On the Temperature Dependence of Soil Respiration

Concepts

Soil GasCarbon SequestrationBiogeochemistrySoil RespirationRespiration RatesEngineeringTerrestrial EcosystemRespiration RateSoil Carbon CycleTerrestrial Ecosystem ProductivitySoil Respiration RateBiogeochemical ModelPrimary ProductionEarth Science

TL;DR

The study presents an empirical equation that provides an unbiased estimator of soil respiration rates across a wide temperature range. The authors evaluated the fit of previously published soil respiration–temperature relationships and derived an empirical Arrhenius‑type equation that corrects for temperature bias. They found that exponential Q10, conventional Arrhenius, and linear models are biased, whereas an Arrhenius equation with temperature‑dependent activation energy accurately predicts respiration, and when combined with gross primary productivity it yields realistic seasonal net ecosystem productivity and CO₂ dynamics.

Abstract

From previously published measurements of soil respiration rate (R) and temperature (T) the goodness of fit of various R vs T relationships was evaluated. Exponential (Q 10 ) and conventional Arrhenius relationships between T and R cannot provide an unbiased estimate of respiration rate. Nor is a simple linear relationship appropriate. The relationship between R and T can, however, be accurately represented by an Arrhenius type equation where the effective activation energy for respiration varies inversely with temperature. An empirical equation is presented which yields an unbiased estimator of respiration rates over a wide range of temperatures. When combined with seasonal estimates of Gross Primary Productivity (GPP) the empirical relationship derived provides representative estimates of the seasonal cycle of net ecosystem productivity and its effects on atmospheric CO 2 (...)