Soil-atmosphere exchange of CH4, CO2, NOx,and N2O in the Colorado shortgrass steppe under elevated CO2

In late March 1997, an open-top-chamber (OTC) CO₂ enrichment study was begun in the Colorado shortgrass steppe. The main objectives of the study were to determine the effect of elevated CO₂ (720 mol mol^–1) on plant production, photosynthesis, and water use of this mixed C₃/C₄ plant community, soil nitrogen (N) and carbon (C) cycling and the impact of changes induced by CO₂ on trace gas exchange. From this study, we report here our weekly measurements of CO₂, CH₄, NO_x and N₂O fluxes within control (unchambered), ambient CO₂ and elevated CO₂ OTCs. Soil water and temperature were measured at each flux measurement time from early April 1997, year round, through October 2000. Even though both C₃ and C₄ plant biomass increased under elevated CO₂ and soil moisture content was typically higher than under ambient CO₂ conditions, none of the trace gas fluxes were significantly altered by CO₂ enrichment. Over the 43 month period of observation NO_x and N₂O flux averaged 4.3 and 1.7 in ambient and 4.1 and 1.7 g N m^–2 hr ^–1 in elevated CO₂ OTCs, respectively. NO_x flux was negatively correlated to plant biomass production. Methane oxidation rates averaged –31 and –34 g C m^–2 hr^–1 and ecosystem respiration averaged 43 and 44 mg C m^–2 hr^–1 under ambient and elevated CO₂, respectively, over the same time period.     

Effects of light quality,CO2 tensions and NO 3 +− concentrations on the inorganic nitrogen metabolism of Chlamydomonas reinhardii

The blue light dependent utilization of nitrate by green algae under common air and high irradiances, besides its assimilatory nature, is associated with the release of NO₂ ^– and NH₄ ⁺ to the culture medium. If the CO₂ content of the sparging air was increased up to 2%, previously excreted NO₂ ^– and NH₄ ⁺ were rapidly assimilated. When under air and high irradiances the cell density in the culture reached values corresponding to 25 g Ch 1.ml^-1, no further growth was observed and the highest values of NO₃ ^– consumption and NO₂ ^– and NH₄ ⁺ release were attained. Besides low CO₂ tensions, increasing NO₃ ^– concentrations in the medium stimulated the release of NO₃ ^– and NH₄ ⁺. Under CO₂-free air the consumption of NO₃ ^– and the release of NO₂ ^– and NH₄ ⁺ on a total N bases were almost stoichiometric and their rates saturated at much lower irradiances than under air. Under CO₂-free air high rates of NO₂ ^– release were only observed under the blue radiations that were effectively absorbed by photosynthetically active pigments, i.e. 460 nm, but not under 404 and 630 nm radiations. However, the simultaneous illumination of the cells with 404 and 630 nm monochromatic light showed a remarkable synergistic effect on NO₂ ^– release.The results are discussed in terms of the close relationship between C and N metabolism, the photosynthetic reducing power required to convert NO _inf3 ^sup± -N into R – NH₂-N and the blue light activation of nitrate reductase.     

Microbial activity under alpine snowpacks, Niwot Ridge, Colorado

Experiments were conducted during 1993 at Niwot Ridge in the Colorado Front Range to determine if the insulating effect of winter snow cover allows soil microbial activity to significantly affect nitrogen inputs and outputs in alpine systems. Soil surface temperatures under seasonal snowpacks warmed from –14 °C in January to 0 °C by May 4th. Snowmelt began in mid-May and the sites were snow free by mid June. Heterotrophic microbial activity in snow-covered soils, measured as C0₂ production, was first identified on March 4, 1993. Net C0₂ flux increased from 55 mg CO₂-C m^–2 day^–1 in early March to greater than 824 mg CO₂-C m-2 day^–1 by the middle of May. Carbon dioxide production decreased in late May as soils became saturated during snowmelt. Soil inorganic N concentrations increased before snowmelt, peaking between 101 and 276 mg kg^–1 soil in May, and then decreasing as soils became saturated with melt water. Net N mineralization for the period of March 3 to May 4 ranged from 2.23 to 6.63 g N m^–2, and were approximately two orders of magnitude greater than snowmelt inputs of 50.4 mg N m^–2 for NH₄ ⁺ and 97.2 mg N m^–2 for NO₃ ^–. Both NO₃ ^– and NH₄ ⁺ concentrations remained at or below detection limits in surface water during snowmelt, indicating the only export of inorganic N from the system was through gaseous losses. Nitrous oxide production under snow was first observed in early April. Production increased as soils warned, peaking at 75 g N₂O-N m^–2 day^–1 in soils saturated with melt water one week before the sites were snow free. These data suggest that microbial activity in snow-covered soils may play a key role in alpine N cycling before plants become active.     

