Characteristics of CO 2 release from forest soil in the mountains near Beijing

CO 2 release from forest soil is a key driver of carbon cycling between the soil and atmosphere ecosystem. The rate of CO 2 released from soil was measured in three forest stands (in the mountainous region near Beijing, China) by the alkaline absorption method from 2004 to 2006. The rate of CO 2 released did not differ among the three stands. The CO 2 release rate ranged from − 341 to 1,193 mg m − 2 h − 1 , and the mean value over all three forests and sampling times was 286 mg m − 2 h − 1 . CO 2 release was positively correlated with soil water content and the soil temperature. Diurnally, CO 2 release was higher in the day than at night. Seasonally, CO 2 release was highest in early autumn and lowest in winter; in winter, negative values of CO 2 release suggested that CO 2 was absorbed by soil.