Soil Terpene Emissions in a Subalpine Coniferous Forest: Tree Species, Soil Temperature and Moisture Effects

Some studies have shown soils can contribute significantly to the canopy level fluxes of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in some ecosystem types during some seasons. Yet patterns of soil VOCs fluxes as well as controls are poorly known and so the potential importance of soil VOCs emissions on the total global BVOCs emissions from terrestrial sources remains unclear. We measured soil terpene emission at a high-elevation, mixed conifer, subalpine forest site at the Niwot Ridge Ameriflux Site in Colorado. Given the important role of terpenes on the formation of secondary organic aerosols and given that high amounts of terpenes are produced and stored in coniferous tissues (e. g. roots and litter) we focused only on these compounds in this study. The objectives were to quantify soil terpene flux and its contribution to the canopy level flux and to identify environmental variables controlling soil terpene emissions in this forest, such as tree species, tree species density, total soil organic matter content, soil temperature and soil moisture . During the summer 2009 (August), soil terpene emission rates were measured in soil chambers regularly distributed in a 200 x 200 m area around the flux tower. To test the effect of the tree species on soil emissions, additional chambers were placed on relative pure stands of each one of the representative species. The average total monoterterpene emission rate during August 2009 was 21 μg C m-2 h-1. These emissions represent 9% of the total terpene canopy fluxes reported in this forest during the same period on previous summers (August 2007, 238 μg C m-2 h-1). The range of monoterpene emission was found to be high; emissions went up to 368 μg C m-2 h-1 under specific conditions. Total sesquiterpene emissions were much lower than monoterpenes (0.04 ± 0.01 μg C m-2 h-1). Due to the high variability found, no clear effect of the space distribution was identified. However, soil terpene emissions were significantly affected by the tree species (higher emissions under Pine > Spruce > Fir) and consequently tree species density was found to explain better soil terpene emissions variability. When data from all soil emission measurements were pooled and regressed against total soil organic matter content, soil temperature or soil moisture no significant linear relationship was found. These results show soil terpene emissions can be significant compared to canopy level fluxes during some periods of the year and that could be altered in response to vegetation changes. The fact that no significant linear relationship was found between soil terpene emissions and soil temperature and moisture suggest other possible factors may be controlling soil emission in this ecosystem, such as roots or microbial activity.