The browser you are using is not supported by this website. All versions of Internet Explorer are no longer supported, either by us or Microsoft (read more here: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/windows/end-of-ie-support).

Please use a modern browser to fully experience our website, such as the newest versions of Edge, Chrome, Firefox or Safari etc.

Below-ground process responses to elevated CO2 and temperature: a discussion of observations, measurement methods, and models

På svenska

Author

  • E Pendall
  • S Bridgham
  • PJ Hanson
  • B Hungate
  • DW Kicklighter
  • DW Johnson
  • BE Law
  • YQ Luo
  • JP Megonigal
  • Maria Olsrud
  • MG Ryan
  • SQ Wan
Show all

Summary, in English

Rising atmospheric CO2 and temperatures are probably altering ecosystem carbon cycling, causing both positive and negative feedbacks to climate. Below-ground processes play a key role in the global carbon (C) cycle because they regulate storage of large quantities of C, and are potentially very sensitive to direct and indirect effects of elevated CO2 and temperature. Soil organic matter pools, roots and associated rhizosphere organisms all have distinct responses to environmental change drivers, although availability of C substrates will regulate all the responses. Elevated CO2 increases C supply below-ground, whereas warming is likely to increase respiration and decomposition rates, leading to speculation that these effects will moderate one another. However, indirect effects on soil moisture availability and nutrient supply may alter processes in unexpected directions. Detailed, mechanistic understanding and modelling of below-ground flux components, pool sizes and turnover rates is needed to adequately predict long-term, net C storage in ecosystems. In this synthesis, we discuss the current status of below-ground responses to elevated CO2 and temperature and potential feedback effects, methodological challenges, and approaches to integrating models and measurements.

Publishing year

2004

Language

English

Pages

311-322

Publication/Series

New Phytologist

Volume

162

Issue

2

Document type

Journal article review

Publisher

Wiley-Blackwell

Topic

  • Physical Geography

Keywords

  • rhizosphere
  • nutrient cycling
  • mycorrhizas
  • carbon sequestration
  • CO2 fertilization
  • soil carbon
  • soil respiration
  • soil warming

Status

Published

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 1469-8137