Effects of parathion and malathion on transformations of urea and ammonium sulfate nitrogen in soils

Summary A study of the effects of malathion and parathion applied at 10 and 50 g/g of soil on transformations of urea and (NH₄)₂SO₄–N in a sandy loam showed that the insecticides retarded urea hydrolysis as well as nitrification of urea and (NH₄)₂SO₄–N. At 50 parts/10⁶ rate of the insecticides, inhibition of urea hydrolysis ranged from 44 to 61% after 0.5 week and from 7 to 21% after 3 weeks of application. The insecticides inhibited the conversion of NH₄ ⁺ to NO₂ ^– without appreciably affecting the subsequent oxidation of NO₂ ^– to NO₃ ^– –N. This resulted in accumulation of higher amounts of NH₄ ⁺–N in soil samples treated with ammonium sulfate or urea N.The results suggest that transformations of urea and NH₄ ⁺ fertilizers in soils may be influenced by the amount of organophosphorus insecticide present and this may affect plant nutrition and fertilizer use.     

Quantification of soil carbon inputs under elevated CO2: C3 plants in a C4 soil

The objective of this investigation was to quantify the differences in soil carbon stores after exposure of birch seedlings (Betula pendula Roth.) over one growing season to ambient and elevated carbon dioxide concentrations. One-year-old seedling of birch were transplanted to pots containing C₄ soil derived from beneath a maize crop, and placed in ambient (350 L L^–1) and elevated (600 L L^–1) plots in a free-air carbon dioxide enrichment (FACE) experiment. After 186 days the plants and soils were destructively sampled, and analysed for differences in root and stem biomass, total plant tissue and soil C contents and ¹³C values. The trees showed a significant increase (+50%) in root biomass, but stem and leaf biomasses were not significantly affected by treatment. C isotope analyses of leaves and fine roots showed that the isotopic signal from the ambient and elevated CO₂ supply was sufficiently distinct from that of the C₄ soil to enable quantification of net root C input to the soil under both ambient and elevated CO₂. After 186 days, the pots under ambient conditions contained 3.5 g of C as intact root material, and had gained an additional 0.6 g C added to the soil through root exudation/turnover; comparable figures for the pots under elevated CO₂ were 5.9 g C and 1.5 g C, respectively. These data confirm the importance of soils as an enhanced sink for C under elevated atmospheric CO₂ concentrations. We propose the use of C₄ soils in elevated CO₂ experiments as an important technique for the quantification of root net C inputs under both ambient and elevated CO₂ treatments.     

A method for collecting soil percolate and soil solution in the field

Summary A soil-water extractor is described which uses an absorbent sponge material for sampling soil percolate and solution. Good agreement existed between soil extracts (1:5 soil:water) and extracts obtained from the extractor sponge after equilibration at low water tensions (pF 0–2.5) in the range, 0–100 g/g soil (0–1400 g/ml solution) for solute anions (Cl^-, NO₂ ^- and NO₃ ^–, R² > 0.98), and for ammonium ions (NH₄ ⁺, R²=0.93).Percolate was recovered in a field soil in volumes sufficient to permit analysis of constituents. Concentrations of solute Cl^- ions in these percolates were similar to those in the added water and in percolate from a zero-tension lysimeter. Poor relationships were obtained in the field between soil solution extracts from the sponge and 1:10 soil water extracts. For the present, the soil extractor may be used for sampling and monitoring movement of percolate and solute fronts, in the wetter range of soil water content.     

