A field study on the fate of 15N-ammonium to demonstrate nitrification of atmospheric ammonium in an acid forest soil

To demonstrate the contribution of atmospheric ammonium to soil acidification in acid forest soils, a field study with¹³N-ammonium as tracer was performed in an oak-birch forest soil. Monitoring and analysis of soil solutions from various depths on the¹³N-ammonium and¹⁵N-nitrate contents, showed that about 54% of the applied¹⁵N-ammonium was oxidized to nitrate in the forest floor. Over a period of one year about 20% of the¹⁵N remained as organic nitrogen in this layer. The percentage¹⁵N enrichment in ammonium and nitrate were in the same range in all the forest floor percolates, indicating that even in extremely acid forest soils (pH < 4) nitrate formation from ammonium can occur. Clearly, atmospheric ammonium can contribute to soil acidification even at low soil pH.     

On the discrepancies between a colorimetric and isotopic method for measuring nitrate utilization in nutrient-depleted waters: implications for the design of experimental protocols in new production studies

Colorimetric analyses of nitrate disappearance from seawater have been compared with isotopic analyses of ¹⁵N-labelled nitrate incorporation into particulate matter. The slope (1.41) of a regression line calculated from 19 sample pairs gathered during 6 time-series experiments and 2 single end-point incubations showed that nitrate incorporation is positively related to changes in nitrate concentration but that it accounts only for 71% of nitrate disappearance. ¹⁵N-isotope dilution as a consequence of nitrification, if any, would not fully explain discrepancies between the two analytical procedures. A further possible mechanism responsible for the imbalance between nitrate-incorporation and -disappearance rates suggests losses of ¹⁵N label from plankton biomass to an unanalyzed pool (dissolved organic nitrogen?) which increase (up to 65%) with incubation time. The lack of ¹⁵N-mass balance calls for the need to consider additional nitrogen pools in ¹⁵N budgets of isotope experiments and not only substrate and biomass pools as has been done so far.     

Partitioning of 15N-labeled ammonium and nitrate among soil, litter, below- and above-ground biomass of trees and understory in a 15-year-old Picea abies plantation

The partitioning of nitrogen deposition among soil, litter, below- and above-ground biomass of trees and understory vegetation was investigated in a 15-year-old Picea abies (L.) Karst. plantation in the Fichtelgebirge, Germany, by labeling with 62 mg of¹⁵N tracer per square meter in March 1991. Ammonium and nitrate depositions were simulated on five plots each, by labeling with either¹⁵N-NH₄ ⁺ or¹⁵N-NO₃ ^–, and the¹⁵N pulse was followed during two successive growing seasons (1991 and 1992). Total recovery rates of the¹⁵N tracer in the entire stand ranged between 93 and 102% for both nitrogen forms in 1991, and 82% in June 1992. ⁵ N ratios increased rapidly in all compartments of the ecosystem. Roots and soils (to 65 cm depth) showed significant¹⁵N enrichments for both¹⁵N-treatments compared to reference plots. Newly grown spruce tissues were more enriched than older ones, but the most enriched ¹⁵N values were found in the understory vegetation. Although spruce trees were a much larger pool (1860 g biomass/m²) than understory vegetation (Vaccinium myrtillus 333 g/m², Calluna vulgaris 142 g/m², Deschampsia flexuosa 22 g/m²), the ericaceous shrubs and the perennial grass were a much greater sink for the¹⁵N label. Eight months after labeling, 9% of the ammonium and 15% of the nitrate label were found in the understory. P.abies retained only 3% of the¹⁵N-ammonium and 7% of the¹⁵N-nitrate. The main sink for both¹⁵N tracers was the soil, where 87% of the ammonium and 79% of the nitrate tracer were found. The organic soil horizon (5-0 cm depth) contained 63% of the¹⁵N-ammonium and 46% of the¹⁵N -nitrate suggesting strong immobilization by microorganisms of both N forms. Eight months after tracer application, about 16% of both¹⁵N-tracers was found below 25 cm soil depth. This 16% corresponds well to a 20% decrease in the recovery of both¹⁵N tracers after 15 months and indicates a total loss out of the ecosystem. Highly enriched ¹⁵N values were found in fruit bodies of fungi growing in reference lots (no¹⁵N addition), although soils did not show increased ¹⁵N ratios. No transfer of¹⁵N-tracer between fungi and spruce or understory vegetation was apparent yet.     

