5种温带森林生态系统细根的时间动态及其影响因子

细根(直径≤2 mm)的生长和死亡动态及其影响因子是森林生态系统能量流动和物质循环的重要研究内容,但因受到研究方法的限制而了解甚少.于2010年5-10月采用微根管技术对东北东部山区5种温带森林生态系统的细根生长量(FRP)和死亡量(FRM)进行了动态跟踪测定,并同步测定了土壤温度(Ts)、土壤湿度(Ms)、叶面积指数(LAI)等相关因子.结果表明:不同林型和取样时间的FRP和FRM均差异显著(P＜0.001).杨桦林、硬阔叶林、兴安落叶松林、红松林、蒙古栎林的FRP和FRM分别为:(13.34 ±0.90) μm·cm-2·d-1(平均值±标准误)和(5.02±0.36) μm· cm-2·d-1、(13.04±0.82)μm·cm-2·d-1和(6.85±0.32) μm· cm-2·d-1、(8.74±1.44) μm·cm-2·d-1和(5.05±0.61) μm·cm-2·d-1、(8.02±2.27) μm·cm-2·d-1和(3.88±0.35)μm·em-2·d-1、(7.59±0.82) μm·cm-2·d-1和(3.88±0.61) μm· cm-2·d-1.所有林型生长季期间FRP的时间变化均呈现明显的单峰型,但峰值出现的时间却因林型而异.FRM随生长季的进程而逐渐增加,杨桦林和硬阔叶林FRM在8月初出现峰值,而红松林、兴安落叶松林和蒙古栎林的FRM峰值均出现在生长季末期.Ts、Ms和LAI对FRP和FRM均存在显著的正效应(P＜0.05),3个因子的综合作用对各个林型FRP和FRM变异性的解释率分别达68％和53％以上,表明这些温带森林生态系统细根生长和死亡的时间动态主要受土壤温湿度和叶面积变化的联合影响.     

原始红松林退化演替后土壤氮矿化特征变化

土壤氮矿化是氮素生物地理化学循环的重要环节,表征着土壤的供氮潜力,其变化过程会影响森林生态系统生产力。从小兴安岭典型的原始红松林及其退化形成的次生阔叶林样地采集土壤样品,采用好气室内培养法,研究在不同培养温度(4℃、12℃、20℃、28℃和36℃)和湿度(20%、40%、60%、80%和100%饱和持水量,WHC)下,2种林地土壤氮转化速率的变化。结果表明:与原始红松林相比,次生阔叶林表层土(0—20 cm)的有机质、全碳、全氮、硝态氮、碳/氮比、全磷、速效磷、速效钾、pH值均显著升高,铵态氮显著降低(P0.05)。采用方差分析结果表明:原始红松林表层土壤的净矿化速率、净硝化速率均显著低于次生阔叶林,但净氨化速率的变化则相反;培养温度和湿度及两者的交互作用均对土壤氮转化速率影响显著(P0.001)。原始红松林和次生阔叶林净矿化速率对温度和湿度变化的响应存在一定差异,最适温度和湿度分别为28℃—36℃和60%(WHC)。原始红松林土壤氮矿化温度敏感性指数(Q_(10))显著高于次生阔叶林(P0.05),均值分别为2.08和1.80,Q_(10)与基质质量指数(A)呈负相关,与土壤有机质呈极显著负相关(P0.01)。     

湖南省4种森林群落土壤氮的矿化作用

2007年7月,用树脂芯原位测定土壤无机氮含量的方法,对湖南杉木、马尾松、樟树和枫香4种森林群落的土壤氮矿化进行了研究.研究结果表明,经过28d培养,4种森林群落土壤中NH+4-N含量分别下降了31.4%～50.5%,NO-3-N含量增加了8.2～17.3倍,氮矿化主要表现为硝化作用;氮矿化速率由大到小依次为樟树(0.05mg·kg-1·d-1)>马尾松(0.04 mg·kg-1·d-1)>枫香(-0.12 mg·kg-1·d-1)>杉木(-0.15 mg·kg-1·d-1).在4个森林群落的土壤中,NH+4-N是无机氮的主要存在形式,表现为在杉木群落中占78.42%、在马尾松中占79.17%、在樟树中占71.14%和枫香中占79.22%,而且NH+4-N的变化可以解释氮矿化量变化的96.1%～98.8%.土壤氮矿化速率与0～15 cm土壤的C/N、pH值呈显著性正相关,但与凋落物量和0～30 cm 土壤中细根生物量相关性不显著.     

