Soil respirations and carbon mineralizations time dependently of Ceratonia siliqua L. and Olea europaea L.

Soils, leaves and litters of Olea europaea L. (Olive) and Ceratonia siliqua L. (Carob tree) trees growing naturally in Cukurova University Campus were taken and carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus contents of these samples and ammonium and nitrate contents of soils were determined for 3 periods (November 2013, February and May 2014). Also, in vitro carbon mineralizations were measured for 30 days at 28°C while in situ soil respirations were determined by soda lime in every month for a year. Soil temperatures, atmospheric moistures and CO 2 concentrations were measured under canopies of trees. Carbon and phosphorus contents of soils were generally higher in olive than carob tree for every 3 month periods while their nitrogen contents were close with each other. In both plants, leaves of carbon contents were decreased seasonally but nitrogen contents were increased and there were significant differences between nitrogen contents (P < 0.05) while no significant differences were found in carbon contents. Carbon mineralizations of both plants were similar in every period but there were found no significant differences. But mineralization rate were lower in olive soils than carob tree and no significant differences were found between them (P > 0.05). Soil respirations in both plants were lower in winter but increased in summer and correlated with soil and surface temperatures and CO 2 concentrations positively and significantly (P = 0.000), but negative and nonsignificant correlations were found between atmospheric moisture and these parameters. This and this kind of studies giving more accurate informations about CO2 emissions that trigger will grant long term predictions and provide to create ecosystem models.