Mature trees help to offset urban area problems caused by impervious pavement. Trees in paved areas remain unhealthy due to a poor root zone environment. The objective of this experiment was to test if soil under pervious concrete, with greater water and gas infiltration, would be more beneficial to existing mature trees during urban development. Root activity, root growth and soil chemistry of American sweetgum under standard concrete, pervious concrete and no concrete were measured. Soil CO2 efflux rates and soil CO2 concentrations were extremely high under both concrete treatments. Soil under standard concrete had lower oxygen concentrations than soil under pervious concrete and control treatments, particularly under wet conditions. There was no pavement effect on soil water content or soil chemistry. Under control treatment standing live root length was greater than under both concrete treatments. There were no major differences in soil conditions between impervious and pervious concrete treatments. The soil under the plots, a Ships clay, with very low permeability may have prevented soil water infiltration. Likely this overrode any potential treatment effects due to porosity of the concrete. To obtain root zone benefits out of pervious concrete, a different base soil with a higher permeability would be a better alternative.

Loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) occupies 13 million hectares in the United States and represents a critical component of the global carbon (C) cycle. Forest management alters C dynamics, affecting the C sequestration capacity of a site. Identifying drivers that influence C cycling, quantifying C fluxes, and determining how management alters processes involved in C cycling will allow for an understanding of C sequestration capacity in managed forests. Objectives of the first study included (1) investigating environmental, soil C, root, and stand influences on soil CO2 efflux on the South Carolina coastal plain and (2) quantifying soil CO2 efflux over a rotation in loblolly pine stands located on the South Carolina coastal plain and the Virginia piedmont. In relation to the first objective, temporal variation in soil CO2 efflux was most highly related to soil temperature. Spatial and temporal variability in soil CO2 efflux was weakly related to soil C and root biomass, and not related to coarse woody debris, stand age, stand volume, or site index [Chapter 2]. Soil CO2 efflux was not related to stand age on the South Carolina sites while efflux was positively related to age on the Virginia sites. Cumulative soil C efflux on the South Carolina sites over 20 years is an estimated 278.6 Mg C/ha compared with an estimated 210.9 Mg C/ha on the Virginia sites [Chapter 3]. Objectives of the second study were (1) to investigate short-term effects of fertilization on processes permitting enhanced growth in loblolly pine and (2) to determine the short-term effects of fertilization on autotrophic, heterotrophic, and soil respiration. Major results from the study include the finding that fertilization caused a transient rise in photosynthetic capacity, which paralleled changes in foliar nitrogen. Leaf area accumulation and enhanced growth following fertilization was partly due to enhanced C fixation capacity [Chapter 4]. Fertilization altered the contribution of autotrophic and heterotrophic respiration to total soil CO2 efflux. Enhanced specific root respiration was short-lived while suppressed microbial respiration following fertilization was maintained over the course of the nearly 200-day study. Respiring root biomass growth increased total soil respiration over time [Chapter 5]. / Ph. D.

<p>This study explores the seasonal dynamics of soil CO₂ efflux (Rs) in a temperate pine plantation forest located in Southern Ontario, Canada. Rs was continuously measured from June 15, 2008 to December 31, 2010 at this site using an automated soil CO₂ chamber system. Component analysis of Rs conducted by making continuous measurements in a trenched plot where live roots were excised indicated that heterotrophic respiration (Rh) contributed approximately 72 and 80% (895 and 920 g C m^-2 year^-1) of annual Rs in 2009 and 2010, respectively. Similarly, continuous Rs measurement in a litterless plot where the surface litter layer was removed contributed 65 and 57% (800 and 655 g C m^-2 year^-1) of annual Rs in 2009 and 2010, respectively. Results of this study suggested that overall soil temperature was the dominant control on Rs in this forest, except during the severe dry conditions.</p> <p>In order to explore the impact of soil water limitations on Rs a through-fall exclusion experiment conducted from April 1 to July 3, 2009 - the spring and early summer season. Through-fall exclusion caused a large reduction in daily Rs. This experiment further suggested that Rs became less sensitive to temperature and increasingly more sensitive to water as soil water content depleted due to the through-fall exclusion. This study helps to better understand the seasonal dynamics of Rs, and its components and controls in temperate conifer forests in Eastern North America. These forests are considered a large sink of carbon, and changes in Rs dynamics in this region may have implications for the global carbon cycle.</p> / Master of Science (MSc)