添加氮素对沙质草地土壤氮素有效性的影响

通过氮素添加(20g.m-2.a-1)试验,研究了科尔沁沙地东南部沙质草地生态系统土壤氮矿化及有效氮的季节变化。对2006年生长季的观测发现,添加氮素显著提高了沙质草地生长季土壤铵态氮、硝态氮、矿质氮的含量以及9月1日至10月15日的净氮矿化速率与硝化速率;添加氮素导致土壤有效氮的季节变异增大,净氮矿化(1.29～11.60mg.kg-1.30d-1)与硝化(-4.15～11.20mg.kg-1.30d-1)速率随时间呈上升趋势,铵态氮含量逐渐降低,硝态氮与矿质氮(6.49～20.66mg.kg-1)含量的变化呈"V"型,最小值出现在生物量生长高峰期的7月中旬。该沙质草地土壤氮的有效性较低,施氮肥可明显提高土壤供氮能力。     

长白山三种主要林地土壤甲烷通量

森林土壤甲烷(CH4)通量及主要影响因素的研究对于降低全球温室气体收支评估的不确定性具有重要价值.本研究通过室内培养实验,分析了土壤湿度、温度和氮添加对长白山3种主要林型(白桦林、山杨林和阔叶红松林)土壤甲烷通量的影响.结果表明:3种林型土壤均为甲烷汇,15 d平均吸收速率分别为2.27 μg·kg-1·h-1(山杨林)、1.54μg·kg-1·h-1(阔叶红松林)和1.46 μg·kg-1·h-1(白桦林).重复测量多元方差分析结果显示:林型、温度、土壤湿度及氮素处理对甲烷通量均有极显著影响(P＜0.0l),林型与其他因子交互作用显著;3种林型土壤甲烷吸收的最佳含水量为45％ ～ 60％;在10 ～20℃条件下,甲烷吸收速率随温度增加而增加;氮对甲烷吸收有明显抑制作用.     

森林类型对土壤有机质、微生物生物量及酶活性的影响

以澳大利亚南昆士兰州典型森林类型——湿地松、南洋杉和贝壳杉林为对象,开展土壤可溶性有机碳和氮(SOC和SON)、微生物生物量碳和氮(MBC和MBN),以及土壤酶活性的研究,剖析森林类型对土壤质量的影响.结果表明:不同林型土壤SOC、SON含量分别在552 ～1154 mg·kg-1和20.11～57.32mg·kg-1;MBC、MBN分别在42～149 mg·kg-1和7～35 mg·kg-1.MBC、MBN之间呈显著相关.土壤几丁质酶、酸性磷酸酶、碱性磷酸酶和β-葡萄糖苷酶的活性分别为2.96 ～7.63、16.5 ～29.6、0.79 ～ 3.42和3.71 ～9.93 μg ·g-1·h-1,亮氨酸氨肽酶活性为0.18～0.46 μg·g-1·d-1.不同林型土壤SOC含量,以及土壤几丁质酶和亮氨酸氨肽酶活性为湿地松林、南洋杉林、贝壳杉林依次降低;而SON含量为南洋杉林＞贝壳杉林＞湿地松林,且南洋杉林的SON含量显著(P＜0.05)高于湿地松林;MBC和MBN以及碱性磷酸酶活性为贝壳杉林＞湿地松林＞南洋杉林;酸性磷酸酶和β-葡萄糖苷酶活性为湿地松林＞贝壳杉林＞南洋杉林.在土壤生物代谢因子中,MBC、MBN、SON和亮氨酸氨肽酶对不同森林类型土壤影响较大.     

长白山阔叶红松林退化生态系统的土壤呼吸作用

选择处于全球变化中国东北样带东部典型生态系统的长白山阔叶红松林作为研究区,采用动态气室-CO2红外分析法测定了森林生态系统不同退化阶段的土壤呼吸作用.结果表明:在生长季,长白山阔叶红松林不同退化阶段的土壤呼吸动态变化呈单峰型曲线,在7—8月达到最大值;不同退化阶段林地土壤呼吸大小顺序为:杨桦林蒙古栎林阔叶红松林硬阔叶林裸地.其中,杨桦林和蒙古栎林样地的碳释放量分别为对照阔叶红松林的1.4和1.3倍,硬阔叶林和裸地的碳释放量分别为对照阔叶红松林的88%和78%.     

沙坡头地区藓类结皮土壤净氮矿化作用的季节动态

以腾格里沙漠东南缘天然植被区藓类结皮和无结皮土壤为对象,采用野外原状土柱封顶埋管法对无机氮库和净氮转化速率的季节动态特征进行研究.结果表明:藓类结皮和无结皮土壤有效氮含量和净氮转化速率存在明显的季节变化特征,不同月份间差异显著.在非生长季,3和10月土壤有效氮含量和净氮转化速率显著高于其他月,氮矿化过程以固持态为主,两样地间土壤净氮转化速率无显著差异;在生长季,土壤有效氮含量和净氮转化速率显著增加,6—8月时达到峰值,分别为17.18 mg·kg-1和0.11 mg·kg-1·d-1.两样地土壤净硝化速率和净氮矿化速率在各月间差异显著,均表现为藓类结皮土壤>无结皮土壤.土壤铵态氮和硝态氮含量4和5月时表现为藓类结皮土壤(2.66和3.16 mg·kg-1)>无结皮土壤(1.02和2.37mg·kg-1);6—9月则表现为无结皮土壤(7.01和7.40 mg·kg-1)>藓类结皮土壤(6.39和6.36mg·kg-1).藓类结皮的繁衍与拓殖能够调节土壤有效氮含量、促进土壤氮矿化过程,是影响土壤氮素循环的重要生物因素.     

大兴安岭北部天然针叶林土壤氮矿化特征

采用顶盖埋管法对大兴安岭地区天然针叶林(樟子松林、樟子松-兴安落叶松混交林和兴安落叶松林)土壤铵态氮(NH~+_4-N)、硝态氮(NO~-_3-N)、净氮矿化速率进行研究,并探索土壤理化性质与氮矿化之间的相关性,为大兴安岭地区森林生态系统土壤养分管理及森林经营提供帮助。结果表明:观测期内(5—10月)3种林型土壤无机氮变化范围为31.51—70.42 mg/kg,以NH~+_4-N形式存在为主,占比达90%以上,且与纯林相比混交林土壤无机氮含量较高。3种林型土壤净氮矿化、净氨化、净硝化速率月变化趋势呈V型,7、8月表现为负值,其他月份为正值。净氮矿化速率变化范围樟子松林为-0.54—1.28 mg kg~(-1) d~(-1)、樟子松-兴安落叶松混交林为-0.13—0.55 mg kg~(-1) d~(-1)、兴安落叶松林为-0.80—1.05 mg kg~(-1) d~(-1)。土壤净氨化过程在土壤氮矿化中占主要地位,占比达60%以上。3种林型土壤净氮矿化、净氨化及净硝化速率垂直差异显著,0—10 cm土层矿化作用明显高于10—20 cm土层(P0.05)。土壤氮矿化速率与土壤含水量、土壤有机碳含量、土壤C/N、枯落物全氮含量和枯落物C/N均存在显著相关性。不同类型的森林土壤及枯落物的质量也存在差异,进而影响土壤氮矿化特征。     

南亚热带森林植被恢复演替序列的土壤有机碳氮矿化

采用室内培养的方法,分析了南亚热带鼎湖山森林植被恢复演替序列不同阶段代表性森林—马尾松林、针阔叶混交林和季风常绿阔叶林土壤(0~10cm)CO2、CH4排放/吸收和有机氮矿化的差异.结果表明:3种森林土壤培养52周的CO2-C累积排放量分别为(30.66±3.36)、(58.17±7.25)和(59.31±13.58)mg·kg-1,而其中的65.12%、64.41%和64.12%均在前9周被排放;马尾松林土壤的CO2-C累积排放量一直显著小于针阔叶混交林和季风常绿阔叶林;用相符的二库动力学模型模拟的活性库和惰性库的碳矿化速率均呈递减趋势;土壤培养52周吸收CH4的累积量、培养20周有机氮净矿化量和净硝化量均为马尾松林<针阔叶混交林<季风常绿阔叶林(P<0.05),净矿化的有效氮以硝态氮为主.说明森林植被类型的变化改变了土壤有机碳的分解速率,这是其影响土壤有机碳含量的一种内在方式.     

