A Study on the Soil Respiration in Cutting and Uncutting Areas of Larix leptolepis Plantation

Quantification of the ecosystem respiration is essential in understanding the carbon cycling of natural and disturbed landscapes. Soil respiration and some environmental factors which affect soil respiration were investigated in a Larix leptolepis plantation inKongju, Korea. Soil respiration was measured at midday of the $15^{th}$ and $30^{th}$ day of every month from May to December in a non-cutting area (Control) and a cutting area (Treatment) with IRGA Soil Respiration Analyzer. Throughout the study period, average soil temperature and water content were $23.3{\pm}0.5^{\circ}C$ and $27.76{\pm}7.12%$ for control, and $25.9{\pm}3.1^{\circ}C$ and $24.55{\pm}5.12%$ for treatment, respectively. There was a positive correlation ($R^2$=0.8905) between soil respiration and soil temperature in the study area. However, there was no significant correlation between soil respiration and soil moisture ($R^2$=0.4437). The seasonal soil respiration increased in the summer and decreased in the winter. In August, maximum soil respirations in the control and treatment areas were $0.82{\pm}0.13$ and $1.32{\pm}0.10$ $gCO_2{\cdot}^{-2}{\cdot}r^{-1}$, respectively. Total amounts of $CO_2$ evolution in the control and treatment areas from May to December in 2008 were 2,419.2 and 3,610.8 $CO_2g{\cdot}m^{-2}$, respectively. The amount of soil respiration in the treatment area was 49.3% greater than in the control. Increased soil respiration in the treatment area may be due to increased soil temperature, which drives increased microbial decomposition. According to our present investigation, forest cutting will increase the atmospheric $CO_2$ by increasing soil respiration.

잎갈나무조림지의 벌목지와 비벌목지의 토양호흡에 관한 연구

공주 근교의 일본잎갈나무 조림지에서 벌목이 이루어지지 않은 비벌목지를 대조구, 벌목이 이루어진 벌목지를 처리구로 설정하여 토양호흡과 호흡에 영향을 주는 토양온도, 토양수분을 2008년 5월부터 12월까지 2주 간격으로 측정하였다. 조사기간 동안 대조구와 처리구의 평균 토양온도는 각각 $23.3{\pm}0.5^{\circ}C$, $25.9{\pm}3.1^{\circ}C$으로 처리구에서 높았으며, 토양수분은 각각 $27.76{\pm}7.12%$, $24.55{\pm}5.12%$으로 처리구에서 낮게 나타났다. 토양호흡량은 봄부터 하절기로 이행함에 따라 증가한 후 동절기에 이르기까지 감소하는 경향을 보였으며, 토양호흡과 토양온도와는 높은 상관관계($R^2$=0.8747)가 있었으나, 토양수분과는 유의성이 높지 않았다($R^2$=0.4437). 토양호흡량은 대조구와 처리구에서 모두 8월에 가장 높았으며, 이때 대조구와 처리구의 평균 토양호흡량은 각각 $0.82{\pm}0.13$, $1.32{\pm}0.10$ $CO_2g{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}hr^{-1}$으로 나타났다. 대조구와 처리구에서 5월부터 12월까지 측정된 전체 호흡량은 각각 2,419.2, 3,610.8 $CO_2g{\cdot}m^{-2}$으로 대조구에 비해 처리구에서 49.3% 높은 것으로 나타났다. 본 연구의 결과 인위적인 삼림의 벌목은 토양 호흡량을 증가시켜 대기 중의 이산화탄소를 증가시킬 것으로 판단된다.