Dynamics of CO2 evolution in grey forest soil of the Baikal forest-steppe

The dynamics of the rate of CO2 evolution from soil in fallow and cropland under spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) was studied in a crop rotation in grey forest soil of the Baikal forest-steppe during the growing season and in different years. It was shown that the regional characteristics of soils and hydrothermal conditions in different years affect the rate of CO2 evolution in agroecosystems. The seasonal dynamics of CO2 is characterized by insignificant changes in the autumn to spring period and enhanced emission in hot and dry summers. CO2 evolution is assumed to increase due to enhanced mineralization and partial diffusion from the carbonate horizon at the depth of the seasonal frost. During the growing season the dynamics of CO2 evolution depends on the soil moisture regime. There was a strong correlation between the rate of CO2 emission and soil moisture in the particularly dry year of 1993 (eta=0.86) and a moderate correlation in the other years (eta=0.38-0.54). The effect of the previous crop and fertilizer application on the rate of CO2 emission was insignificant. In a continuous fallow the total carbon release into the atmosphere varied throughout the years studied from 558 to 1880 kg ha(-1). Humus losses varied from 0.9% to 3.1%.