15N-ammonium and 15N-nitrate uptake of a 15-year-old Picea abies plantation

Throughfall nitrogen of a 15-year-old Picea abies (L.) Karst. (Norway spruce) stand in the Fichtelgebirge, Germany, was labeled with either ¹⁵N-ammonium or ¹⁵N-nitrate and uptake of these two tracers was followed during two successive growing seasons (1991 and 1992). ¹⁵N-labeling (62 mg ¹⁵N m^-2 under conditions of 1.5 g N m^-2 atmospheric nitrogen deposition) did not increase N concentrations in plant tissues. The ¹⁵N recovery within the entire stand (including soils) was 94%±6% of the applied ¹⁵N-ammonium tracer and 100%±6% of the applied ¹⁵N-nitrate tracer during the 1st year of investigation. This decreased to 80%±24% and 83%±20%, respectively, during the 2nd year. After 11 days, the ¹⁵N tracer was detectable in 1-year-old spruce needles and leaves of understory species. After 1 month, tracer was detectable in needle litter fall. At the end of the first growing season, more than 50% of the ¹⁵N taken up by spruce was assimilated in needles, and more than 20% in twigs. The relative distribution of recovered tracer of both ¹⁵N-ammonium and ¹⁵N-nitrate was similar within the different foliage age classes (recent to 11-year-old) and other compartments of the trees. ¹⁵N enrichment generally decreased with increasing tissue age. Roots accounted for up to 20% of the recovered ¹⁵N in spruce; no enrichment could be detected in stem wood. Although ¹⁵N-ammonium and ¹⁵N-nitrate were applied in the same molar quantities (¹⁵NH ₄ ⁺ : ¹⁵NO ₃ ^- =1:1), the tracers were diluted differently in the inorganic soil N pools (¹⁵NH ₄ ⁺ /NH ₄ ⁺ : ¹⁵NO ₃ ^- /NO ₃ ^- =1:9). Therefore the measured ¹⁵N amounts retained by the vegetation do not represent the actual fluxes of ammonium and nitrate in the soil solution. Use of the molar ammonium-to-nitrate ratio of 9:1 in the soil water extract to estimate ¹⁵N uptake from inorganic N pools resulted in a 2–4 times higher ammonium than nitrate uptake by P. abies.     

Rapid abiotic transformation of nitrate in an acid forest soil

Nitrate immobilization into organic matter isthought to require catalysis by the enzymes ofsoil microorganisms. However, recent studiessuggest that nitrate added to soil isimmobilized rapidly and this process mayinclude abiotic pathways. We amended living andsterilized soil with ¹⁵N-labeled nitrateand nitrite to investigate biotic and abioticimmobilization. We report rapid transformationof nitrate in incubations of the O layer offorest soils that have been sterilized toprevent microbial activity and to denaturemicrobial enzymes. Approximately 30, 40, and60% of the ¹⁵N-labeled nitrate added tolive, irradiated, or autoclaved organic horizonsoil disappeared from the extractableinorganic-N pool in less than 15 minutes. About5% or less of the nitrate was recovered asinsoluble organic N in live and sterilizedsoil, and the remainder was determined to besoluble organic N. Added ¹⁵N-nitrite,however, was either lost to gaseous N orincorporated into an insoluble organic N formin both live and sterile organic soils. Hence,the fate and pathway of apparent abioticnitrate immobilization differs from thebetter-known mechanisms of nitrite reactionswith soil organic matter. Nitrate and nitriteadded to live A-horizon soil was largelyrecovered in the form added, suggesting thatrapid conversion of nitrate to solubleorganic-N may be limited to C-rich organichorizons. The processes by which this temperateforest soil transforms added nitrate to solubleorganic-N cannot be explained by establishedmechanisms, but appears to be due to abioticprocesses in the organic horizon.     

