Soil CO2 and CH4 concentrations are crucial determinants of crop
physiology and soil environment. This study aimed to investigate the
dynamics of soil CO2 and CH4 concentrations and their correlations with
soil nutrient content, enzymatic activities and root biomass at shallow
groundwater levels. Lysimeter experiments were conducted at five
groundwater depths (20, 40, 50, 60, and 80 cm) and three fertilizer
application rates (low, 75%; normal, 100%; high, 125%). Soil CO2 and
CH4 concentrations, physicochemical properties, and enzymatic activities
were determined in the three growth stages of winter wheat crop, and
plant biomass was measured post-harvest. Groundwater depth significantly
(P ≤ 0.001) affected CO2 and CH4 concentrations and root parameters, and
their critical values appeared at the groundwater depth of 50–60 cm.
Soil water content presented quadratic function relation with CO2
concentration, and exhibited the linear correlation with CH4
concentration. As an aerobic respiration product, soil CO2 concentration
showed significant positive correlations with organic matter and total N
levels, urease, phosphatase and sucrase activities, and root biomass in
winter wheat. Soil CH4 concentration depending on anaerobic microbial
activity showed significant correlations with soil nutrients, such as
soil organic matter, total N, and available K. Fertilization
significantly impacted root parameters (P ≤ 0.001) and shoot biomass (P
≤ 0.05) instead of CO2 and CH4 concentrations. In contrast, groundwater
depth emerged as a crucial factor as it affected soil physicochemical
properties, soil enzymatic activities, root respiration, and winter
wheat growth at shallow groundwater levels.