Nonlinear responses of soil respiration to precipitation changes in a semiarid temperate steppe.

ABSTRACT: Extreme precipitation events are predicted to occur more frequently and will have significant influences on terrestrial ecosystem carbon (C) cycling in the future. However, response patterns of soil respiration to precipitation changes remain uncertain in terrestrial ecosystems. A field experiment with seven precipitation treatments (i.e. from -60% to +60% of ambient precipitation to form a drought to wet precipitation gradient) was conducted over three growing seasons (2010-2012) in a semiarid temperate steppe of Northern China. Results showed a nonlinear response pattern of soil respiration along the experimental precipitation gradient, with soil respiration suppressed by decreased precipitation and enhanced by increased precipitation. Over the three growing seasons, soil respiration was

SUBMITTER: Miao Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5374450 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature