Soil Net Nitrogen Mineralization in Salt Marshes with Different Flooding Periods in the Yellow River Delta, China

Abstract

Seasonal variation of inorganic nitrogen and net nitrogen mineralization of soils were investigated by using in situ incubation method in three wetlands with different flooding periods (i.e., short‐term, seasonal, and tidal flooding) in the Yellow River Delta, China. Results showed that N mineralization in short‐term and seasonal flooding wetlands could be classified into one group. Inorganic nitrogen showed higher concentrations during the period from spring to early summer, and then it decreased after June for short‐term and seasonal flooding wetlands. Net N mineralization rate appeared negative value but sequently increased and reached the positive maximum value during the period from late autumn to early winter. However, in tidal flooding wetland, both inorganic N and N mineralization rate kept relative constant. The effects of inundation due to water and sediment regulation were different on three wetlands. Inorganic N contents in soil decreased in short‐term and seasonal flooding wetlands whereas increased in tidal flooding wetland. The changing tendency of net N mineralization rate was opposite to that of ammonium rate.

High Temperature and Salinity Enhance Soil Nitrogen Mineralization in a Tidal Freshwater Marsh

“…This finding is consistent with results of previous studies in wetland and paddy soils [17], [33], [34], [37]. The reason for the significant effect of incubation temperature on N mineralization in this study ( P <0.01, Table 2) was that because temperature could greatly affect soil microbial processes [6], [10], [16], [29], [39] and higher temperature favored microbial and enzyme activity [2], [40] and thus enhanced N mineralization processes. In contrast, lower temperatures (e.g.…”

Decomposition and Carbon and Nitrogen Dynamics of Phragmites australis Litter as Affected by Flooding Periods in Coastal Wetlands

“…). The land of the YRD is formed at the average rate of 30 km 2 per year . It has a temperate monsoon climate with four distinct seasons, adequate sunshine, rain, and heat over the same period, with an annual average air temperature of 12.4°C .…”

Soil quality assessment of coastal wetlands in the Yellow River Delta of China based on the minimum data set

“…The annual mean air temperature is 11.9 °C, with 196 frostless days (Bai et al, 2015). The soil type in this region is mainly coastal saline soil, derived from the sediment and the parent materials of loess soil (Huang et al, 2012). The dominant vegetation includes Phragmites australis, Suaeda salsa and Tamarix chinensis.…”