Roles of biotic and abiotic variables in determining spatial variation of soil respiration in secondary oak and planted pine forests

► We compared spatial variation of soil respiration (RS) between oak and pine forests. ► Spatial CVs of RS in secondary oak are higher than those in planted pine forest. ► Lower spatial CVs of RS in plantation was due to its homogeneous stand structure. ► Biotic and abiotic factors both influenced the spatial variation of RS in oak forest. ► Only abiotic factors explained the spatial variation of RS in plantation.