Abstract
Soil respiration was measured in a mixed grassland ecosystem in southwestern Saskatchewan during 1970–72, using an infrared gas-analysis system. The site, on heavy-clay soil, was dominated by Agropyron dasystachyum and A. smithii. Soil respiration reached peak values (about 200 mg m−2h−1) during late June or early July. Rates earlier and later were limited primarily by low temperatures and soil water stress. A multiple regression analysis revealed that up to 74% of the variation in soil respiration could be explained by the variables: soil temperature, soil moisture and precipitation. The strong influence of precipitation suggests that wetting of the litter layer and dead vegetation might exert an important control over decomposition in this grassland.
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