Measurement of soil respiration in the field: influence of temperature, moisture level, and application of sewage sludge compost and agro-chemicals

Abstract

Soil respiration data were obtained using a portable infrared gas analyzer by measuring the CO₂ concentration in a small chamber placed on the ground. The rate of respiration showed a geometrical mean of 11.4 (mmol- h^-1 -m^-2) and ranged from almost 0 to about 80 (mmol-h^-1-m^-2) in the experimental field in the farm of Shimane University (103 plots, 1,081 data). The rate was stimulated strongly by the temperature (R² = 0.76, Q₁₀ = 2.2, 4°C <, < 40°C), and weakly by the moisture level (partial correlation coefficient: 0.4) and input of organic matter. But the influence or agro-chemicals (standard and 5-fold dose of fenitrothion, chlorothalonil, and paraquat dichloride) was too small to be detected in the field.

Key Words:

• infrared gas analyzer
• in situ measurement
• soil respiration
• temperature