Mineralization of 14C-labelled maize in alkaline saline soils

The turnover of organic material determines the availability of plant nutrients in unfertilized soils, and this applies particularly to the alkaline saline soil of the former Lake Texcoco in Mexico. Uniformly labelled [¹⁴C] maize and its neutral detergent fibre (NDF) fraction, mainly containing cellulose and hemi-cellulose, were added to these soils to investigate dynamics of C and N and the importance of the NDF fraction. Soil with electrolytic conductivity (EC) of 1.2, 3.2, 24.6 and 32.7 dS m^–1 was incubated aerobically, while CO₂ and ¹⁴CO₂ production, and inorganic N dynamics (NH₄ ⁺, NO₂ ^–, NO₃ ^–) were monitored. The amount of ¹⁴C-labelled maize mineralized after 97 days was >500 mg C kg^–1 dry soil (D.S.) of the 1000 mg C kg^–1 D.S. added in soils with EC 24.6 dS m^–1, but only 257 mg C kg^–1 D.S. in soil with EC 32.7 dS m^–1. The decomposition of the NDF fraction showed a lag, greatest in the soil with the largest EC and the amount of ¹⁴C-labelled NDF fraction mineralized after 97 days was > 300 mg C kg^–1 D.S. in soils with EC 3.2 dS m^–1, but in the soil with EC 32.7 dS m^–1 it was only 118 mg C kg^–1D.S. Application of ¹⁴C-labelled maize and the NDF fraction induced a priming effect, most accentuated at the onset of the incubation. The ratio between the amount of CO₂ produced due to the priming effect and the ¹⁴CO₂ produced was 16-times larger when 250 mg maize-C kg^–1 D.S. was added and only 3-times when 2000 mg maize-C kg^–1 D.S. was added. Oxidation of NO₂ ^– occurred in soil with EC 32.7 dS m^–1 as witnessed by decreases in concentration of NO₂ ^– and increases in concentration of NO₃ ^–. It was found that EC affected the decomposition of maize, the NDF fraction and the priming effect. Decomposition of cellulose and oxidation of NO₂ ^– occurred in soil with EC 32.7 dS m^–1 although cellulolytic micro-organisms and autotrophic NO₂ ^– oxidizers could previously not be isolated from this soil.     

Enhanced nitrogen mineralization in mowed or glyphosate treated cover crops compared to direct incorporation

Information on how management by mowing and herbicide alter residue quality and nitrogen (N) inputs would be valuable to improve prediction of N availability. Mowing and glyphosate application are widely used by growers to limit cover crop growth and facilitate incorporation. A mixture of cover crops, hairy vetch (Vicia villosa L.), oriental mustard (Brassica junceaL.) and cereal rye (Secale cerealeL.), was investigated as a means to improve soil quality and optimize N availability. There is limited information on how mowing or glyphosate application influence cover crop decomposition and N mineralization from these heterogeneous residues. A rye cover crop was grown in the field over the winter and transferred to containers as an intact soil profile to conduct a greenhouse study. Management treatments (mowing and glyphosate) were imposed eight days before incorporation. Plant and soil N dynamics were monitored. The experiment was repeated with the addition of a tri-mixture cover crop. Inorganic NO₃^– in bare soil ranged from 6 to 10 g N g soil^–1 over 39 days. Similar or lower levels of soil NO₃^– were observed after rye residue incorporation, from 2 to 6 g N g^–1; consistent with N-immobilization. Application of untreated, mixed cover crop residues generally was associated with higher levels of soil inorganic NO₃^–, from 3 to 11 g N g^–1. For both rye and mixed residues, management by mowing or glyphosate enhanced N mineralization by 10 to 100%, compared to untreated residues. At the same time, application of mowing or glyphosate 8 days before cover crop incorporation seemed to reduce the amount of residues by about half compared to untreated controls. Belowground biomass was reduced more than aboveground, although recovery of senescent roots may have been incomplete. Management by glyphosate or mowing enhanced soil inorganic N availability in the short-term while simultaneously reducing carbon and N inputs.     

