Exchange of greenhouse gases between soil and atmosphere: interactions of soil physical factors and biological processes

Summary This review examines the interactions between soil physical factors and the biological processes responsible for the production and consumption in soils of greenhouse gases. The release of CO 2 by aerobic respiration is a non‐linear function of temperature over a wide range of soil water contents, but becomes a function of water content as a soil dries out. Some of the reported variation in the temperature response may be attributable simply to measurement procedures. Lowering the water table in organic soils by drainage increases the release of soil carbon as CO 2 in some but not all environments, and reduces the quantity of CH 4 emitted to the atmosphere. Ebullition and diffusion through the…