Soil heterotrophic respiration (R) is a crucial component of the atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO) budget, as R accounts for ∼10 times more CO than burning fossil fuels. However, modelling of R is primarily based upon empirical/semi-empirical approaches. Here, we developed a mechanistic model based on microbial kinetics and thermodynamics processes (MKT) to model soil chemical environment and soil R in the Athabasca River Basin, Canada. MKT was coupled with the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) for a regional-scale hydro-biogeochemical simulation. Dissolved oxygen, redox potential and meteorological variables were simulated for the first time at a regional scale. Annual mean simulated R varied from 20 to 320 kg CO-C/ha/yr across Athabasca River basin (ARB) in 2000-2013. Our results show that dissolved oxygen, air temperature, and soil temperature have more influence on R than redox potential, precipitation, and water-filled pore space (WFPS). A significant (p < 0.01) causal relationship exists between the dissolved oxygen, air temperature, soil temperature, redox potential and precipitation with R. Our results show that the role of environmental drivers are essential and should be considered in future estimations of R.
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