Divergent responses of soil carbon and nitrogen pools to short-term nitrogen addition between two plantations in Northeast China

Yedong Li, Bo Wang, Sen Dou, Haoyue Shen, Liyong Mei, Yang Zhang, Ximing Zeng, Yaya Zhang, Yameng Pei, Haoye Ren, Shimin Wu

Abstract


Nitrogen (N) deposition has a profound influence on forest soil carbon (C) and N pools, but there was no consensus on the responses of different C and N components in different forest types. In this study, a two-year simulated N deposition experiment with four levels of N (NH4NO3)-addition treatments (0, 50, 100, and 150 kg N/hm2·a) were conducted in Larix gmelinii (LG) and Quercus mongolica (QM) plantation in Northeast China, in order to investigate the C and N pool dynamics under continuously enhanced N deposition. Soil organic carbon (SOC), soil total N (STN) and their active components (readily oxidizable C, ROC; dissolved organic C, DOC; microbial biomass C, MBC, dissolved organic N, DON; microbial biomass N, MBN) of the forest soil were measured monthly from May to October 2017. C and N contents in LG were observed higher than in QM. N addition had no effect on SOC and STN of LG, but significantly increased SOC and STN of QM at low N addition level. Low N addition generally raised active C components (ROC, DOC, and MBC) in both plantations, whereas high N addition did not significantly affect these components, or even decreased ROC in LG soil. Low N addition also increased STN and MBN of QM, while no significant change in STN and MBN of LG was observed. DON was directly affected by N addition and increased significantly with elevated N addition levels. The results indicated that N addition, especially of low rate, might enhance the C sequestration capacity of the forest soils and mitigate climate change.
Keywords: nitrogen deposition, forest soil, active carbon, active nitrogen
DOI: 10.25165/j.ijabe.20191206.5266

Citation: Li Y D, Wang B, Dou S, Shen H Y, Mei L Y, Zhang Y, et al. Divergent responses of soil carbon and nitrogen pools to short-term nitrogen addition between two plantations in Northeast China. Int J Agric & Biol Eng, 2019; 12(6): 82–90.

Keywords


nitrogen deposition, forest soil, active carbon, active nitrogen

Full Text:

PDF

References


Galloway J N, Townsend A R, Erisman J W, Bekunda M, Cai Z C, Freney J R, et al. Transformation of the nitrogen cycle: Recent trends, questions, and potential solutions. Science, 2008; 320(5878): 889-892.

Niu S L, Classen A T, Dukes J S, Kardol P, Liu L L, Luo Y Q, et al. Global patterns and substrate-based mechanisms of the terrestrial nitrogen cycle. Ecol Lett., 2016; 19(6): 697-709.

Dirnbock T, Foldal C, Djukic I, Kobler J, Haas E, Kiese R, et al. Historic nitrogen deposition determines future climate change effects on nitrogen retention in temperate forests. Clim Change, 2017; 144(2): 221-35.

Law B. Biogeochemistry: Nitrogen deposition and forest carbon. Nature, 2013; 496(7445): 307-308.

Canadell J G, Raupach M R. Managing forests for climate change mitigation. Science, 2008; 320(5882): 1456-1457.

Cleveland C C, Townsend A R. Nutrient additions to a tropical rain forest drive substantial soil carbon dioxide losses to the atmosphere. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, 2006; 103(27): 10316-10321.

Fornara D A, Tilman D. Soil carbon sequestration in prairie grasslands increased by chronic nitrogen addition. Ecology, 2012; 93(9): 2030-2036.

Comeau LP, Hergoualc'h K, Hartill J, Smith J, Verchot L V, Peak D, et al. How do the heterotrophic and the total soil respiration of an oil palm plantation on peat respond to nitrogen fertilizer application? Geoderma, 2016; 268: 41-51.

Mack M C, Schuur E A G, Bret-Harte M S, Shaver G R, Chapin F S. Ecosystem carbon storage in arctic tundra reduced by long-term nutrient fertilization. Nature, 2004; 431(7007): 440-443.

Mo J, Zhang W, Zhu W, Gundersen P, Fang Y, Li D, et al. Nitrogen addition reduces soil respiration in a mature tropical forest in southern China. Glob Change Biol., 2008; 14(2): 403-412.

