CARBON DIOXIDE (CO2) EMISSIONS FROM SOILS DURING THE REGENERATION OF PEDUNCULATE OAK (Quercus robur L.) STAND IN THE SUMMER PERIOD

The loss of soil organic carbon stock and increased CO2 emission from soil are induced by various human activ-ities. The aim of this study was to examine whether an anthropogenic influence during the regeneration of a pe-dunculate oak (Quercus robur L.) stand can affect the increment of CO2 emission from the soil. The research was carried out within three plots, out of which two were exposed to different degrees of anthropogenic influence. The air samples were collected using the soil respiratory chambers and analysed using the gas chromatograph Agilent 8890. Based on the obtained results, soil temperature and moisture as the most dominant drivers of the CO2 emis-sion had different effects on the CO2 flux from soil depending on the intensity of anthropogenic influences and environmental conditions. Within the experimental plot with the significant soil alteration, a reliable positive cor-relation was detected for the CO2 flux with the soil temperature (r = 0.77, p < 0.05). High significant correlation was observed considering soil moisture (r = 0.85, p < 0.05) in the natural soil where the application of pesticides was conducted. The results showed that both soils that were exposed to the anthropogenic influences had notably higher values of the CO2 flux in comparison to the reference natural soil without anthropogenic impacts.