Spatial variability of NO and NO2 flux rates from soil of spruce and beech forest ecosystems

In order to evaluate differences in the magnitude of NO and NO₂ flux rates between soil areas in direct vicinity to tree stems and areas of increasing distance to tree stems, we followed in 1997 at the Höglwald Forest site with a fully automated measuring system a complete annual cycle of NO and NO₂ fluxes from soils of an untreated spruce stand, a limed spruce strand, and a beech stand using at each stand measuring chambers which were installed onto the soils in such a way that they formed a stem to stem gradient. Flux data obtained since the end of 1993 from measuring chambers placed at the interstem areas of the stands, which had been used for the calculation of the long year annual mean of NO and NO₂ flux rates from soils of the stands, are compared to both (a) those obtained from the interstem chambers in 1997 and (b) those from the stem to stem gradient chambers. Daily mean NO fluxes obtained in 1997 were in a range of 0.3 – 280.1 g NO-N m^–2 h^–1 at the untreated spruce stand, 0.5 – 273.2 g NO-N m^–2 h^–1 at the limed spruce stand and 0.5 - 368.8 g NO-N m^–2 h^–1 at the beech stand, respectively. Highest NO emission rates were observed during summer, lowest during winter. Daily mean NO₂ fluxes were in a range of –83.1 – 7.6 g NO₂-N m^–2 h^–1 at the untreated spruce stand, -85.1 – 2.1 g NO₂-N m^–2 h^–1 at the limed spruce stand and –77.9 to –2.0 g NO₂-N m^–2 h^–1 at the beech site, respectively. As had been observed for the years 1994–1996, also in 1997 NO emission rates were highest at the untreated spruce stand and lowest at the beech stand and liming of a spruce stand resulted in a significant decrease in NO emission rates. For NO₂ no marked differences in the magnitude of flux rates were found between the three different stands. Results obtained from the stem to stem gradient experiments revealed that at all stands studied NO emission rates were significantly higher (between 1.6- and 2.6-fold) from soil areas close to the tree stems and decreased – except at the beech stand - with increasing distance from the stems, while for NO₂ deposition no marked differences were found. Including the contribution of soil areas in direct vicinity to the beech stems in the estimation of the annual mean NO source strength revealed that the source strength has been underestimated by 40% in the past.     

Seasonal variability of apoplastic NH4 + and pH in an intensively managed grassland

The stomatal compensation point of ammonia (_s) is a major factor controlling the exchange of atmospheric ammonia (NH₃) with vegetation. It is known to depend on the supply of nitrogen and to vary among plant species, but its seasonal variation has not yet been reported for grassland. In this study, we present the temporal variation of apoplastic NH₄ ⁺ concentration ([NH₄ ⁺]_apo) and pH (pH_apo) measured in leaves of Lolium perenne L. in a grassland, through two periods of cutting / fertilisation, followed by a livestock grazing period. The total free NH₄ ⁺ concentration measured in foliage ([NH₄ ⁺]_fol), and soil mineral NH₄ ⁺ and NO₃ ^– concentration are also presented. The value of [NH₄ ⁺]_apo varied from less than 0.01 mM to a maximum of 0.5 mM occurring just after fertilisation, whereas the apoplastic pH ranged from pH 6 to 6.5 for most of the time and increased up to pH 7.8, 9 days after the second fertilisation, when grazing started. [NH₄ ⁺]_fol varied between 20 and 50 g N-NH₄ ⁺ g^–1 f.w. The compensation point at 20°C, ranged from 0.02 g NH₃ m^–3 between the fertilisations to 10 g NH₃ m^–3 just after the second fertilisation. The reasons for these seasonal changes are discussed, with respect to plant metabolism and the concentration of ammonium and nitrate in the soil.     

