Soil moisture overshadows temperature control over soil CO2 efflux in a Pinus canariensis forest at treeline in Tenerife, Canary Islands

► We measured soil CO2 efflux (ES) in a Pinus canariensis forest at treeline, Tenerife. ► We examined effects of soil temperature (Ts) and soil water potential (Ψ) on ES. ► A 76% of the annual variation in ES could be explained Ts. ► During dry summer control of Ts over (Ψ) was limited by low Ψ. ► During the wet period ES tended to decline when Ψ was supra-optimal.