Experimental snowpack reduction alters organic matter and net N mineralization potential of soil macroaggregates in a northern hardwood forest

Steinweg, J. Megan; Fisk, Melany C.; McAlexander, Benjamin L.; Groffman, Peter M.; Hardy, Janet P.

doi:10.1007/s00374-008-0305-3

Cited by 50 publications

(36 citation statements)

References 46 publications

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“…1; Table 2) and persistent (Cleavitt et al 2008;Steinweg et al 2008) soil freezing in all plots. Although air temperatures were *2°C colder at high elevation ), differences in maximum soil frost depth between elevations were only weakly significant (P \ 0.07).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 96%

“…Paired reference and snow manipulation plots were established at two low elevation south facing locations and at two high elevation north facing locations. Effects of these treatments on soil frost, temperature, moisture and structure were reported by Steinweg et al (2008), and effects on roots were described by Cleavitt et al (2008). Groffman et al (2009) presented data on soil frost, moisture and C and N cycle processes in the reference plots used for this study.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Snow depth, soil freezing and nitrogen cycling in a northern hardwood forest landscape

et al. 2010

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Increases in soil freezing associated with decreases in snow cover have been identified as a significant disturbance to nitrogen (N) cycling in northern hardwood forests. We created a range of soil freezing intensity through snow manipulation experiments along an elevation gradient at the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest (HBEF) in the White Mountains, NH USA in order to improve understanding of the factors regulating freeze effects on nitrate (NO 3 -) leaching, nitrous oxide (N 2 O) flux, potential and in situ net N mineralization and nitrification, microbial biomass carbon (C) and N content and respiration, and denitrification. While the snow manipulation treatment produced deep and persistent soil freezing at all sites, effects on hydrologic and gaseous losses of N were less than expected and less than values observed in previous studies at the HBEF. There was no relationship between frost depth, frost heaving and NO 3 -leaching, and a weak relationship between frost depth and winter N 2 O flux. There was a significant positive relationship between dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and NO 3 -concentrations in treatment plots but not in reference plots, suggesting that the snow manipulation treatment mobilized available C, which may have stimulated retention of N and prevented treatment effects on N losses. While the results support the hypothesis that climate change resulting in less snow and more soil freezing will increase N losses from northern hardwood forests, they also suggest that ecosystem response to soil freezing disturbance is affected by multiple factors that must be reconciled in future research.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 96%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Snow depth, soil freezing and nitrogen cycling in a northern hardwood forest landscape

et al. 2010

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“…Schimel et al (2004) showed that higher temperatures under deeper snow cover increase over-winter N mineralization. Soil frost, which has been identified to cause above average NO 3 − leaching during snow melt (Groffman and Crossey 1999;Schimel et al 2007;Steinweg et al 2008), is probably of secondary importance in the study area because soil frost is less likely under a deep snow pack. Winters with a deep snowpack provide insulation to the soil and also trigger ground melt of the snowpack.…”

Section: Inter-annual and Intra-annual Variation Of N Fluxesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nitrogen Leaching of Two Forest Ecosystems in a Karst Watershed

Jost

Dirnböck

Grabner

et al. 2010

Water Air Soil Pollut

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Karst watersheds are a major source of drinking water in the European Alps. These watersheds exhibit quick response times and low residence times, which might make karst aquifers more vulnerable to elevated nitrogen (N) deposition than nonkarst watersheds. We summarize 13 years of monitoring NO 3 − , NH 4 + , and total N in two forest ecosystems, a Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) forest on Cambisols/Stagnosols (IP I) and a mixed beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) spruce forest on Leptosols (IP II). N fluxes are calculated by multiplying concentrations, measured in biweekly intervals, with hydrological fluxes predicted from a hydrological model. The total N deposition in the throughfall amounts to 26.8 and 21.1 kg/ha/year in IP I and IP II, respectively, which is high compared to depositions found in other European forest ecosystems. While the shallow Leptosols at IP II accumulated on average 9.2 kg/ha/year of N between 1999 and 2006, the N budgets of the Cambisols/Stagnosols at IP I were equaled over the study period but show high inter-annual variation. Between 1999 and 2006, on average, 9 kg/ha/year of DON and 20 kg/ha/year of DIN were output with seepage water of IP I but only 4.5 kg/ha/year of DON and 7.7 kg/ha/year of DIN at IP II. Despite high DIN leaching, neither IP I nor IP II showed further signs of N saturation in their organic layer C/N ratios, N mineralization, or leaf N content. The N budget over all years was dominated by a few extreme output events. Nitrate leaching rates at both forest ecosystems correlated the most with years of above average snow accumulation (but only for IP I this correlation is statistically significant). Both snow melt and total annual precipitation were most important drivers of DON leaching. IP I and IP II showed comparable temporal patterns of both concentrations and flux rates but exhibited differences in magnitudes: DON, NO 3 − , and NH 4 + inputs peak in spring, NH 4 + showed an additional peak in autumn; the bulk of the annual NO 3 − and DON output occurred in spring; DON, NO 3 − , and NH 4 + output rates during winter months were low. The high DIN leaching at IP I was related to snow cover effects on N mineralization and soil hydrology. From the year 2004 onwards, disproportional NO 3 − leaching occurred at both plots. This was possibly caused by the exceptionally dry year 2003 and a small-scale bark beetle infestation (at IP I), in addition to snow cover effects. This study shows that both forest ecosystems Water Air Soil Pollut (2011) 218:633-649