Sun Z Z, Liu L L, Ma Y C, Yin G D, Zhao C, Zhang Y, et al. The effect of nitrogen addition on soil respiration from a nitrogen-limited forest soil. Agric For Meteorol, 2014; 197: 103-110.

Zeng D H, Li L J, Fahey T J, Yu Z Y, Fan Z P, Chen F S. Effects of nitrogen addition on vegetation and ecosystem carbon in a semi-arid grassland. Biogeochemistry, 2010; 98(1-3): 185-193.

Wei D, Xu R, Liu Y W, Wang Y H, Wang Y S. Three-year study of CO2 efflux and CH4/N2O fluxes at an alpine steppe site on the central Tibetan Plateau and their responses to simulated N deposition. Geoderma, 2014; 232: 88-96.

Vourlitis G L, Hentz C S. Impacts of chronic N input on the carbon and nitrogen storage of a postfire Mediterranean-type shrubland. Journal of Geophysical Research-Biogeosciences, 2016; 121(2): 385-398.

Hu Y L, Zeng D H, Liu Y X, Zhang Y L, Chen Z H, Wang Z Q. Responses of soil chemical and biological properties to nitrogen addition in a Dahurian larch plantation in Northeast China. Plant Soil, 2010; 333(1-2): 81-92.

Tian D, Du E Z, Jiang L, Ma S H, Zeng W J, Zou A L, et al. Responses of forest ecosystems to increasing N deposition in China: A critical review. Environ Pollut, 2018; 243: 75-86.

Evans C, Goodale C, Caporn S, Dise N, Emmett B, Fernandez I, et al. Does elevated nitrogen deposition or ecosystem recovery from acidification drive increased dissolved organic carbon loss from upland soil? A review of evidence from field nitrogen addition experiments. Biogeochemistry, 2008; 91(1): 13-35.

Bobbink R, Hicks K, Galloway J, Spranger T, Alkemade R, Ashmore M, et al. Global assessment of nitrogen deposition effects on terrestrial plant diversity: A synthesis. Ecol Appl., 2010; 20(1): 30-59.

Neff J C, Townsend A R, Gleixner G, Lehman S J, Turnbull J, Bowman W D. Variable effects of nitrogen additions on the stability and turnover of soil carbon. Nature, 2002; 419(6910): 915-917.

Sedjo R A. The carbon cycle and global forest ecosystem. Water Air Soil Pollut, 1993; 70(1-4): 295-307.

Haynes R J. Labile organic matter fractions as central components of the quality of agricultural soils: An overview. In: Sparks DL, editor. Advances in Agronomy, Vol 85. Advances in Agronomy. 85. San Diego: Elsevier Academic Press Inc, 2005; pp.221-268.

Davidson E A, Janssens I A. Temperature sensitivity of soil carbon decomposition and feedbacks to climate change. Nature, 2006; 440(7081): 165-173.

Wander M M, Traina S J, Stinner B R, Peters S E. Organic and conventional management effects on biologically active soil organic matter pools. Soil Sci Soc Am J., 1994; 58(4):1130-1139.

Coleman D C, Reid C P P, Cole CV. Biological strategies of nutrient cycling in soil systems. Adv Ecol Res., 1983;13:1-55.

Chen X M, Liu J X, Deng Q, Yan J H, Zhang D Q. Effects of elevated CO2 and nitrogen addition on soil organic carbon fractions in a subtropical forest. Plant Soil, 2012; 357(1-2): 25-34.

Blair G J, Lefroy R D B, Lise L. Soil carbon fractions based on their degree of oxidation, and the development of a carbon management index for agricultural systems. Aust J Agric Res., 1995; 46(7): 1459-1466.

Plante A F, Fernandez J M, Haddix M L, Steinweg J M, Conant R T. Biological, chemical and thermal indices of soil organic matter stability in four grassland soils. Soil Biol Biochem., 2011; 43(5): 1051-1058.

Franzluebbers A J, Arshad M A. Particulate organic carbon content and potential mineralization as affected by tillage and texture. Soil Sci Soc Am J, 1997; 61(5): 1382-1386.

Chen C R, Xu Z H. Analysis and behavior of soluble organic nitrogen in forest soils. J Soils Sediments, 2008; 8(6): 363-378.

