Soi respiration in black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) plantations and its adjacent grassland in Murgul - Artvin area

SOIL RESPIRATION IN BLACK LOCUST (Robinia pseudoacacia) PLANTATIONS AND ITS ADJACENT GRASSLAND IN MURGUL- ARTVIN AREAIn this study, soil respiration were determined in planted black locust sites and adjacent grassland sites in Murgul-Artvin. The sites were located in southern and northern slopes. A total of 12 sampling plots were chosen for the study purposes. Soil respiration, soil temperature, soil moisture, fine root biomass were determined monthly durian a year period in each sampling plot. Soda-lime method were used to determine soil respiration.Soil respiration rates in black locust and grassland sites were 0.73 g C m-2 and 1.02 g C m-2 gün, respectively. Soil respiration rates were increased with increasing soil temperatures. Grasslands areas had significantly greater soil respiration rates compared to black locust sites.As a conclusion, establishing black locust plantations should be the first priority if the main management objective is to control erosion, wood production and carbon storage, on the other hand if the first management objective is to increase soil quality in the area then protecting existing grasslands instead of converting them into plantations should be the first priority.Key Words: Black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia), soil respiration, root biomass, soil improvement, Artvin