Nitrogen metabolism by heterotrophic bacterial assemblages in Antarctic coastal waters

Field studies to examine the in situ assimilation and production of ammonium (NH₄ ⁺) by bacterial assemblages were conducted in the northern Gerlache Strait region of the Antarctic Peninsula. Short term incubations of surface waters containing ¹⁵N-NH₄ ⁺ as a tracer showed the bacterial population taking up 0.041–0.128 g-atoms Nl^–1d^–1, which was 8–25% of total NH₄ ⁺ uptake rates. The large bacterial uptake of NH₄ ⁺ occurred even at low bacterial abundance during a rich phytoplankton bloom. Estimates of bacterial production using ³H-leucine and -adenine were l.0gCl^–1 d^–1 before the bloom and 16.2 g Cl^–1 d^–1 at the bloom peak. After converting bacterial carbon production to an estimate of nitrogen demand, NH₄ ⁺ was found to supply 35–60% of bacterial nitrogen requirements. Bacterial nitrogen demand was also supported by dissolved organic nitrogen, generally in the form of amino acids. It was estimated, however, that 20–50% of the total amino acids taken up were mineralized to NH₄ ⁺. Bacterial production of NH₄ ⁺ was occurring simultaneously to its uptake and contributed 27–55% of total regenerated NH₄ ⁺ in surface waters. Using a variety of ¹⁵N-labelled amino acids it was found that the bacteria metabolized each amino acid differently. With their large mineralization of amino acids and their relatively low sinking rates, bacteria appear to be responsible for a large portion of organic matter recycling in the upper surface waters of the coastal Antarctic ecosystem.     

Diurnal changes in nitric oxide emissions from conventional tillage and pasture sites in the Amazon Basin: influence of soil temperature

We have investigated a subset of restoration practices applied to a degraded pasture at Fazenda Nova Vida, a 22000 ha cattle ranch in Rond^onia, Brazil. Nitric oxide (NO) and carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions from soils were measured in conventional tillage and current pasture sites to assess N and C losses. Mean daily NO emissions from tilled plots were at least twice those from the pasture. Nitric oxide emissions from the tilled sites showed a strong diurnal pattern, while those from the pasture sites did not. Mean daytime NO emissions from the tilled sites were 9.7 g NO-N m^–2 h^–1, while mean nighttime emissions were 29.7 g NO-N m^–2 h^–1. In the pasture sites, NO emissions were 7.6 g NO-N m^–2 h^–1 during the day, and 7.7 g NO-N m^–2 h^–1 at night. Surface soil temperature was a good inverse predictor (r ²=0.75) of NO emissions from the tilled sites. Carbon dioxide emissions from the tilled sites were generally larger than CO₂ emissions from the pasture sites. The mean CO₂ emission rate from the tilled sites was 179 mg C m^–2 h^–1, while it was 123 mg C m^–2 h^–1 from the pasture sites. There was no distinct diurnal pattern for CO₂ emissions. We found that the very high temperatures measured at the soil surface in the tillage plots, in the range of 40–45°C, reduced the rate of NO emission. The reduction in NO emissions may be because of the sensitivity of autotrophic nitrifiers to high temperatures. This study provides insights on how land-use change may alter regional NO fluxes by exposing certain microbial communities to extreme environmental conditions. Future studies of NO emissions in tropical agricultural systems where soils are bare for extend periods need to make diurnal measurements or the daily fluxes will be substantially underestimated.     

Effects of cadmium,lead, and sodium salts on nitrification in a mull soil

Summary Increasing amounts of Cd, Pb, and Na salts were added to a fresh mull soil and the NO₃ and NH₄ concentrations measured after 2–8 weeks of incubation. The highest amounts used (CdCl₂ 9–18 mol/g dry weight, CdAc₂ 9–22 mol/g, PbAc₂ 121 mol/g and NaAc 250 mol/g) significantly increased NO₃ accumulation. Lower concentrations had either no effect or caused a slight decrease. re]19730529     

Losses of inorganic carbon and nitrous oxide from a temperate freshwater wetland in relation to nitrate loading