The thinning of loblolly pine plantations has a great potential to influence the fluxes and storage of carbon within managed stands. This study looked at the effects of thinning on aboveground carbon and mineral soil carbon storage, 14-years after the thinning of an 8-year-old loblolly pine plantation on the piedmont of Virginia. The study also examined soil respiration for one year following the second thinning of the same stand at age twenty-two. The study was conducted using three replicate .222 hectare stands planted using 3.05 by 3.05 meter spacing in 1980 at the Reynolds Homestead in Critz, VA. Using two different sample collection methods it was determined that soil carbon was evenly dispersed throughout thinned plots, and that random sampling techniques were adequate for capturing spatial variability. Soil carbon showed a significant negative correlation with soil depth (p=0.0001), and by testing the difference between intercepts in this relationship, it was determined that thinning significantly increased soil carbon by 31.9% across all depths (p=0.0004). However, after accounting for losses in aboveground wood production, thinning resulted in an overall 10% loss in stand carbon storage. However, this analysis did not take into account the fate of wood products following removal. Soil respiration, soil temperature, and soil moisture were measured every month for one year near randomly selected stumps and trees. In order to account for spatial variation, split plots were measured at positions adjacent to stumps and 1.5 meters away from stumps. Soil temperature and moisture were both significantly affected by thinning. Regression analysis was performed to determine significant drivers in soil CO2 efflux. Temperature proved to be the most significant driver of soil respiration, with a positive correlation in thinned and unthinned stands. When modeled using regression, thinning was a significant variable for predicting soil respiration (p < 0.0009), but explained only 3.4% of the variation. The effects of thinning were responsible for decreased respiration, however, when coupled with increased temperatures, soil respiration was elevated in thinned stands. / Master of Science

Climatic change is associated with the increase of greenhouse gases (GHG) concentration, including carbon dioxide (CO2). Among the most important strategies to decrease global warming are decrease emissions and increase biological capture of CO2 through carbon sequestration in the ecosystems. Therefore, soils are fundamental to this strategy because depending in its use and management, they could act as a carbon source or sink. A study was conducted in a Rhodic Hapludox, in a long-term (22 years) experiment, to evaluate CO2-C emissions from soil produced by management practices and its dependence on soil temperature and moisture. CO2-C emissions were intensively analysed with two soil cameras, a dynamic camera (Licor-6400-09) fabricated by LI-COR Company and a static camera (PVC camera) during an evaluation period of 30 days. A intensive cropping system were used in both tillage systems. Results suggest that tillage systems produced differences in the CO2-C emission. No-till system had the highest CO2-C efflux from soil, being 22% higher than the conventional tillage. In conventional tillage highest peaks of CO2-C emissions were verified after soil tillage with disk harrow and chisel plow, nevertheless they were of short duration. CO2-C emissions were influenced by variations in soil temperature and moisture. Higher CO2-C emissions from soil in the no-till system were related to higher soil carbon stocks, presence of soybean residues in the surface, higher contents of particulate organic carbon and higher microbial biomass that together with the higher soil moisture compared to conventional tillage explained the higher efflux. The CO2-C efflux in the long-term no-till reflected the higher soil quality in this system. These results suggest that in the long-term no-till system due to high biologic activity and high soil moisture, soybean residues won t increase soil organic matter content. / As mudanças climáticas contemporâneas estão sendo associadas ao aumento da concentração de gases de efeito estufa (GEE), entre eles o dióxido de carbono (CO2). Entre as estratégias para diminuir o aquecimento global destaca-se a diminuição das emissões e o incremento da absorção biológica de CO2 através do seqüestro de carbono em ecossistemas. Assim, os solos são fundamentais nessa estratégia uma vez que, dependendo do seu uso e manejo, podem ser um importante fonte ou sumidouro de carbono. Com o objetivo de avaliar as emissões de C-CO2 do solo causadas pelas práticas de manejo e sua dependência na temperatura e umidade do solo, desenvolveu-se um estudo em solo classificado como Latossolo Vermelho distrófico típico em experimento de longa duração (22 anos). As emissões de C-CO2 foram registradas e captadas com duas câmaras; uma dinâmica (Licor-6400-09) fabricada pela companhia LI-COR e outra estática (câmara de PVC) durante um período de avaliação de 30 dias. Os resultados demonstraram que os sistemas de preparo causaram diferenças na emissão de C-CO2 do solo e o plantio direto (PD) foi o que ocasionou o maior efluxo de CO2 do solo, sendo 22% superior ao preparo convencional (PC). Os maiores picos de emissões de C-CO2 foram verificados logo após o preparo do solo com arado e gradagem na parcela sob PC, porém tiveram curta duração. As emissões de C-CO2 foram influenciadas pelas variações da temperatura e umidade do solo, foi verificada correlação significativa (r=0,89) entre o fluxo de C-CO2 do solo e a temperatura do solo em PD, contrastando com o PC onde não houve correlação entre estas variáveis. As maiores emissões de C-CO2 do solo no PD foram relacionadas ao maior estoque de carbono, a presença de resíduos na superfície, a maior quantidade de carbono lábil e a maior biomassa microbiana que associados com maior umidade do solo explicam o efluxo, refletindo assim a maior qualidade do solo neste sistema. Os resultados sugerem que no PD de longa duração, devido à alta atividade biológica e altos conteúdos de umidade, os resíduos de soja não promoverão aumento de matéria orgânica do solo. As emissões de C-CO2 captadas com a câmara dinâmica foram correlacionadas significativamente com as emissões da câmara estática no PD. No entanto, não apresentaram relação no PC. Este projeto de pesquisa é o resultado de uma cooperação científica entre o grupo de pesquisa em Manejo do Solo da UFRGS, Departamento de Solos da UFSM e FUNDACEP.