西双版纳不同热带森林下土壤氮矿化和硝化作用研究

 1998年7月,用埋袋法对西双版纳热带季节雨林、崖豆藤(Mellettia leptobotrya)次生林、季节雨林内林窗和轮歇地土壤的氮矿化和硝化作用进行了研究。研究结果表明季节雨林和崖豆藤次生林的格局基本相同,氮净矿化速率分别为6.55mgN·kg-1·30d-1和6.37mgN·kg-1·30d-1,硝化速率分别为16.28mgN·kg-1·30d-1和16.38mgN·kg-1·30d-1。而林窗下和轮歇地土壤的氮净矿化速率和硝化速率均为负值,氮净矿化速率分别为–7.85mgN·kg-1·30d-1和–10.69mgN·kg-1·30d-1,硝化速率分别为–2.78N·kg-1·30d-1和–3.69mg N·kg-1·30d-1。从实验结果看,在30d的培养过程中,NH4–N消耗较多,导致硝化速率大于氮净矿化速率。     

气候变化对草甸草原土壤氮素矿化作用影响的实验研究

 用盖顶PVC管法,将锡林河流域中1469m高海拔处的草甸草原原状土柱分别移植到海拔1187m、960m的低海拔处培养,用以研究温度变化对土壤氮素的净氨化速率、净硝化速率和净矿化速率的可能影响。经过一个生长季培养后的测定结果表明：从高海拔到低海拔,实验所选择的3个地点的年均气温分别为-0.5℃、2.2℃和4.4℃,受此不同气温的影响,移植到这3个地点的草甸草原土壤氮素的净氨化速率分别为0.05 mgN·kg-1·m-1,0.13mgN·kg-1·m-1和1.09mgN·kg-1·m-1;净硝化速率分别为0.05mgN·kg-1·m-1,0.76mgN·kg-1·m-1和0.26mgN·kg-1N·m-1;净矿化速率分别为0.10mgN·kg-1·m-1,0.89mgN·kg-1·m-1和1.35mgN·kg-1·m-1。由此可推断未来气候变化将促进草甸草原土壤氮素的净矿化作用。     

川西亚高山不同海拔森林土壤活性氮库及净氮矿化的季节动态

研究了川西理县毕棚沟不同海拔梯度(3600 m、3300 m和3000 m)森林群落土壤活性氮库及土壤净氮矿化速率的季节动态.结果表明: 研究区森林土壤活性氮库(铵态氮、硝态氮、微生物生物量氮和可溶性有机氮)及净氮矿化速率存在明显的季节变化,但不同形态土壤活性氮库的季节动态有一定差异.4个采样时期(非生长季与生长季初期、中期及末期)各海拔土壤硝态氮浓度(8.38～89.60 mg·kg^-1)均显著高于铵态氮浓度(0.44～8.43 mg·kg^-1).生长季初期各海拔梯度的土壤净氮矿化速率均表现为负值(-0.77～-0.56 mg·kg^-1·d^-1),而非生长季、生长季中期和末期均为正值.除硝态氮外,不同海拔的土壤铵态氮、微生物生物量氮和可溶性有机氮浓度的差异极显著,海拔对它们的影响与季节变化有关.该区土壤净氮矿化以硝化为主,且氮矿化过程不受海拔梯度的影响.冬季土壤净氮矿化明显(0.42～099 mg·kg^-1·d^-1),早春高的土壤无机氮可能为植物生长提供基础养分,也可能通过淋溶方式从系统中丢失.     

Nitrogen Oxide Fluxes and Nitrogen Cycling during Postagricultural Succession and Forest Fertilization in the Humid Tropics

The effects of changes in tropical land use on soil emissions of nitrous oxide (N₂O) and nitric oxide (NO) are not well understood. We examined emissions of N₂O and NO and their relationships to land use and forest composition, litterfall, soil nitrogen (N) pools and turnover, soil moisture, and patterns of carbon (C) cycling in a lower montane, subtropical wet region of Puerto Rico. Fluxes of N₂O and NO were measured monthly for over 1 year in old (more than 60 years old) pastures, early- and mid-successional forests previously in pasture, and late-successional forests not known to have been in pasture within the tabonuco (Dacryodes excelsa) forest zone. Additional, though less frequent, measures were also made in an experimentally fertilized tabonuco forest. N₂O fluxes exceeded NO fluxes at all sites, reflecting the consistently wet environment. The fertilized forest had the highest N oxide emissions (22.0 kg N · ha⁻¹· y⁻¹). Among the unfertilized sites, the expected pattern of increasing emissions with stand age did not occur in all cases. The mid-successional forest most dominated by leguminous trees had the highest emissions (9.0 kg N · ha⁻¹· y⁻¹), whereas the mid-successional forest lacking legumes had the lowest emissions (0.09 kg N · ha⁻¹· y⁻¹). N oxide fluxes from late-successional forests were higher than fluxes from pastures. Annual N oxide fluxes correlated positively to leaf litter N, net nitrification, potential nitrification, soil nitrate, and net N mineralization and negatively to leaf litter C:N ratio. Soil ammonium was not related to N oxide emissions. Forests with lower fluxes of N oxides had higher rates of C mineralization than sites with higher N oxide emissions. We conclude that (a) N oxide fluxes were substantial where the availability of inorganic N exceeded the requirements of competing biota; (b) species composition resulting from historical land use or varying successional dynamics played an important role in determining N availability; and (c) the established ecosystem models that predict N oxide loss from positive relationships with soil ammonium may need to be modified. Received 22 February 2000; accepted 6 September 2000.     

Decline of soil nitrogen mineralization and nitrification during forest conversion of evergreen broad-leaved forest to plantations in the subtropical area of Eastern China

We examined soil nitrogen (N) mineralization and nitrification rates, and soil and forest floor properties in one native forest: evergreen broad-leaved forest (EBLF), one secondary shrubs (SS), and three adjacent plantation forests: Chinese fir plantation (CFP), bamboo plantation (BP) and waxberry groves (WG) in Tiantong National Forest Park, Eastern China. All forests showed seasonal dynamics of N mineralization and nitrification rates. Soil N mineralization rate was highest in EBLF (1.6 ± 0.3 mg-N kg⁻¹ yr⁻¹) and lowest in CFP (0.4 ± 0.1 mg-N kg⁻¹ yr⁻¹). Soil nitrification rate was also highest in EBLF (0.6 ± 0.1 mg-N kg⁻¹ yr⁻¹), but lowest in SS (0.02 ± 0.01 mg-N kg⁻¹ yr⁻¹). During forest conversion of EBLF to SS, CFP, BP and WG, soil N mineralization rate (10.7%, 73%, 40.3% and 69.8%, respectively), soil nitrification rate (94.9%, 32.2%, 33.9% and 39%, respectively), and soil N concentration (50%, 65.4%, 78.9% and 51.9%, respectively) declined significantly. Annual soil N mineralization was positively correlated with total C and N concentrations of surface soil and total N concentration of forest floor, and negatively correlated with soil bulk density, soil pH and C:N ratio of forest floor across the five forests. Annual soil nitrification was positively correlated with total C concentration of surface soil and N concentration of forest floor, and negatively correlated with soil bulk density and forest floor mass. In contrast, annual soil nitrification was not correlated to pH value, total N concentration, C:N ratio of surface soil and total C concentration and C:N ratio of forest floor.     

