Soil Co2 Flux in the Different Ecosystems of North East India

We examined monthly and seasonal changes in soil CO₂ flux in the grassland, bamboo and Dipterocarpus forest ecosystems of Manipur, North East India. Soil CO₂ flux was recorded to be highest during rainy season and lowest during cool and dry winter season. Soil CO₂ flux rate was recorded to be highest in forest followed by grassland and bamboo forest. Multiple regression revealed that up to 92% of variation in soil CO₂ flux could be explained by soil moisture, soil temperature and soil organic carbon in three different ecosystems. Annual amount of CO₂ flux from soil was estimated at 694.86, 671.16 and 1029.25 g C m^-1 y^-1 in grassland, bamboo and Dipterocarpus forest ecosystems respectively. Thus the results indicate that soil CO₂ flux rate is highly influenced by seasons, environmental factors and types of vegetation in the different ecosystems of NE India.