Microbial transformations of C and N in a boreal forest floor as affected by temperature

The effects of temperature on N mineralization were studied in two organic surface horizons (LF and H) of soil from a boreal forest. The soil was incubated at 5 °C and 15 °C after adding ¹⁵ N and gross N fluxes were calculated using a numerical simulation model. The model was calibrated on microbial C and N, basal respiration, and KCl-extractable NH₄ ⁺, NO₃ ⁻, ¹⁵NH₄ ⁺ and ¹⁵ NO₃ ⁻. In the LF layer, increased temperature resulted in a faster turnover of all N pools. In both layers net N mineralization did not increase at elevated temperature because both gross NH₄ ⁺ mineralization and NH₄ ⁺ immobilization increased. In the H layer, however, both gross NH₄ ⁺ mineralization and NH₄ ⁺ immobilization were lower at 15 °C than at 5 °C and the model predicted a decrease in microbial turnover rate at higher temperature although measured microbial activity was higher. The decrease in gross N fluxes in spite of increased microbial activity in the H layer at elevated temperature may have been caused by uptake of organic N. The model predicted a decrease in pool size of labile organic matter and microbial biomass at elevated temperature whereas the amount of refractory organic matter increased. Temperature averaged microbial C/N ratio was 14.7 in the LF layer suggesting a fungi-dominated decomposer community whereas it was 7.3 in the H layer, probably due to predominance of bacteria. Respiration and microbial C were difficult to fit using the model if the microbial C/N ratio was kept constant with time. A separate ¹⁵N-enrichment study with the addition of glucose showed that glucose was metabolized faster in the LF than in the H layer. In both layers, decomposition of organic matter appeared to be limited by C availability. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Denitrification measurements in aquatic sediments: A comparison of three methods

Measurements of denitrification using the acetylene inhibition,¹⁵N isotope tracer, and N₂ flux methods were carried out concurrently using sediment cores from Vilhelmsborg sø, Denmark, in an attempt to clarify some of the limitations of each technique. Three experimental treatments of overlying water were used: control, nitrate enriched, and ammonia enriched water. The N₂ flux and¹⁵N tracer experiments showed high rates of coupled nitrification/denitrification in the sediments. The acetylene inhibition method did not capture any coupled nitrification/denitrification. This could be explained by acetylene inhibition of nitrification. A combined¹⁵N tracer/acetylene inhibition experiment demonstrated that acetylene inhibition of N₂O reduction was incomplete and the method, therefore, only measured approximately 50% of the denitrification due to nitrate from the overlying water. Similar rates of denitrification due to nitrate in the overlying water were measured by the N₂ flux method and the acetylene inhibition method, after correcting for the 50% efficiency of acetylene inhibition. Rates of denitrification due to nitrate from the overlying water measured by the¹⁵N tracer method, however, were only approximately 35% or less of those measured by the acetylene inhibition or N₂ flux methods.     

Unusual seasonal patterns and inferred processes of nitrogen retention in forested headwaters of the Upper Susquehanna River

Atmospheric deposition contributes a large fraction of the annual nitrogen (N) input to the basin of the Susquehanna River, a river that provides two-thirds of the annual N load to the Chesapeake Bay. Yet, there are few measurements of the retention of atmospheric N in the Upper Susquehanna’s forested headwaters. We characterized the amount, form (nitrate, ammonium, and dissolved organic nitrogen), isotopic composition (δ¹⁵N- and δ¹⁸O-nitrate), and seasonality of stream N over 2 years for 7–13 catchments. We expected high rates of N retention and seasonal nitrate patterns typical of other seasonally snow-covered catchments: dormant season maxima and growing season minima. Coarse estimates of N export indicated high rates of inorganic N retention (>95%), yet streams had unexpected seasonal nitrate patterns, with summer peaks (14–96 μmol L⁻¹), October crashes (<1 μmol L⁻¹), and modest rebounds during the dormant season (<1–20 μmol L⁻¹). Stream δ¹⁸O-nitrate values indicated microbial nitrification as the primary source of stream nitrate, although snowmelt or other atmospheric source contributed up to 47% of stream nitrate in some March samples. The autumn nitrate crash coincided with leaffall, likely due to in-stream heterotrophic uptake of N. Hypothesized sources of the summer nitrate peaks include: delayed release of nitrate previously flushed to groundwater, weathering of geologic N, and summer increases in net nitrate production. Measurements of shale δ¹⁵N and soil-, well-, and streamwater nitrate within one catchment point toward a summer increase in soil net nitrification as the driver of this pattern. Rather than seasonal plant demand, processes governing the seasonal production, retention, and transport of nitrate in soils may drive nitrate seasonality in this and many other systems.     