氮添加对樟子松人工林氮转化及相关功能基因丰度的影响

土壤氮(N)的有效性是影响土壤微生物群落结构以及土壤氮循环的重要因子。为探索N添加对樟子松人工林氮素转化及N功能基因(NFGs)表达的影响及其作用机制,该文以塞罕坝千层板林场的樟子松人工林为研究对象,进行了2年的氮添加处理,设置4个不同氮添加水平0、1、5、10 g N·m^-2·a^-1,分别记作N0、N1、N5、N10,采用功能基因微阵GeoChip 5.0系统及室内土壤培养法,探讨了土壤NFGs对氮添加的反应及其对氮转化过程的影响。结果表明:(1)与N0相比,中低N添加处理(N1、N5)促进了氨化(ureC、nirA、nrfA)、硝化(amoA)和反硝化(norB)相关基因的相对丰度,高N处理(N10)则抑制了所有NFGs的表达。(2)相关分析表明,N1、N5的促进作用与土壤有机碳(SOC)、硝态氮(NO₃^--N)和微生物生物量碳(MBC)显著相关,N10处理显著降低了所有氮转化过程NFGs的相对丰度,这种负面影响与溶解性有机碳(DOC)、MBC含量的减少有关。(3)与氮转化基因丰度规律趋势相似,N1和N5处理显著增加了净N硝化、净N矿化以及N₂O的排放速率,但N10促进作用不明显,表明氮添加对氮转化的促进作用存在阈值。(4)多元回归分析进一步表明,amoA-AOB和MBC是影响净N硝化的关键因素,ureC、nirK和MBC是影响净氮矿化的关键因素,narG、nirS是影响N₂O排放的关键因素。综上,N添加可提高促进樟子松人工林的氮转化及提高部分特定酶功能基因的相对丰度,但氮添加水平存在阈值,当施用10 g N·m^-2·a^-1时,氮转化受到抑制,添加5 g N·m^-2·a^-1是促进樟子松人工林土壤N转化的较佳水平。     

Detritus Production and Soil N Transformations in Old-Growth Eastern Hemlock and Sugar Maple Stands

To examine the linkage between forest cover type, litter inputs, and patterns of net N mineralization versus the turnover of N among soil microbes, we measured both the net and gross rates of N mineralization in replicated, adjacent old-growth eastern hemlock [Tsuga canadensis(L.) Carr.] or sugar maple (Acer saccharum Marsh.) stands in upper Michigan. Mean aboveground net primary production and annual litterfall mass were significantly higher (P < 0.01) in the maple forests (870 g·m^-2·y^-1 and 439 g·m^-2·y^-1, respectively) than in the hemlock forests (480 g·m^-2·y^-1 and 344 g·m^-2·y^-1, respectively). Forest floor and coarse woody debris mass, however, were significantly lower (P < 0.05) in the maple forests (2.2 and 0.1 kg·m^-2, respectively) than in the hemlock forests (2.9 and 0.2 kg·m^-2, respectively). Litterfall N concentration was not significantly different (P > 0.10) between the two forest types. In situ gross rates of N mineralization were higher (P < 0.06) in the maple forests than in the hemlock forests (7.5 and 6.1 mg N·kg soil^-1·d^-1 respectively), but in situ net N mineralization varied independently of forest type and stand-level litterfall N concentration. Cover type–dependent differences in detritus production and detritus C quality appear to result in different N turnover rates, but the balance between gross mineralization and immobilization of N is very sensitive to within stand variability and varies at a scale smaller than cover type alone can predict. Received 3 Feburary 1999; accepted 27 August 1999.     

Temporal patterns of net soil N mineralization and nitrification through secondary succession in the subtropical forests of eastern China

