Soil warming increases soil temperature sensitivity in subtropical Forests of SW China

Soil respiration (R ) plays an important role in the concentration of atmospheric CO₂ and thus in global climate patterns. Due to the feedback between R and climate, it is important to investigate R responses to climate warming.

A soil warming experiment was conducted to explore R responses and temperature sensitivity (Q ₁₀) to climate warming in subtropical forests in Southwestern China, and infrared radiators were used to simulate climate warming.

Warming treatment increased the soil temperature and R value by 1.4 °C and 7.3%, respectively, and decreased the soil water level by 4.2% (%/%). Both one- and two-factor regressions showed that warming increased the Q ₁₀ values by 89.1% and 67.4%, respectively. The effects of water on Q ₁₀show a parabolic relationship to the soil water sensitivity coefficient. Both R and Q ₁₀ show no acclimation to climate warming, suggesting that global warming will accelerate soil carbon release.