The fate of labelled15N urea and ammonium nitrate applied to a winter wheat crop

Labelled urea or ammonium nitrate was applied to winter wheat growing on a loamy soil in Northern France. Two applications of fertilizer were given: 50 kg N ha^–1 at tillering (early March) and 110 kg N ha^–1 at the beginning of stem elongation (mid-April). The kinetics of urea hydrolysis, nitrification of ammonium and the disappearance of inorganic nitrogen were followed at frequent intervals. Inorganic nitrogen soon disappeared, mainly immobilized by soil microflora and absorbed by the crop. Net immobilization of fertilizer N occured at a very similar rate for urea and ammonium nitrate. Maximum immobilization (16 kg N ha¹) was found at harvest for the first dressing and at anthesis for the second dressing (23 kg N ha¹). During the nitrification period, the labelled ammonium pool was immobilized two to three times faster than the labelled nitrate pool. No significant net¹⁵N remineralization was found during the growth cycle.The actual denitrification and volatilization losses were probably more important than indicated from calculations made by extrapolation of fluxes measured over short intervals. However microbial immobilization was the most important of the processes which compete with plant uptake for nitrogen.     

The fate of15N enriched throughfall in two coniferous forest stands at different nitrogen deposition levels

The stable isotope¹⁵N was added as (¹⁵NH₄)₂SO₄ to throughfall water for one year, to study the fate of the deposited nitrogen at different levels of N deposition in two N saturated coniferous forests ecosystems in the Netherlands. The fate of the¹⁵N was followed at high-N (44–55 kg N ha^–1 yr^–1) 1) and low-N (4–6 kg N ha^–1 yr^–1) deposition in plots established under transparent roofs build under the canopy in a Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco.) and Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) forest.The applied¹⁵N was detectable in needles and twigs, the soil and soil water leaching below the rooting zone (90 cm depth). Total¹⁵N recovery in major ecosystem compartments was 71–100% during two successive growing seasons after the start of a year-round¹⁵N application to throughfall-N. Nine months after the year-round¹⁵N application, the¹⁵N assimilated into tree biomass was 29–33% of the¹⁵N added in the Douglas fir stand and less than 17% in the Scots pine stand. At the same time total¹⁵N retention in the soil (down to 70 cm) of the high-N plots was about 37% of the deposited¹⁵NH₄-N, whereas 46% and 65% of the¹⁵N was found in the soil of the low-N deposition plots at the Douglas fir and Scots pine stand, respectively. The organic layers accounted for 60% of the¹⁵N retained in the soil. The total N deposition exceeded the demand of the vegetation and microbial immobilization. Total¹⁵N leaching losses within a year (below 90 cm) were 10–20% in the high-N deposition plots in comparison to 2–6% in the lowered nitrogen input plots. Relative retention in the soil and vegetation increased at lower N-input levels.Species differences in uptake and tree health seem to contribute to lower¹⁵N recoveries in the Scots pine trees compared to the Douglas fir trees. The excessive N deposition and resulting N saturation lead to conditions were the health and functioning of biota were negatively influenced. At decreased N deposition, lower leaching losses together with increased soil and plant retention indicated a change in the fate of the¹⁵N deposited. This may have resulted from changes in ecosystem processes, and thus a shift along the continuum of N saturation to N limitation.     

Natural 15N abundance of soil N pools and N2O reflect the nitrogen dynamics of forest soils

Natural ¹⁵N abundance measurements of ecosystem nitrogen (N) pools and ¹⁵N pool dilution assays of gross N transformation rates were applied to investigate the potential of δ¹⁵N signatures of soil N pools to reflect the dynamics in the forest soil N cycle. Intact soil cores were collected from pure spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) and mixed spruce-beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) stands on stagnic gleysol in Austria. Soil δ¹⁵N values of both forest sites increased with depth to 50 cm, but then decreased below this zone. δ¹⁵N values of microbial biomass (mixed stand: 4.7 ± 0.8‰, spruce stand: 5.9 ± 0.9‰) and of dissolved organic N (DON; mixed stand: 5.3 ± 1.7‰, spruce stand: 2.6 ± 3.3‰) were not significantly different; these pools were most enriched in ¹⁵N of all soil N pools. Denitrification represented the main N₂O-producing process in the mixed forest stand as we detected a significant ¹⁵N enrichment of its substrate NO₃⁻ (3.6 ± 4.5‰) compared to NH₄⁺ (−4.6 ± 2.6‰) and its product N₂O (−11.8 ± 3.2‰). In a ¹⁵N-labelling experiment in the spruce stand, nitrification contributed more to N₂O production than denitrification. Moreover, in natural abundance measurements the NH₄⁺ pool was slightly ¹⁵N-enriched (−0.4 ± 2.0 ‰) compared to NO₃⁻ (−3.0 ± 0.6 ‰) and N₂O (−2.1 ± 1.1 ‰) in the spruce stand, indicating nitrification and denitrification operated in parallel to produce N₂O. The more positive δ¹⁵N values of N₂O in the spruce stand than in the mixed stand point to extensive microbial N₂O reduction in the spruce stand. Combining natural ¹⁵N abundance and ¹⁵N tracer experiments provided a more complete picture of soil N dynamics than possible with either measurement done separately.     