Ross D J, Speir T W, Kettles H A, Mackay A D. Soil microbial biomass, C and N mineralization and enzyme activities in a hill pasture: Influence of season and slow-release P and S fertilizer. Soil Biol Biochem., 1995; 27(11): 1431-1443.

Erisman J W, Galloway J, Seitzinger S, Bleeker A, Butterbach-Bahl K. Reactive nitrogen in the environment and its effect on climate change. Curr Opin Environ Sustain, 2011; 3(5): 281-290.

Gielen B, Neirynck J, Luyssaert S, Janssens I A. The importance of dissolved organic carbon fluxes for the carbon balance of a temperate Scots pine forest. Agric For Meteorol., 2011; 151(3): 270-278.

Vet R, Artz R S, Carou S, Shaw M, Ro C U, Aas W, et al. A global assessment of precipitation chemistry and deposition of sulfur, nitrogen, sea salt, base cations, organic acids, acidity and pH, and phosphorus. Atmos Environ., 2014; 93: 3-100.

Liu X J, Zhang Y, Han W X, Tang A H, Shen J L, Cui Z L, et al. Enhanced nitrogen deposition over China. Nature, 2013; 494(7438): 459-462.

Fang J Y, Yu G R, Liu L L, Hu S J, Chapin F S. Climate change, human impacts, and carbon sequestration in China. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, 2018;115(16):4015-4020.

Zhu J X, He N P, Wang Q F, Yuan G F, Wen D, Yu G R, et al. The composition, spatial patterns, and influencing factors of atmospheric wet nitrogen deposition in Chinese terrestrial ecosystems. Sci Total Environ, 2015; 511: 777-785.

Mo J M, Brown S, Xue J, Fang Y, Li Z. Response of litter decomposition to simulated N deposition in disturbed, rehabilitated and mature forests in subtropical China. Plant Soil, 2006;282(1-2): 135-151.

Wu J, Joergensen R G, Pommerening B, Chaussod R, Brookes P C. Measurement of soil microbial biomass C by fumigation-extraction—An automated procedure. Soil Biol Biochem., 1990; 22(8): 1167-1169.

Brookes P C, Landman A, Pruden G, Jenkinson D S. Chloroform fumigation and the release of soil nitrogen: A rapid direct extraction method to measure microbial biomass nitrogen in soil. Soil Biol Biochem., 1985; 17(6): 837-842.

Boyer J N, Groffman P M. Bioavailability of water extractable organic carbon fractions in forest and agricultural soil profiles. Soil Biol Biochem., 1996; 28(6): 783-790.

Yang K, Zhu J J, Gu J C, Xu S, Yu L Z, Wang Z Q. Effects of continuous nitrogen addition on microbial properties and soil organic matter in a Larix gmelinii plantation in China. J For Res., 2018;29(1):85-92.

Scheuner E T, Makeschin F. Impact of atmospheric nitrogen deposition on carbon dynamics in two Scots pine forest soils of Northern Germany. Plant Soil, 2005;275(1-2):43-54.

Jia S X, Wang Z Q, Li X P, Sun Y, Zhang X P, Liang A Z. N fertilization affects on soil respiration, microbial biomass and root respiration in Larix gmelinii and Fraxinus mandshurica plantations in China. Plant Soil, 2010; 333(1-2): 325-336.

Huang Z Q, Clinton P W, Baisden W T, Davis M R. Long-term nitrogen additions increased surface soil carbon concentration in a forest plantation despite elevated decomposition. Soil Biol Biochem., 2011; 43(2): 302-307.

Chen X M, Li Y L, Mo J M, Otieno D, Tenhunen J, Yan J H, et al. Effects of nitrogen deposition on soil organic carbon fractions in the subtropical forest ecosystems of S China. J Plant Nutr Soil Sci., 2012; 175(6): 947-953.

Yan G Y, Xing Y J, Xu L J, Wang J Y, Meng W, Wang Q G, et al. Nitrogen deposition may enhance soil carbon storage via change of soil respiration dynamic during a spring freeze-thaw cycle period. Sci Rep., 2016; 6:9.

Yan G Y, Xing Y J, Wang J Y, Li Z H, Wang L G, Wang Q G, et al. Sequestration of atmospheric CO2 in boreal forest carbon pools in northeastern China: Effects of nitrogen deposition. Agric for Meteorol, 2018; 248: 70-81.

