Carbon Cycling in a Mixed Deciduous Forest Floor

A study of carbon cycling within the floor of a mixed deciduous forest included esti- mates of litterfall, litter standing crop, root turnover, lateral root standing crop, and measurements of gaseous carbon losses from the various components. Annual carbon inputs to the system were 161 g C m-2 as litterfall and 733 g C m-2 as small roots (<0.5 cm diam). Mean annual standing pools were: 01 litter 126 g C i-2, 02 litter 111 g C m2, small roots 340 g C in2, large roots 395 g C m-2, and soil detritus 12,850 g C m-2. Annual total carbon efflux, measured in situ with an open airflow infrared gas analysis system was 1,065 g C m-2. Of this total, 35% was accounted for by respiration of live roots, 42.2% from root decay, 10.9% from 01 litter, and 9.7% from 02 litter. The remaining 2.2% is within the range likely associated with catabolism of root exudates and soil organic detritus. These component estimates were based on respiration rates of the individual components using a differential respirometer.

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