Soil CO2 flux dynamics in the two main plantation forest types in subtropical China

Chinese Fir and Moso bamboo are the two most important forest plantation species in subtropical China. However, information on greenhouse gas emissions from these forests is still scarce. A field study was carried out to compare soil CO2 flux dynamics in Chinese Fir and Moso bamboo forests over a 12-month period using the LI-8100 Soil CO2 Flux System. The soil CO2 flux in both forest types showed similar daily and seasonal dynamic patterns with the highest soil CO2 efflux at 14:00–16:00 in summer and the lowest in winter. Moso bamboo forest showed significant higher (P < 0.01) annual mean soil CO2 fluxes (52.9 t CO2 ha− 1 yr− 1) than Chinese fir forest (27.9 t CO2 ha− 1 yr− 1). The large difference in soil CO2 fluxes may potentially influence the carbon cycle of the two forest types at the ecosystem scale. The CO2 flux from the soil showed a significant positive correlation (P < 0.0001) with soil temperature at 5 cm depth, a significant negative correlation (P < 0.01) with air relative humidity, and no significant correlation with soil moisture in either forest types. The Q10 value of soil respiration was higher in Chinese fir than Moso bamboo forest, indicating that soil respiration under Chinese fir forest will be more sensitive to temperature change. This study contributes to better understanding of the role Moso bamboo and Chinese fir forests may play in carbon cycle and global warming mitigation.

► We investigate soil CO2 flux in Chinese fir and Moso bamboo plantations.
► Soil CO2 flux in both forest types shows similar daily and seasonal dynamic patterns.
► CO2 flux in Chinese fir forest is more sensitive to temperature than Moso bamboo.
► Higher CO2 flux was observed in the Moso bamboo than in the Chinese fir forest.
► This may influence the carbon sequestration capacity of these two forest types.