Edwards K A, McCulloch J, Kershaw G P, Jefferies R L. Soil microbial and nutrient dynamics in a wet Arctic sedge meadow in late winter and early spring. Soil Biol Biochem., 2006; 38(9): 2843-2851.

Jiang Y M, Chen C R, Liu Y Q, Xu Z H. Soil soluble organic carbon and nitrogen pools under mono- and mixed species forest ecosystems in subtropical China. J Soils Sediments, 2010; 10(6): 1071-1081.

Yano Y, McDowell W H, Aber J D. Biodegradable dissolved organic carbon in forest soil solution and effects of chronic nitrogen deposition. Soil Biol Biochem., 2000; 32(11-12): 1743-17451.

Cusack D F, Silver W L, Torn M S, McDowell W H. Effects of nitrogen additions on above- and belowground carbon dynamics in two tropical forests. Biogeochemistry, 2011; 104(1-3): 203-225.

Pregitzer K S, Zak D R, Burton A J, Ashby J A, MacDonald N W. Chronic nitrate additions dramatically increase the export of carbon and nitrogen from northern hardwood ecosystems. Biogeochemistry, 2004; 68(2): 179-197.

Park J-H, Kalbitz K, Matzner E. Resource control on the production of dissolved organic carbon and nitrogen in a deciduous forest floor. Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 2002; 34(6): 813-822.

Vestgarden L S, Abrahamsen G, Stuanes A O. Soil solution response to nitrogen and magnesium application in a Scots pine forest. Soil Science Society of America Journal, 2001; 65(6): 1812-1823.

McDowell W H, Currie W S, Aber J D, Yang Y. Effects of chronic nitrogen amendments on production of dissolved organic carbon and nitrogen in forest soils. Biogeochemical Investigations at Watershed, Landscape, and Regional Scales: Springer, 1998; p. 175-182.

Meng L, Zhou X, Luo Y, Yang Y, Fang C, Chen J, et al. Minor stimulation of soil carbon storage by nitrogen addition: A meta-analysis. Agriculture Ecosystems & Environment, 2011; 140(1-2): 234-244.

Kindler R, Siemens J, Kaiser K, Moors E J. Dissolved carbon leaching from soil is a crucial component of the net ecosystem carbon balance. Global Change Biology. 2011; 17(2): 1167-1185.

Cusack D F, Torn M S, Mcdowell W H, Silver W L. The response of heterotrophic activity and carbon cycling to nitrogen additions and warming in two tropical soils. Global Change Biology, 2010; 16(9): 2555-2572.

Wardle D A, Bardgett R D, Klironomos J N, Heikki S L, Putten W H, Van Der Wall D H. Ecological linkages between aboveground and belowground biota. Science, 2004; 304(5677): 1629-1633.

Treseder K K. Nitrogen additions and microbial biomass: a meta-analysis of ecosystem studies. Ecology Letters, 2010; 11(10):1111-1120.

Zhang T, Chen H Y H, Ruan H. Global negative effects of nitrogen deposition on soil microbes. The ISME Journal, 2018; 12(7): 1817-18125.

Turner M M, Henry H A L. Interactive effects of warming and increased nitrogen deposition on 15N tracer retention in a temperate old field. Global Change Biology, 2010; 15(12): 2885-2893.

Gundersen P, Emmett B A, Kjønaas O J, Koopmans C J, Tietema A. Impact of nitrogen deposition on nitrogen cycling in forests: A synthesis of NITREX data. Forest Ecology & Management, 1998; 101(1–3): 37-55.

Howarth R W, Billen G, Swaney D, Townsend A, Jaworski N, Lajtha K, et al. Regional nitrogen budgets and riverine N & P fluxes for the drainages to the North Atlantic Ocean: Natural and human influences. Biogeochemistry, 1996; 35(1): 75-139.

Ma J Y, Kang F F, Cheng X Q, Han H R. Response of soil organic carbon and nitrogen to nitrogen deposition in a Larix principis-rupprechtii plantation. Sci Rep., 2018; 8: 10.




Copyright (c) 2019 International Journal of Agricultural and Biological Engineering

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

2023-2026 Copyright IJABE Editing and Publishing Office