Effects of Soil Temperature and Soil Water Content on CO2 Efflux.

Soil CO₂ efflux plays a significant role in the global carbon cycle. As one part of a research project about the influence of soil tillage on carbon dioxide emissions and soil carbon dynamics of cropland soil respiration and concurrent soil temperature and soil water content are measured regularly. The study is performed at five agricultural fields in Lower Austria and Styria which differ in climatic conditions, soil texture, slope and crop rotation.
Soil CO₂ emissions are measured with a portable soil respiration system in intervals of about one week. Additionally, it is previewed to perform an intensive short-time study where soil respiration is measured several times per day in order to investigate its diurnal variation. Subsidiary to field measurements laboratory experiments are carried out.

Based on these data relationships between soil CO₂ efflux and soil temperature and soil water content are investigated. Results will be shown.