the litter and root exclusion period. In the root exclusion plots, total fungal biomass averaged 31.4% and 65.2% lower than the control plots in the plantation and the secondary forest, respectively, while the total bacterial biomass was 24% and 8.3% lower than the control plots in the plantation and the secondary forest, respectively. In the litter exclusion treatment, total fungal biomass averaged 69.2% and 69.7% lower than the control plots in the plantation and the secondary forest, respectively, while the total bacterial biomass was 48% and 50.1% lower than the control plots in the plantation and the secondary forest, respectively. Soil CO2 efflux was positively correlated with both fungal and bacterial biomass in both the plantation the secondary forest. The correlation between soil CO2 efflux and active fungal biomass was significantly higher in the plantation than in the secondary forest. However, the correlation between the soil CO2 efflux and both the active and total bacterial biomass was significantly higher in the secondary forest than in the plantation in the day season. In addition, we found soil CO2 efflux was highly related to the strong interactions among root, fungal and bacterial biomass by multiple regression analysis (R2 > 0.61, P < 0.05). Our results suggest that carbon input from aboveground litterfall and roots (root litter and exudates) is critical to the soil microbial community and ecosystem carbon cycling in the wet tropical forests.

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

  • G Amatya S X Chang M H Beare D J Mead (2002) ArticleTitleSoil properties under a pinus radiata – Ryegrass silvopastoral system in New Zealand. Part 2. C and N of soil microbial biomass and soil N dynamics Agrofor. Syst 54 149–160

    Google Scholar 

  • R D Bowden K J Nadelhoffer R D Boone J M Melillo J B Garrison (1993) ArticleTitleContribution of aboveground litter, belowground litter, and root-derived respiration to total soil respiration in the temperate mixed hardwood forest Can. J. For. Res 23 1402–1407

    Google Scholar 

  • S Brown A E Lugo (1990) ArticleTitleTropical secondary forests J. Trop. Ecol 6 1–32

    Google Scholar 

  • R Brumme (1995) ArticleTitleMechanisms of carbon and nutrient release and retention in beech forest gaps Plant Soil 173 1242

    Google Scholar 

  • N Buchmann (2000) ArticleTitleBiotic and abiotic factors controlling soil respiration rates in Picea abies stands Soil Biol. Biochem 32 1625–1635 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3cXntFSlsro%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • M R Carter (1993) Soil Sampling and Methods of Analysis Lewis Publishers Toronto

    Google Scholar 

  • L Cheng (1993) Biodiversity in China Science Press Beijing China

    Google Scholar 

  • N T Edward (1998) ArticleTitleBelow-ground respiration responses of sugar maple and red maple samplings to atmospheric CO2 enrichment and elevated air temperature Plant Soil 206 85–97

    Google Scholar 

  • P J Hanson N T Edward C T Garten J A Andrew (2000) ArticleTitleSeparating root and soil microbial contributions to soil respiration: a review of methods and observations Biogeochemistry 48 115–146 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3cXitVOjsrg%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • P J Hanson S D Wullschleger S A Bohlman D E 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 

  • R L Hendrick K S Pregitzer (1993) ArticleTitleThe dynamics of fine root length, biomass, and nitrogen content in two northern hardwood ecosystems Can. J. For. Res 23 2507–2520

    Google Scholar 

  • D S Jenkinson D S Powlson (1975) ArticleTitleThe effects of biocidal treatments on metabolism in soil-5: a method for measuring soil biomass. Soil Biol Biochem 8 209–213

    Google Scholar 

  • L S Jensen T Mueller K R Tate D J Ross J Magid N E Nielsen (1996) ArticleTitleSoil surface CO2 flux as an index of soil respiration in situ: A comparison of two chamber methods. Soil Biol Biochem 28 1297–1306 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S1357-2725(96)00079-9 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK2sXoslSgsA%3D%3D Occurrence Handle9022289

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • W A Kurtz J P Kimmins (1987) ArticleTitleAnalysis of error in methods used to determine fine root production in forest ecosystem: a stimulation approach. Can J. For. Res 17 909–412

    Google Scholar 

  • J Lanly (1982) Tropical Forest Resources Food and Agriculture Organization Rome, FAO 106

    Google Scholar 

  • H Laudelout V Thierron (1996) ArticleTitleContribution of root respiration to total CO2 efflux from the soil of a deciduous forest Can. J. For. Res 26 1142–1148

    Google Scholar 

  • D A Lipson S K Schmidt R K Monson (1999) ArticleTitleLinks between microbial population dynamics and plant Navailability in an alpine ecosystem Ecology 80 1623–1631

    Google Scholar 

  • D J Lodge E R Ingham (1991) ArticleTitleA comparison of agar film techniques for estimating fungal biovolumes in litter and soil Agric. Ecosyst. Environ 34 131–144

    Google Scholar 

  • A E Lugo (1992) ArticleTitleComparison of tropical tree plantations with secondary forests of similar age Ecol. Monogr 62 1–41

