Abstract
Evolution of CO2 from the forest floor measured by the inverted—box method was related to moisture, temperature, and age of the litter, and to CO2 evolution from oak leaves in litter bags measured by the closed—box method. Rates of CO2 evolution measured by the inverted— and closed—box methods did not differ significantly (P>0.2). Respiration rates from bagged oak leaves were significantly correlated (P<0.01) with respiration rates from the floor in an oak stand, but not with rates in pine and maple stands. In the oak stand, rates of respiration from the forest floor and from litter bags were highly significantly correlated (P0.05).