The significance of denitrification of applied nitrogen in fallow and cropped rice soils under different flooding regimes I. Greenhouse experimènts

The role of nitrification-denitrification in the loss of nitrogen from urea applied to puddled soils planted to rice and subjected to continuous and intermittent flooding was evaluated in three greenhouse pot studies. The loss of N via denitrification was estimated indirectly using the¹⁵N balance, after either first accounting for NH₃ volatilization or by analyzing the¹⁵N balance immediately before and after the soil was dried and reflooded. When urea was broadcast and incorporated the loss of¹⁵N from the soil-plant systems depended on the soil, being about 20%–25% for the silt loams and only 10%–12% for the clay. Ammonia volatilization accounted for an average 20% of the N applied in the silt loam. Denitrification losses could not account for more than 10% of the applied N in any of the continuously flooded soil-plant systems under study and were most likely less than 5%. Intermittent flooding of soil planted to rice did not increase the loss of N. Denitrification appeared to be an important loss mechanism in continuously flooded fallow soils, accounting for the loss of approximately 40% of the applied¹⁵N. Loss of¹⁵N was not appreciably enhanced in fallow soils undergoing intermittent flooding. Apparently, nitrate formed in oxidized zones in the soil was readily denitrified in the absence of plant roots. Extensive loss (66%) of¹⁵N-labeled nitrate was obtained when 100 mg/pot of nitrate-N was applied to the surface of nonflooded soil prior to reflooding. This result suggests that rice plants may not compete effectively with denitrifiers if large quantities of nitrate were to accumulate during intermittent dry periods.     

Microbial immobilization drives nitrogen cycling differences among plant species

In many terrestrial ecosystems nitrogen (N) limits productivity and plant community composition is influenced by N availability. However, vegetation is not only controlled by N; plant species may influence ecosystem N dynamics through positive or negative effects on N cycling. We examined four potential mechanisms of plant species effects on nitrogen (N) cycling. We found no species differences in gross ammonification suggesting there are no changes in the ecosystem N cycling rate between the soil organic matter pool (SOM) and the plant/microbial pool. We also found weak differences among plant species in gross nitrification, thus plant species only marginally change the relative sizes of the NH₄⁺ and NO₃^? pools. Next, more than 90% of mineralized N was microbially immobilized, and microbial N immobilization was positively correlated with root biomass. Finally, while species differed in extractable soil NO3^? concentration, these differences were not related to root biomass suggesting that microbial immobilization drives net N mineralization and soil NO₃^? levels. Our results indicate that plant species do not cause feedbacks on the N cycling rate among the three major ecosystem N pools over nine years. However, plant carbon (C) inputs to the soil control microbial N immobilization and thereby change N partitioning between the plant and microbial N pools. Furthermore our results suggest that the SOM pool can act as a strong bottleneck for N cycling in these systems.     

Leaching and crop recovery of15N from ammonium sulphate and labelled maize (Zea mays) material in lysimeters at a site in Zimbabwe

The fate of¹⁵N-ammonium sulphate fertilizer that was applied to four lysimeters in the 1990/91 summer was studied over three consecutive growing seasons during which either maize or wheat was grown. Aboveground portions of¹⁵N-labelled maize plants from the first harvest were applied to four other lysimeters at 5 t ha^–1. Two lysimeters in each of the sets of four were assigned a low and a high moisture treatment using irrigation. In both moisture treatments, plant recovery of fertilizer-¹⁵N in the first season was 27% and a further 2% was recovered by plants during the next two seasons. During the second and third seasons, total recovery of¹⁵N by aboveground plant portions from lysimeters that received¹⁵N-labelled maize material was equivalent to 2.5% of applied fertilizer-¹⁵N. This corresponded to ca. 18% recovery of the¹⁵N added in maize material. Leaching of fertilizer-N over the three growing seasons did not exceed 0.3% in total. During the first season, a maximum of 0.25 kg N ha^–1, equivalent to 0.25% of the applied fertilizer-N, was leached in the high moisture treatment. This represented 1.8% of the nitrate load in leachates. Less than 0.002% of the applied fertilizer-N was leached in the low moisture treatment during the first season.     

