Spatial-Temporal Changes of Soil Respiration across China and the Response to Land Cover and Climate Change

Abstract

Soil respiration (Rs) plays an important role in the carbon budget of terrestrial ecosystems. Quantifying the spatial and temporal variations in Rs in China at the regional scale helps improve our understanding of the variations in terrestrial carbon budgets that occur in response to global climate and environmental changes and potential future control measures. In this study, we used a regional-scale geostatistical model that incorporates gridded meteorological and pedologic data to evaluate the spatial Rs variations in China from 2000 to 2013. We analysed the relationship between Rs and environmental factors, and suggest management strategies that may help to keep the terrestrial carbon balance. The simulated results demonstrate that the mean annual Rs value over these 14 years was 422 g/m2/year, and the corresponding total amount was 4.01 Pg C/year. The Rs estimation displayed a clear spatial pattern and a slightly increasing trend. Further analysis also indicated that high Rs values may occur in areas that show a greater degree of synchronicity in the timing of their optimal temperature and moisture conditions. Moreover, cultivated vegetation exhibits higher Rs values than native vegetation. Finally, we suggest that specific conservation efforts should be focused on ecologically sensitive areas where the Rs values increase significantly.

Stylo grass affecting soil respiration in latosol guava orchard of southern subtropical region of China

“…Various soil relevant factors and characteristics should be undertaken when analyzing relationship between soil respiration and influencing factors (Yan, Qin, Zhang, & Li, 2009). Wen et al (2018) analyzed the relationship between soil respiration and environmental factors and found that high soil respiration values may occur in areas that show a greater degree of synchronicity in the timing of their optimal temperature and moisture conditions. It was reported that soil respiration rate is affected by the interaction of soil moisture and soil temperature in the cropland and forest of Northwest China (Zhang et al, 2020).…”

Topography modifies the effect of land‐use change on soil respiration: A meta‐analysis

“…2015, Wen et al. 2018). However, the impact of any land‐use change is likely to show high spatial variability and will depend on topographical conditions, especially in areas with a complex terrain (Kang et al.…”

“…2015, Wen et al. 2018), but few have specifically identified the impact or role(s) that topography has. Therefore, the purposes of the study were as follows: (1) to examine how soil respiration responded to land‐use changes under different topographical conditions; (2) to quantify the interactive effects of multiple drivers on soil respiration in response to land‐use change under different topographical conditions; and (3) to identify the relative importance of the different drivers on soil respiration.…”

“…Land-use changes associated with vegetation restoration on such a large scale could have a significant impact on the terrestrial ecosystem carbon cycle in China, and a previous meta-analysis reported that the program significantly increased China's C sequestration capacity (Deng et al 2014, Song et al 2014. Despite this, there have been few comprehensive assessments of any changes in soil respiration that include the entire program, although many observations have been made based on local/point scale measurements (Sheng et al 2010, Zhang et al 2015, Wen et al 2018). However, the impact of any land-use change is likely to show high spatial variability and will depend on topographical conditions, especially in areas with a complex terrain (Kang et al 2003, Tian et al 2019, Cui et al 2020, Li et al 2020a.…”

“…Consequently, the impact of any changes in land use will be modulated by topographical conditions and influences the spatial distribution of soil respiration (Wang et al 2015a, c, Tian et al 2019, Li et al 2020b. A large number of studies have explored the impact of land-use changes in soil respiration for some/similar topographical conditions (Sheng et al 2010, Zhang et al 2015, Wen et al 2018), but few have specifically identified the impact or role(s) that topography has. Therefore, the purposes of the study were as follows: (1) to examine how soil respiration responded to landuse changes under different topographical conditions; (2) to quantify the interactive effects of multiple drivers on soil respiration in response to land-use change under different topographical conditions; and (3) to identify the relative importance of the different drivers on soil respiration.…”