Experimental study on soil respiration of temperate grassland in China

Experimental study on soil respiration of typical temperate grassland in Inner Mongolia was conducted in the period of 1998 –2000. Closed chamber and GC/FID techniques were used for measurements of soil and plant respiration. Data analysis of three-year measurements show that temperate grassland soil respiration varied in the range of 390–866 gC/m2 · a 1 and underwent evident seasonal and annual variations. On average, the soil respiration accounts for 70%–88% of the grassland total respiration. Results also show a stronger relation between the soil respiration and soil temperature in water abundant years. Increased rainfall in 1998 made soil respiration increased, while in the dry years, the relation between soil respiration and soil temperature weakened remarkably. Soil water content plays an important controlling role in soil respiration-temperature interrelation for semiarid grassland.