Utilization and leaching of nitrate from two Deschampsia-dominated heathland sites: a lysimeter study using intact soil columns*

High deposition levels of atmospheric ammonia in the Netherlands have led to the major replacement of dwarf shrubs by grasses and to elevated nitrification rates in acid heathland soils. In order to study the efficacy of a naturally established grass-heath of Deschampsia flexuosa at capturing NO^- ₃, an outdoor 'mesocosm' lysimeter experiment was set up with relatively large and undisturbed soil columns from two Deschampsia-dominated heathland sites. One of the sites (Ede) had a relatively high rate of nitrate production, whereas the other (Hoorneboeg [HB]) showed practically no nitrate formation. For part of the Ede columns, the fate of labeled nitrate, split-applied at two rates (30 or 150 kg ha^-1 yr^-1) during two seasons, was studied. D. flexuosa was highly effective in acquiring fertilizer nitrate, as demonstrated by (1) distinct rises in foliar NRA, especially at high N; (2) increased ¹⁵N enrichments in all plant components with N rate; (3) significant increases in organic-N and carboxylate concentration in several plant compartments; and (4) clear shifts in biomass allocation in favour of the aboveground tissues.After 18 months at low N, an average 39 and 23% of the applied N was immobilized in the plant and soil compartments, respectively; at high N rate, corresponding recoveries were 33 and 20%. Total leaching of nitrate (beyond a depth of 35 cm) from the unfertilized Ede columns corresponded to an annual loss of 1.9 kmol N ha^-1, whereas leaching was virtually zero from HB columns. Relatively high amounts of N leached from the fertilized columns with apparent fertilizer recovery in the leachate reaching an average 60% at high N. However,¹⁵ N analyses revealed only recoveries of 2.0% (low N) and 7.2% (high N) of the applied N in the leachate. From columns where the plant cover had been removed, apparent and real leaching losses reached values of >100 and 10% of the applied N, respectively. Hence, soil-derived N appeared by far the major source of leaching. Unplanted and unfertilized HB columns displayed high rates of nitrification and leached high amounts of nitrate, suggesting a plant-induced repression of the in situ nitrification at this site.On average, planted columns had lost 37% (low N) and 40% (high N) of the applied N, whereas unplanted lysimeters had lost 89% (for both low and high N). The N not recovered was presumed lost by denitrification due to favourable conditions with respect to nitrate concentration, moisture, carbon supply, and temperature.     

Conversion of 15N-ammonium in forest soils

To determine the fate of atmospheric ammonium in forest soils, one calcareous and two acid forest soils were incubated with ¹⁵N ammonium. In the calcareous soil about 65% of the applied ¹⁵N-ammonium was recovered as nitrate after 98 days of incubation, whereas in the acid soils less than 10% of the ¹⁵N-ammonium was converted to nitrate. In all soils a large proportion of the ¹⁵N was incorporated in organic nitrogen compounds. This incorporation limits the use of ¹⁵N tracers for the elucidation of the fate of atmospheric ammonium in soils.     

The partitioning of fertilizer-N between soil and crop: Comparison of ammonium and nitrate applications

Field experiments were carried out in 1987 on winter wheat crops grown on three types of soil. ¹⁵N-labelled urea, ¹⁵NH₄NO₃ or NH₄ ¹⁵NO₃ (80 kg N ha^-1) was applied at tillering. The soils (chalky soil, hydromorphic loamy soil, sandy clay soil) were chosen to obtain a range of nitrogen dynamics, particularly nitrification. Soil microbial N immobilization and crop N uptake were measured at five dates. Shortly after fertilizer application (0–26 days), the amount of N immobilized in soil were markedly higher with labelled urea or ammonium than that with nitrate in all soils. During the same period, crop ¹⁵N uptake occurred preferentially at the expense of nitrate. Nitrification differed little between soils, the rates were 2.0 to 4.7 kg N ha^-1 day^-1 at 9°C daily mean temperature. The differences in immobilization and uptake had almost disappeared at flowering and harvest. ¹⁵N recovery in soil and crop varied between 50 and 100%. Gaseous losses probably occurred by volatilization in the chalky soil and denitrification in the hydromorphic loamy soil. These losses affected the NH₄ ⁺ and NO₃ ^- pools differently and determined the partitioning of fertilizer-N between immobilization and absorption.     