    Google Scholar 

  • Y Q Luo R B Jackson R B Field H A Moony (1996) ArticleTitleElevated CO2 increases below-ground respiration in California grassland Oecologia 108 130–137

    Google Scholar 

  • F Montagnini C Porras (1998) ArticleTitleEvaluating the role of plantations as carbon sinks: An example of integrative approach from the humid tropics Environ. Manage 22 459–470 Occurrence Handle9516537

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • D Montgomery (2001) Design and Analysis of Experiments John Wiley & Sons New York

    Google Scholar 

  • K Nakane T Kohno T Horikoshi (1996) ArticleTitleRoot respiration before and just after clear-felling in a mature deciduous, broad-leaved forest Ecol. Res 11 111–119

    Google Scholar 

  • K Nakane M Yamamoto H Tsubota (1983) ArticleTitleEstimation of root respiration rate in a mature forest ecosystem Jap. J. Ecol 33 397–408

    Google Scholar 

  • J W Raich (2000) ArticleTitleVegetation and soil respiration: Correlations and controls Biogeochemistry 48 71–90 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3cXitVOjsro%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • J W Raich W H Schlesinger (1992) ArticleTitleThe global carbon dioxide emissions from soils Global Biogeochem. Cycles 9 23–36

    Google Scholar 

  • M G Ryan M G Lavigne S T Gower (1997) ArticleTitleAnnual carbon cost of autotrophic respiration in boreal forest ecosystems in relation to species and climate J. Geophys. Res 102 28,871–28,883

    Google Scholar 

  • SAS Institute Inc. 1999 SAS Online Doc, Version8. Cary, NC, USA.

  • W H Schlesinger (1977) ArticleTitleCarbon balance in terrestrial detritus Annu. Rev. Ecil. Syst 8 51–81 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaE1cXlt1Cl

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • J S Singh A S Raghubanshi R S Singh S C Srivastava (1989) ArticleTitleMicrobial biomass acts as a source of plant nutrients in dry tropical forest and savanna Nature 338 499–500

    Google Scholar 

  • J L Smith E A Paul (1995) The significance of soil microbial biomass estimation R D B Lefroy G J Blair E T Graswell (Eds) Soil Organic Matter Management for Sustainable Agriculture Australian Center for International Agricultural Research Canberra 357–369

    Google Scholar 

  • A Tufekcioglu J W Raich T Isenhart R C Schultz (2001) ArticleTitleSoil respiration within riparian buffers and adjacent crop fields Plant Soil 299 117–124

    Google Scholar 

  • Varner RK, Keller M, Robertson JR, Dias JD, Silva H, Crill PM, McGroddy M and Silver WL 2003. Experimentally induced root mortality increased nitrous oxide emission from tropical forest soil. Geophys. Res. Lett. 30 No.1144

  • D A Wardle (1998) ArticleTitleControls of temporal variability of the soil microbial biomass: A global-scale synthesis Soil Biol. Biochem 30 1627–1637 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK1cXlt1Sns7c%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • M Xu T DeBiase Y Qi A Goldstein Z Liu (2001) ArticleTitleEcosystem respiration in a young ponderosa pine plantation in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, California Tree Physiol 21 309–318 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DC%2BD3M7mtlOmtg%3D%3D Occurrence Handle11262922

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • M H Yim S J Joo K Nakane (2002) ArticleTitleComparison of field methods for measuring soil respiration: a static alkali absorption method and two dynamic closed chamber methods For. Ecol. Manage 170 189–197

    Google Scholar 

  • D R Zak P M Groffman K S Pregitzer S Christensen J M Tiedje (1990) ArticleTitleThe vernal dam: Plant-microbe competition for nitrogen in northern hardwood forest Ecology 71 651–656

    Google Scholar 

  • X M Zou M Bashkin (1998) ArticleTitleSoil carbon accretion and earthworm recovery following revegetation in abandoned sugarcane fields Soil Biol. Biochem 30 825–830 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK1cXjsFyks7o%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources, Rutgers University, 14 College Farm Road, New Brunswick, NJ, 08901-8551, USA

    Yiqing Li & Ming Xu

  2. Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, 88 Xuefu Road, Kunming, Yunnan, China

    Xiaoming Zou

  3. Institute for Tropical Ecosystem Studies, University of Puerto Rico, PO Box 23341, San Juan, PR, 00931, USA

    Xiaoming Zou

  4. Department of Biology, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM, 88003, USA

    Yang Xia

Authors
  1. Yiqing Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Ming Xu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Xiaoming Zou
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Yang Xia
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Li, Y., Xu, M., Zou, X. et al. Soil CO 2 efflux and fungal and bacterial biomass in a plantation and a secondary forest in wet tropics in Puerto Rico. Plant Soil 268, 151–160 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-004-0234-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-004-0234-3

Keywords

Search

Navigation