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“…The first is that increases of snow depth may alleviate BSCs from intensifying of freezing and thawing cycles in winter, leading to smaller daily BSC temperature variations and higher available soil moisture during winter and after snowmelt period (Groffman et al, 2011;Hardy et al, 2001;Steinweg, Fisk, McAlexander, Groffman, & Hardy, 2008). In most treatments, values of the measured soil properties were higher in the increased snow depth treatments than the snow removal treatments.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In fact, previous studies have shown that organism activity in BSCs was determined by wetness duration and water quantity (mainly from rain and snow) in arid regions (Kidron et al, 2012;Kidron, Vonshak, Dor, Barinova, & Abeliovich, 2010;Zhao et al, 2018). The increased snow depth and duration of snow cover not only increased soil temperature but also protect soil from the influence of low air temperature and enable it to avoid physical changes related to soil freezing and thawing (Groffman et al, 2011;Steinweg et al, 2008). The increased snow depth and duration of snow cover not only increased soil temperature but also protect soil from the influence of low air temperature and enable it to avoid physical changes related to soil freezing and thawing (Groffman et al, 2011;Steinweg et al, 2008).…”

Section: Figurementioning

confidence: 99%

Variation in snow cover drives differences in soil properties and microbial biomass of BSCs in the Gurbantunggut Desert—3 years of snow manipulations

et al. 2019

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Variations in snow cover (as specific precipitation) can have an important effect on development of biological soil crusts (BSCs) in arid and semiarid regions, where water is the principal limiting factor for microorganisms. However, there is still limited knowledge available regarding the effects of snowfall on soil properties and microbial biomass in BSCs. To examine these effects of snow cover, three types of BSCs (cyanobacteria-dominated, lichen-dominated, and moss-dominated crusts) were collected and exposed to five snow depths for 3 years. The results indicated that most of the soil properties and soil microbial biomass were significantly (p < .05) affected by 3 years of snow manipulation in three types of BSCs. In BSCs, the values of most soil properties and microbial biomass were higher in the increased snow depth treatments relative the snow removal treatments. Moreover, there were variations in soil properties and microbial biomass among BSC types. In short, increases/decreases in snow cover had different effects on three types of BSCs after 3 years of manipulation. Moreover, increases in snow cover had a positive influence on soil properties and microbial biomass, but negative effects were observed in all BSCs following snow removal and snow reduction. Thus, variations in snow cover can drive differences in soil properties and microbial biomass of BSCs, which may further affect development and succession of BSCs in arid and semiarid regions. KEYWORDS biological soil crusts (BSCs), snow cover, soil microbial biomass, successional stages, water availability

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Experimental snowpack reduction alters organic matter and net N mineralization potential of soil macroaggregates in a northern hardwood forest

Cited by 50 publications

References 46 publications

Snow depth, soil freezing and nitrogen cycling in a northern hardwood forest landscape

Snow depth, soil freezing and nitrogen cycling in a northern hardwood forest landscape

Nitrogen Leaching of Two Forest Ecosystems in a Karst Watershed

Variation in snow cover drives differences in soil properties and microbial biomass of BSCs in the Gurbantunggut Desert—3 years of snow manipulations

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