SEASONAL NET CARBON-DIOXIDE EXCHANGE OF A BEECH FOREST WITH THE ATMOSPHERE

The seasonal carbon dioxide exchange of a beech forest of Central Ital y was studied by means of the eddy covariance technique. Additional me asurements of biomass respiration with cuvettes and relationship of ca rbon dioxide exchanges with temperature and light were used to interpo late missing data during the dormant and part of the growing season. T he net ecosystem production of the forest equals 472 g C m(-2) y(-1) w hile the gross ecosystem production 1016 g C m(-2) y(-1) and respirati on 544 g C m(-2) y(-1). These estimates are compared with the net prim ary production determined by direct biomass sampling which amounts to 802 g C m(-2) y(-1).