Effect of canopy gap size on soil respiration in a mixed broadleaved-Korean pine forest: Evidence from biotic and abiotic factors

Abstract

Understanding the effects of forest structure, the frequency and size of canopy gaps is pivotal for precisely modelling forest soil carbon budgets. We aimed to determine the differences in soil respiration between closed canopy areas and canopy gaps with various sizes and how soil respiration is affected by biotic and abiotic factors, e.g., soil nutrients, soil microbial biomass and community composition, enzyme activities and fine root biomass. Soil respiration and these environmental factors were measured in eleven tree fall gaps (separated into small, medium and large with sizes ranging from 20 m2 to 450 m2) and three control plots in a mixed broadleaved-Korean pine forest during the growing season. Our results showed that soil respiration was similar between the control and small canopy gaps, while it was 17–49% lower in the medium and large canopy gaps compared to that of the control. There was a significant parabolic relationship between soil respiration and soil moisture, and the optimum moisture was approximately 40%. Fine root biomass and soil enzyme activities showed positive effects on soil respiration across different levels of canopy gaps. Furthermore, soil respiration was significantly declined with increasing soil microbial diversity (OTUs of bacteria). Our findings demonstrate that canopy gap has significant impact on soil CO2 emission in a temperate mixed forest, however, further studies concerning other forest ecosystem types and larger scale are warranted.