Forest Recovering and Soil Respiration Rate

Abstract

This study was conducted to investigate the rate of soil respiration from a recovering forest of the tropics and its relationship with changes in environmental factorsafter years of deforestation. Soil respiration measurement was conducted using the continuous open flow chamber technique connected to a multi gas- handling unit and infrared gas analyser, while the forest biomass and soil properties were quantified using the Kjeldahl method and Walkley-black wet oxidation technique. The average means soil respiration rate were 341.23, 383.07, 340.30, 308.12, 286.07, 256.05 mg m -2 h -1 between June and December. Soil respiration in the month of July was significantly (p<0.01) higher compare to other months, with lower emission rate in December. Soil respiration exhibited a variation pattern that was similar to soil temperature pattern, the pattern varied monthly. Likewise, the forest carbon input and soil properties were found to be significantly correlated with soil respiration as they provide nutrients for microorganism to emit soil CO2. The remarkable soil CO2 emission from the recovering forest was attributed to changes in environmental factors as the forest is recovering from deforestation. The correlation and multiple linear regression model proved that environmental factors influenced the high rate of soil CO2 emission indicating a strong positive relationship (0.94; p<0.01). These results suggestthat forest recovering could still emit considerable percentages of soil CO2 due to the impact from deforestation which could have a great implication on environmental factors and the atmospheric carbon balance.