Stable soil nitrogen accumulation and flexible organic matter stoichiometry during primary floodplain succession

Large increases in nitrogen (N) inputs to terrestrial ecosystems typically have small effects on immediate N outputs because most N is sequestered in soil organic matter. We hypothesized that soil organic N storage and the asynchrony between N inputs and outputs result from rapid accumulation of N in stable soil organic pools. We used a successional sequence on floodplains of the Tanana River near Fairbanks, Alaska to assess rates of stable N accumulation in soils ranging from 1 to 500+ years old. One-year laboratory incubations with repeated leaching separated total soil N into labile (defined as inorganic N leached) and stable (defined as total minus labile N) pools. Stable N pools increased faster (2 g N m^–2 yr^–1) than labile N (0.4 g N m^–2 yr^–1) pools during the first 50 years of primary succession; labile N then plateaued while stable and total N continued to increase. Soil C pools showed similar trends, and stable N was correlated with stable C (r² = 0.95). From 84 to 95 % of soil N was stable during our incubations. Over successional time, the labile N pool declined as a proportion of total N, but remained large on an aerial basis (up to 38 g N m^–2). The stoichiometry of stable soil N changed over successional time; C:N ratios increased from 10 to 22 over 275 years (r² = 0.69). A laboratory ¹⁵N addition experiment showed that soils had the capacity to retain much more N than accumulated naturally during succession. Our results suggest that most soil N is retained in a stable organic pool that can accumulate rapidly but is not readily accessible to microbial mineralization. Because stable soil organic matter and total ecosystem organic matter have flexible stoichiometry, net ecosystem production may be a poor predictor of N retention on annual time scales.     

Export of DOC from forested catchments on the Precambrian Shield of Central Ontario: Clues from 13C and 14C

Export of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) from forested catchmentsis governed by competing processes of production, decomposition, sorptionand flushing. To examine the sources of DOC, carbon isotopes (¹⁴Cand ¹³C) were analyzed in DOC from surface waters, groundwatersand soils in a small forested catchment on the Canadian Shield in centralOntario. A significant fraction (greater than 50%) of DOCin major inflows to the lake is composed of carbon incorporated into organicmatter, solubilized and flushed into the stream within the last 40 years. Incontrast, ¹⁴C in groundwater DOC was old indicating extensiverecycling of forest floor derived organic carbon in the soil column beforeelution to groundwater in the lower B and C soil horizons. A small uplandbasin had a wide range in ¹⁴C from old groundwater values atbaseflow under dry basin conditions to relatively modern values during highflow or wetter antecedent conditions. Wetlands export mainly recently fixedcarbon with little seasonal range. DOC in streams entering the small lakemay be composed of two pools; an older recalcitrant pool delivered bygroundwater and a young labile pool derived from recent organic matter.The relative proportion of these two pools changes seasonally due thechanges in the water flowpaths and organic carbon dynamics. Althoughchanges in local climate (temperature and/or precipitation) may alterthe relative proportions of the old and young pools, the older pool islikely to be more refractory to sedimentation and decomposition in thelake setting. Delivery of older pool DOC from the catchment andsusceptibility of this older pool to photochemical decomposition mayconsequently be important in governing the minimum DOC concentrationlimit in lakes.     

The effect of sodium chlorate and nitrapyrin on the nitrification mediated nitrosation process in soils

Summary The influence of total nitrification to nitrate or partial nitrification to nitrite on the soil organic nitrogen status was examined. NH ₄ ⁺ –¹⁵N was added to the soil in the absence and the presence of NaClO₃, respectively nitrapyrin. The first chemical inhibits only nitrate formation, the second inhibits total nitrification. The accumulation of nitrite nitrogen in the soil at levels up to 5 mg kg^–1 increased the loss of nitrogen. Yet, it did not increase the binding of mineral nitrogen into soil organic matter, relative to the control soil. The data suggest that the biochemistry of the nitrite formation process, rather than the levels of nitrite ions formed, are of primary importance in the role of nitrification mediated nitrosation of soil organic matter.