Trends in soil respiration on the eastern slope of the Cofre de Perote Volcano (Mexico): Environmental contributions

A soil respiration dataset was examined to determine the importance of environmental factors relating to seasonal variation in soil surface CO2 flux on the eastern slope of the Cofre de Perote Volcano (Mexico). The results are reported as follows: (1) on the upper section (2500masl), average soil respiration varied from 10.3 to 21.5mgCm−2h−1 in coniferous forest, 14.8 to 30.3mgCm−2h−1 in corn field, and 13.4 to 29.9mgCm−2h−1 in abandoned corn field. Soil respiration decreased in spring, when the soil temperature was higher and soil water was lower, while it increased in summer, with non-limiting conditions of soil water. (2) On the lower section (1650masl), the average soil respiration varied from 22.5 to 89.6mgCm−2h−1 in tropical montane cloud forest, 17.9 to 128.1mgCm−2h−1 in corn–potato–corn rotation, and 63.0 to 203.2mgCm−2h−1 in grassland. Soil respiration began to rise in late spring, corresponding to the transition from the dry to wet season and reaching its highest value in summer. (3) Soil respiration rates showed a positive exponential correlation with soil temperature (R2=0.52; P