Linking temporal trends of soil nitrogen (N) transformation with shifting patterns of plants and consequently changes of litter quality during succession is important for understanding developmental patterns of ecosystem function. However, the successional direction of soil N mineralization and nitrification in relation to species shifts in the subtropical regions remains little studied. In this study, successional patterns of net soil N mineralization and nitrification rates, litter-fall, forest floor litter, fine root and soil properties were quantified through a successional sequence in the subtropical forests of eastern China. Net N mineralization rate was ‘U-shaped’ through succession: highest in climax evergreen broad-leaved forest (CE: 1.6?±?0.2 mg-N kg^?1 yr^?1) and secondary shrubs (SS: 1.4?±?0.2 mg-N kg^?1 yr^?1), lowest in conifer and evergreen broad-leaved mixed forest (MF: 1.1?±?0.1 mg-N kg^?1 yr^?1) and intermediate in conifer forest (CF: 1.2?±?0.1 mg-N kg^?1 yr^?1) and sub-climax forest (SE: 1.2?±?0.2 mg-N kg^?1 yr^?1). Soil nitrification increased with time (0.02?±?0.1, 0.2?±?0.1, 0.5?±?0.1, 0.2?±?0.1, and 0.6?±?0.1 mg-N kg^?1 yr^?1 in SS, CF, MF, SE and CE, respectively). Annual production of litter?fall increased through succession. Fine root stocks and total N concentration, soil total N, total carbon (C) and microbial biomass C also followed ‘U?shaped’ temporal trends in succession. Soil bulk density was highest in MF, lowest in CE, and intermediate in SS, CF and SE. Soil pH was significantly lowest in CE. Temporal patterns of soil N mineralization and nitrification were significant related to the growth of conifers (i.e. Pinus massoniana) and associated successional changes of litter-fall, forest floor, fine roots and soil properties. We concluded that, due to lower litter quality, the position of Pinus massoniana along the succession pathway played an important role in controlling temporal trends of soil N transformation.     

Urbanization and fragmentation have opposing effects on soil nitrogen availability in temperate forest ecosystems

Nitrogen (N) availability relative to plant demand has been declining in recent years in terrestrial ecosystems throughout the world, a phenomenon known as N oligotrophication. The temperate forests of the northeastern U.S. have experienced a particularly steep decline in bioavailable N, which is expected to be exacerbated by climate change. This region has also experienced rapid urban expansion in recent decades that leads to forest fragmentation, and it is unknown whether and how these changes affect N availability and uptake by forest trees. Many studies have examined the impact of either urbanization or forest fragmentation on nitrogen (N) cycling, but none to our knowledge have focused on the combined effects of these co-occurring environmental changes. We examined the effects of urbanization and fragmentation on oak-dominated (Quercus spp.) forests along an urban to rural gradient from Boston to central Massachusetts (MA). At eight study sites along the urbanization gradient, plant and soil measurements were made along a 90 m transect from a developed edge to an intact forest interior. Rates of net ammonification, net mineralization, and foliar N concentrations were significantly higher in urban than rural sites, while net nitrification and foliar C:N were not different between urban and rural forests. At urban sites, foliar N and net ammonification and mineralization were higher at forest interiors compared to edges, while net nitrification and foliar C:N were higher at rural forest edges than interiors. These results indicate that urban forests in the northeastern U.S. have greater soil N availability and N uptake by trees compared to rural forests, counteracting the trend for widespread N oligotrophication in temperate forests around the globe. Such increases in available N are diminished at forest edges, however, demonstrating that forest fragmentation has the opposite effect of urbanization on coupled N availability and demand by trees.     

Nitrogen mineralization and nitrification in rainforests of contrasting nutrient status and physiognomic structure near Lake Eacham,northeast Queensland

Nitrogen mineralization and nitrification were measured using in situ incubations for 12 periods of 1 month in a structurally complex rainforest with basaltic soil, and an adjacent structurally simple rainforest with less fertile soil formed on metamorphic rock. The study was undertaken near Lake Eacham on the Atherton Tableland in northeast Queensland. Cumulative nitrogen mineralization for 1 year did not differ between forests. It amounted to 265 ± 13 μg N g^-1 oven dry soil at the upper position (0–7.5 cm) and 122 ± 11 μg N g^-1 oven dry soil at the lower position (7.5–15 cm; mean ± s.e. for pooled data). Rates were highest during the wet season but were not strongly correlated with moisture content or temperature. Relative nitrification (cumulative nitrate-nitrogen production expressed as a percentage of cumulative nitrogen mineralization) at the upper position was significantly higher in the complex than the simple forest (100% c.f. 88%). At the lower position it amounted to 100% for cumulative data in both forests. Nitrate was the dominant form of inorganic nitrogen in the complex forest but in the simple forest nitrate and ammonium were of similar importance. The association between forest physiognomic structure and nutrient status at Lake Eacham represents a more general pattern in rainforests of northeast Queensland and further study is needed to ascertain whether results from this study apply more generally.