15 Facts About Soil respiration

Soil respiration refers to the production of carbon dioxide when soil organisms respire.

Soil respiration is a key ecosystem process that releases carbon from the soil in the form of CO2.

When plant respiration occurs below-ground in the roots, it adds to soil respiration.

Amount of soil respiration that occurs in an ecosystem is controlled by several factors.

Soil respiration is associated with positive feedback with global climate change.

Soil respiration is low in dry conditions and increases to a maximum at intermediate moisture levels until it begins to decrease when moisture content excludes oxygen.

Soil respiration-based microbial fuel cells are becoming popular educational tools for science classrooms.

Soil respiration can be measured alone or with added nutrients and substrates that supply food sources to the microorganisms.

Soil respiration collars are inserted far enough to limit lateral diffusion of CO2.

Soil respiration plays a significant role in the global carbon and nutrient cycles as well as being a driver for changes in climate.

Soil respiration plays a critical role in the regulation of carbon cycling at the ecosystem level and at global scales.

Major component of soil respiration is from the decomposition of litter which releases CO2 to the environment while simultaneously immobilizing or mineralizing nutrients.

Studies have shown that rates of soil respiration were associated with rates of microbial turnover and nitrogen mineralization.

Soil respiration is a key ecosystem process that releases carbon from the soil in the form of carbon dioxide.

When this respiration occurs below ground, it is considered soil respiration.