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The relationships of soil CO2 flux with selected Norway spruce root parameters and sterol content in the soil
Holub, Filip ; Fabiánek, Tomáš ; Večeřová, Kristýna ; Moos, Martin ; Oravec, Michal ; Tříska, Jan ; Marková, I. ; Edwards, Magda ; Cudlín, Pavel
The flow of CO2 from the soil is a very important part of the carbon cycle in an ecosystem. The aim of our work was to determine how roots and rhizospheric fungi contribute to CO2 flux from the soil. Preliminary results from two years of research are presented. The research on how root biomass as well as ergosterol and phytosterol contents in roots and soil affected CO2 flux from the soil was conducted in a 108-year-old Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) forest in the Drahany Highlands during 2010 and 2011. CO2 flow was measured using a LI-8100 portable closed gasometric system (Li-Cor, USA). The dry weight and volume of individual root categories (< 1 mm, 1–2 mm, 2–5 mm, > 5 mm), C and N contents in the roots, as well as ergosterol, β-sitosterol, and campesterol contents in the soil and roots were determined from root-containing soil samples located in the circular measurement chamber. In addition, sterol content was determined in the soil only. Our soil respiration results correspond with the findings of Buchman (2000) who found respiration values between 5–7 μmol CO2 m−2 s−1 in a 111-year-old spruce forest. A significant influence on soil respiration was proven only for sitosterol content in the soil. The relationships among soil CO2 flux, root characteristics, and nitrogen and sterol contents in the roots and soil are discussed.
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