The impact of the environmental factors on the photosynthetic activity of common pine (Pinus sylvestris) in spring and in autumn in the region of Eastern Siberia

Abstract

The taiga coniferous forests of the Siberian region are the main carbon sinks in the forest ecosystems. Quantitatively, the size of the carbon accumulation is determined by the photosynthetic productivity, which is strongly influenced by environmental factors. As a result, an assessment of the relationship between environmental factors and photosynthetic productivity makes it possible to calculate and even predict carbon sinks in coniferous forests at the regional level. However, at various stages of the vegetative period, the force of the connection between environmental conditions and the productivity of photosynthesis may change. In this research, correlations between the photosynthetic activity of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) with the environmental conditions were compared in spring and in autumn. In spring, close positive correlation of the maximum daily net photosynthesis was identified with only one environmental factor. For different years, correlations were for soil temperature (rs = 0.655, p = 0.00315) or available soil water supply (rs = 0.892, p = 0.0068). In autumn within different years, significant correlation was shown with two (temperature of air and soil; rs = 0.789 and 0.896, p = 0.00045 and 0.000006, respectively) and four factors: temperature of air (rs = 0.749, p = 0.00129) and soil (rs = 0.84, p = 0.00000), available soil water supply (rs = 0.846, p = 0.00013) and irradiance (rs = 0.826, p = 0.000001). Photosynthetic activity has a weaker connection with changes in environmental factors in the spring, as compared to autumn. This is explained by the multidirectional influence of environmental conditions on photosynthesis in this period and by the necessity of earlier photosynthesis onset, despite the unfavorable conditions. This data may be useful for predicting the flow of carbon in dependence on environmental factors in this region in spring and in autumn.