This article was downloaded by: [Zhanli Wang] On: 27 July 2015, At: 03:03 Publisher: Taylor & Francis Informa Ltd Registered in England and Wales Registered Number: 1072954 Registered office: 5 Howick Place, London, SW1P 1WG Acta Agriculturae Scandinavica, Section B — Soil & Plant Science Publication details, including instructions for authors and subscription information: http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/sagb20 Functional dependencies of soil CO2 emissions on soil biological properties in northern German agricultural soils derived from a glacial till Yang Wangabc, Manfred Bölterd, Qingrui Changa, Rainer Duttmannb, Kirstin Marxb, James F. Petersene & Zhanli Wangcf a College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, PR China b Division of Physical Geography: Landscape Ecology and Geoinformation Science (LGI), Department of Geography, Christian-Albrechts-University Kiel, Ludewig-Meyn-Str. 14, Click for updates 24098 Kiel, Germany c State Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Dryland Farming on the Loess Plateau, Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, PR China d Institute for Ecosystem Research, Christian-Albrechts-University Kiel, Olshausenstr. 75, 24118 Kiel, Germany e Department of Geography, Texas State University, San Marcos, TX 78666, USA f Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Chinese Academy of Science and Ministry of Water Resources, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, PR China Published online: 21 Jan 2015. To cite this article: Yang Wang, Manfred Bölter, Qingrui Chang, Rainer Duttmann, Kirstin Marx, James F. Petersen & Zhanli Wang (2015) Functional dependencies of soil CO2 emissions on soil biological properties in northern German agricultural soils derived from a glacial till, Acta Agriculturae Scandinavica, Section B — Soil & Plant Science, 65:3, 233-245, DOI: 10.1080/09064710.2014.1000369 To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09064710.2014.1000369 PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR ARTICLE Taylor & Francis makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of all the information (the “Content”) contained in the publications on our platform. However, Taylor & Francis, our agents, and our licensors make no representations or warranties whatsoever as to the accuracy, completeness, or suitability for any purpose of the Content. Any opinions and views expressed in this publication are the opinions and views of the authors, and are not the views of or endorsed by Taylor & Francis. The accuracy of the Content should not be relied upon and should be independently verified with primary sources of information. Taylor and Francis shall not be liable for any losses, actions, claims, proceedings, demands, costs, expenses, damages, and other liabilities whatsoever or howsoever caused arising directly or indirectly in connection with, in relation to or arising out of the use of the Content. This article may be used for research, teaching, and private study purposes. Any substantial or systematic reproduction, redistribution, reselling, loan, sub-licensing, systematic supply, or distribution in any form to anyone is expressly forbidden. Terms & Conditions of access and use can be found at http:// www.tandfonline.com/page/terms-and-conditions Downloaded by [Zhanli Wang] at 03:03 27 July 2015 Acta Agriculturae Scandinavica, Section B — Soil & Plant Science, 2015 Vol. 65, No. 3, 233–245, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09064710.2014.1000369 ORIGINAL ARTICLE Functional dependencies of soil CO2 emissions on soil biological properties in northern German agricultural soils derived from a glacial till Yang Wanga,b,c, Manfred Bölterd, Qingrui Changa, Rainer Duttmannb, Kirstin Marxb, James F. Petersene and Zhanli Wangc,f* aCollege of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, PR China; bDivision of Physical Geography: Landscape Ecology and Geoinformation Science (LGI), Department of Geography, Christian-Albrechts-University Kiel, Ludewig-Meyn-Str. 14, 24098 Kiel, Germany; cState Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Dryland Farming on the Loess Plateau, Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, PR China; dInstitute for Ecosystem Research, Christian-Albrechts-University Kiel, Olshausenstr. 