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Forests play an important role in the net ecosystem exchange of CO2 in terrestrial ecosystems. Soil respiration is often the major source of CO2 in forests and is greatly influenced by climatic variability and management practices. Spatial and temporal variations of soil respiration have been examined in a chronosequence (60, 30, 15, and 1 year-old) of temperate, afforested, white pine (Pinus strobus) forest stands in Southern Ontario, Canada, in order to investigate any age related differences. Spatial and temporal variations of soil respiration in a 74 year-old boreal, mixed-wood forest in Central Ontario, was also studied and compared with results from the 60 year-old, temperate, white pine, forest stand, in order to investigate any climate related differences. Soil CO2 flux, temperature, and moisture were measured for one year (June 2003 to May 2004, inclusive, for the chronosequence study, and August 2003 to July 2004, inclusive, for the boreal-temperate study). In all stands, temporal variability of soil respiration followed the seasonal pattern of soil temperature, reaching a minimum in winter and maximum in summer. Temporal variability of soil temperature was able to explain 80 to 96% of the temporal variability in soil respiration at all stands. Spatial variability in soil respiration was also observed at all stands and the degree of this variability was seasonal, following the seasonal trend of mean daily soil respiration. Spatial variability of some soil chemical properties was highly correlated with the spatial variability of soil respiration, while litter thickness was not. The location of soil respiration measurement with respect to tree trunks may also help to explain some of the spatial variability in soil respiration. Across the chronosequence, the highest mean daily CO2 efflux was observed during the growing season for the 15 year-old-stand (5.2 ± 1.3 to 0.4 ± 0.2 μmol CO2 m^-2 s^-1), which was comparable to the 60 year-old-stand (4.9 ± 1.3 to 0.2 ±0.1 μmol CO2 m^-2 s^-1), but higher than the 30 year (3.8 ± 0.9 to 0.2 ± 0.0 μmol CO2 m^-2 s^-1) and 1 year (2.9 ± 0.9 to 0.3 ± 0.3 μmol CO2 m^-2 s^-1) old stands. From boreal-temperate comparison, it was observed that mean daily soil respiration rates for the boreal stand (6.9 ± 1.7 to 0.5 ±0.1 μmol CO2 m^-2 s^-1) were higher during the growing season compared to the 60 year-old temperate forest stand. Understanding temporal and spatial variability of soil respiration and how it is controlled is essential to improving forest ecosystem carbon budget assessments, and subsequently, the global carbon budget. This study will contribute direct observations necessary for improving and validating forest ecosystem CO2 exchange models. / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc)