Spatial variability of CO2 fluxes from meadow and forest soils in western part of Wzniesienia Łódzkie (Łódź Hills)

Abstract For this study, the rate of soil respiration was estimated based on monthly measurements of 20 research points representing different types of plant communities. Meadows were found to have the highest rates of soil respiration, whereas rates measured in forests were lower. However, the seasonality of leaf and pine needle decomposition caused large variation in the CO2 fluxes from forest soils. Furthermore, the carbon content at both, the soil surface and 5 cm below ground, affected spatial differentiation of soil respiration in summer and autumn, while the carbon content at 5 cm below ground also affects the spatial variability of annual CO2 fluxes from the soil. Amazingly, however, results of research indicate that the carbon content throughout the whole humus layer does not impact soil respiration. It was also observed that changes in relief affected rates of soil respiration due to differences in sunlight exposure and the history of land use, which can markedly reduce the impact of the carbon content at 5 cm below ground on soil respiration.