Roots affect the response of heterotrophic soil respiration to temperature in tussock grass microcosms

• DOI: 10.1093/aob/mcs073
• Publication Date: 2012-04-08T00:27:44Z
• Authors: Scott L. Graham; Peter Millard; John E. Hunt; Graeme N. D. Rogers; David Whitehead
• Keywords: Soil respiration; Microcosm; Autotroph; Q10

While the temperature response of soil respiration (RS) has been well studied, partitioning heterotrophic (RH) by microbes from autotrophic (RA) roots, known to have distinct sensitivities, problematic. Further complexity stems presence roots affecting RH, rhizosphere priming effect. In this study short-term responses RA and RH in relation are investigated. Temperature RA, were assessed microcosms Poa cita using a natural abundance δ13C discrimination approach. The RS was found be regulated primarily which accounted for 70 % total respiration. Heterotrophic less sensitive plant resulting negative effects with increasing temperature. results emphasize importance regulating RS, framework is presented further investigation into on priming, could applied other vegetation types improve models carbon turnover.