75, 24118 Kiel, Germany; eDepartment of Geography, Texas State University, San Marcos, TX 78666, USA; fInstitute of Soil and Water Conservation, Chinese Academy of Science and Ministry of Water Resources, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, PR China (Received 8 November 2014; accepted 16 December 2014) Agricultural soil CO2 emissions and their controlling factors have recently received increased attention because of the high potential of carbon sequestration and their importance in soil fertility. Several parameters of soil structure, chemistry, and microbiology were monitored along with soil CO2 emissions in research conducted in soils derived from a glacial till. The investigation was carried out during the 2012 growing season in Northern −1 −1 Germany. Higher potentials of soil CO2 emissions were found in grassland (20.40 µg g dry weight h ) compared to arable land (5.59 µg g−1 dry weight h−1) within the incubating temperature from 5°C to 40°C and incubating moisture from 30% to 70% water holding capacity (WHC) of soils taken during the growing season. For agricultural soils regardless of pasture and arable management, we suggested nine key factors that influence changes in soil CO2 emissions including soil temperature, metabolic quotient, bulk density, WHC, percentage of silt, bacterial biomass, pH, soil organic carbon, and hot water soluble carbon (glucose equivalent) based on Downloaded by [Zhanli Wang] at 03:03 27 July 2015 principal component analysis and hierarchical cluster analysis. Slightly different key factors were proposed concerning individual land use types, however, the most important factors for soil CO2 emissions of agricultural soils in Northern Germany were proved to be metabolic quotient and soil temperature. Our results are valuable in providing key influencing factors for soil CO2 emission changes in grassland and arable land with respect to soil respiration, physical status, nutrition supply, and microbe-related parameters. Keywords: bacterial biomass; hierarchical cluster analysis; principal component analysis; soil organic carbon; soil respiration Introduction 1995). Soil CO2 emissions varied significantly with Soil CO emission (soil respiration) plays a major role different vegetation types and climate conditions 2 −2 −1 in the increase of atmospheric greenhouse gases and ranging from 0.23 to 5.20 g C m d ,thatpresent the potential for global warming (Schlesinger & difficulties in predicting local soil CO2 emissions Andrews 2000; Hassan et al. 2014). Annual global (Raich & Tufekciogul 2000). In Northern German CO2 emissions from soil to atmosphere are estimated agricultural soils formed and altered by glacial till, the at approximately 76.5 Pg C y−1,butlocalclimate various topographical attributes and soil characteris- conditions are important to consider (Raich & Potter tics play crucial roles in determining the soil CO2 *Corresponding author. Email: [email protected] © 2015 Taylor & Francis 234 Y. Wang et al. emissions. Various biotic and abiotic factors affect the soil CO2 emissions and soil properties based on PCA process of CO2 release from soils, and investigations and HCA in Northern Germany and comparable on key factors for soil CO2 emissions assist the regions. monitoring of annual CO2 budgets and carbon balances (Han et al. 2007; Giacometti et al. 2013). To accurately predict temporal and spatial variation Materials and methods in soil CO2 emissions, many researchers have focused Study sites on the key driving factors during the recent decades (Davidson et al. 1998; Mäkiranta et al. 2008;Zhou Sampling sites are located within a 4.1 thousand et al. 2013). However, better understanding of prac- hectare watershed in the state of Schleswig-Holstein, Germany between 54° 24ʹ22ʺ – 54° 27ʹ48ʺ N and tical factors, which are easily generated and mon- 9° 55ʹ36ʺ– 10° 5ʹ55ʺ E(Figure 1). The mean annual itored among holistic factors is needed to provide air temperature and precipitation is 8.9°C and 778.0 effective and less cost-consuming improvements in mm, respectively (Climatological data of the weather modeling soil CO emissions. 2 station Kiel-Holtenau for the period 1981–2010, In addition to soil organic matter quality, soil obtained from the German Weather Service, www. temperature is widely regarded as one of the most dwd.de). The soil type according to WRB mainly important factors controlling biochemical reactions, consists of Luvisol, Stagnic Luvisol, Gleysols, and basically for the activity of enzymes (Fang & Moncrieff 2001). Topsoil bulk density (BD) reflects the porosity Cambisols (Duphorn 1995, State Agency for Agri- and thus determines soil atmosphere, and temperature culture, Environment and Rural Areas [LLUR]). The grassland sites were under management includ- also interacts strongly by O2/CO2 diffusioninsoil depending on moisture content (Paul & Clark 1989). ing grazing of cattle or one to two times mowing Further, soil temperature and moisture determine the during the growing season. Winter wheat was the substrate supply for microbial processes by affecting vegetation type in arable sites during the sampling the quantity of dissolved carbon and other minerals period, while winter rapeseed – winter wheat – (Giacometti et al. 2013). Hot water soluble