Impacts of changed litter inputs on soil CO2 efflux in three forest types in central south China

Climate change is expected to cause the alteration of litter production in forests, which may result in substantial changes in soil CO₂ efflux (FCO₂) process as litter represents a major pathway of carbon from vegetation to the soils. In this study, we conducted an aboveground litter manipulation experiment to examine the influence of litter addition and exclusion on soil FCO₂ in Camphor tree, Masson pine, and mixed Camphor tree and Masson pine forests in central south China. Litter input manipulation included three treatments: non-litter input (litter exclusion), double litter input (litter addition), and natural litter input (control). On average, litter exclusion significantly reduced soil FCO₂ rate by approximately 39%, 24% and 22% in Camphor tree forests, the Mixed forests, and Masson pine forests, respectively. On a yearly basis, double litter addition significantly increased soil CO₂ by 12% in the Mixed forests (P=0.02) but not in both Camphor tree and Masson pine forests (P>0.05), when compared with their corresponding control treatments. However, litter addition increased soil FCO₂ rates in the months of June-August in Camphor tree and Masson pine forests, coinciding with high soil temperature of summer conditions. Litter exclusion reduced soil FCO₂ more than litter addition increased it in the study sites. Responses of soil respiration to litter input treatments varied with forest types. Litter input treatments did not alter the seasonal patterns of soil temperature and soil water content. Our results indicated that changes in aboveground litter as a result of global climate change and/or forest management have a great potential to alter soil respiration and soil carbon balance in forest ecosystems.