Nitrogen cycling in a northern hardwood forest: Do species matter?

Lovett, Gary M.; Weathers, Kathleen C.; Arthur, Mary A.; Schultz, Jack C.

doi:10.1023/b:biog.0000015786.65466.f5

Cited by 364 publications

(332 citation statements)

References 56 publications

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“…The current data suggests that the competitive ability of nitrifying communities in deciduous soils is stronger than in the coniferous soils, which may explain why both gross and net nitrification in the deciduous sites exceeded nitrification in the coniferous sites. The magnitude of nitrification was also mediated through the soil C:N ratio, in agreement with observations in other studies suggesting that nitrification increases with decreasing C:N ratio below a threshold value of 22-25 (Lovett et al, 2004). The current C:N ratios were almost all below this threshold.…”

Section: Impact Of Forest Type and C-and N-poolssupporting

confidence: 91%

“…This observation suggests that not only the chemical quality of the litter input, but also external factors, such as nitrogen deposition, which may have a long-term cumulated effect on the soil C:N ratio constitute important proxy controllers for the N 2 O production across European forest sites. Lovett et al (2004) found that standard measures of litter quality (e.g. N, lignin, and phenolic contents) could not explain mechanisms of control on forest N cycling and suggested that external factors may play an important role.…”

Section: Impact Of Forest Type and C-and N-poolsmentioning

confidence: 98%

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Sources of nitrous oxide emitted from European forest soils

Ambus

Zechmeister‐Boltenstern

Butterbach‐Bahl

2006

Biogeosciences

139

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Abstract. Forest ecosystems may provide strong sources of nitrous oxide (N 2 O), which is important for atmospheric chemical and radiative properties. Nonetheless, our understanding of controls on forest N 2 O emissions is insufficient to narrow current flux estimates, which still are associated with great uncertainties. In this study, we have investigated the quantitative and qualitative relationships between N-cycling and N 2 O production in European forests in order to evaluate the importance of nitrification and denitrification for N 2 O production. Soil samples were collected in 11 different sites characterized by variable climatic regimes and forest types. Soil N-cycling and associated production of N 2 O was assessed following application of 15 N-labeled nitrogen. The N 2 O emission varied significantly among the different forest soils, and was inversely correlated to the soil C:N ratio. The N 2 O emissions were significantly higher from the deciduous soils (13 ng N 2 O-N cm −3 d −1 ) than from the coniferous soils (4 ng N 2 O-N cm −3 d −1 ). Nitrate (NO − 3 ) was the dominant substrate for N 2 O with an average contribution of 62% and exceeding 50% at least once for all sites. The average contribution of ammonium (NH + 4 ) to N 2 O averaged 34%. The N 2 O emissions were correlated with gross nitrification activities, and as for N 2 O, gross nitrification was also higher in deciduous soils (3.4 µg N cm −3 d −1 ) than in coniferous soils (1.1 µg N cm −3 d −1 ). The ratio between N 2 O production and gross nitrification averaged 0.67% (deciduous) and 0.44% (coniferous). Our study suggests that changes in forest composition in response to land use activities and global change may have implications for regional budgets of greenhouse gases. From the study it also became clear that N 2 O emissions were driven by the nitrification activity, although the N 2 O was produced per se mainly from denitrification. Increased nitrification in response to accelerated N inputs predicted for forest ecosystems in Europe may thus lead to increased greenhouse gas emissions from forest ecosystems.

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Section: Impact Of Forest Type and C-and N-poolssupporting

confidence: 91%

Section: Impact Of Forest Type and C-and N-poolsmentioning

confidence: 98%

Sources of nitrous oxide emitted from European forest soils

Ambus

Zechmeister‐Boltenstern

Butterbach‐Bahl

2006

Biogeosciences

139

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“…Mixed species within a stand are frequently sampled, making this the appropriate spatial scale for analysis. Tree species do have individualistic effects on forest N cycling (Lovett et al 2004), and when wood  15 N records have been analyzed at the species level, there are some differences in temporal trajectory that indicate partitioning of available soil N (McLauchlan and Craine 2012). Increasing the diversity of taxonomic sampling for wood  15 N analysis could further inform the potential consequences of species-specific nutrient use.…”

Section: Spatial and Temporal Coverage Of Wood  15 N Studiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reconstructing terrestrial nutrient cycling using stable nitrogen isotopes in wood

Gerhart

McLauchlan

2014

Biogeochemistry

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“…All these factors regulate the microbially mediated processes which influence inorganic nitrogen availability and d 15 N in forest soils. Species composition can affect N cycling rate (Zak et al, 1986;Finzi et al, 1998;Templer et al, 2003;Lovett et al, 2004). The fact that species composition seems to affect the absolute value of litter d 15 N of all tree species within a plot (Fig.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%