We studied the export of inorganic carbon and nitrous oxide (N₂O) from a Danish freshwater wetland. The wetland is situated in an agricultural catchment area and is recharged by groundwater enriched with nitrate (NO₃ ^–) (1000 M). NO₃ ^– in recharging groundwater was reduced (57.5 mol NO₃ ^– m^–2 yr^–) within a narrow zone of the wetland. Congruently, the annual efflux of carbon dioxide (CO₂) from the sediment was 19.1 mol C m^–2 when estimated from monthly in situ measurements. In comparison the CO₂ efflux was 4.8 mol C m^–2 yr^–1 further out in the wetland, where no NO₃ ^– reduction occurred. Annual exports of inorganic carbon in groundwater and surface water was 78.4 mol C m^–2 and 6.1 mol C m^–2 at the two sites, respectively. N₂O efflux from the sedimenst was detectable on five out of twelve sampling dates and was significantly (P < 0.0001) higher in the NO₃ ^– reduction zone (0.35–9.40 mol m^–2 h^–1, range of monthly means) than in the zone without NO₃ ^– reduction (0.21–0.41 mol m^–2 h^–1). No loss of dissolved N₂O could be measured. Total annual export of N₂O was not estimated. The reduction of oxygen (O₂) in groundwater was minor throughout the wetland and did not exceed 0.2 mol 0₂ m^–2yr^–1. Sulfate (SO₄ ^––) was reduced in groundwater (2.1 mol SO₄ ^–– m^–2 yr^–1) in the zone without NO₃ ^– reduction. Although the NO₃ ^– in our wetland can be reduced along several pathways our results strongly suggest that NO₃ ^– loading of freshwater wetlands disturb the carbon balance of such areas, resulting in an accelerated loss of inorganic carbon in gaseous and dissolved forms.     

Turnover and distribution of root exudates of Zea mays

Decomposition and distribution of root exudates of Zea mays L. were studied by means of ¹⁴CO₂ pulse labeling of shoots on a loamy Haplic Luvisol. Plants were grown in two-compartment pots, where the lower part was separated from the roots by monofilament gauze. Root hairs, but not roots, penetrated through the gauze into the lower part of the soil. The root-free soil in the lower compartment was either sterilized with cycloheximide and streptomycin or remained non-sterile. In order to investigate exudate distribution, 3 days after the ¹⁴C labeling, the lower soil part was frozen and sliced into 15, one-mm thick layers using a microtome. Cumulative ¹⁴CO₂ efflux from the soil during the first 3 days after ¹⁴C pulse labeling did not change during plant growth and amounted to about 13–20% of the total recovered ¹⁴C (41–55% of the carbon translocated below ground). Nighttime rate of total CO₂ efflux was 1.5 times lower than during daytime because of tight coupling of exudation with photosynthesis intensity. The average CO₂ efflux from the soil with Zea mays was about 74 g C g^–1 day^–1 (22 g C m^–2 day^–1), although, the contribution of plant roots to the total CO₂ efflux from the soil was about 78%, and only 22% was respired from the soil organic matter. Zea mays transferred about 4 g m^–2 of carbon under ground during 26 days of growth. Three zones of exudate concentrations were identified from the distribution of the ¹⁴C-activity in rhizosphere profiles after two labeling periods: (1) 1–2 (3) mm (maximal concentration of exudates) 2) 3–5 mm (presence of exudates is caused by their diffusion from the zone 1); (3) 6–10 mm (very insignificant amounts of exudates diffused from the previous zones). At the distance further than 10 mm no exudates were found. The calculated coefficient of exudate diffusion in the soil was 1.9 × 10^–7 cm² s^–1.     

Influence of acid rain and liming on fluxes of NO and NO2 from forest soil

Flux measurements of nitric oxide (NO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) were performed in a coniferous forest (Höglwald) in southern Germany using a fully automated measuring system based on the dynamic chamber method. The forest soil was predominately a source of NO, but mean flux rates of NO ranged from –26.3 (deposition) to 55 g N m^-2 h_-1 (emission). NO₂ was deposited on the forest soil with mean flux rates ranging from –4 to –72 g N m^-2 h_-1 . Removal of forest floor vegetation did not influence NO or NO₂ fluxes. Apparently, forest floor vegetation was neither a source of NO nor a significant sink of NO₂. When the organic layer of the forest soil was removed, net NO flux changed from emission to deposition. Thus NO emitted to the atmosphere was produced almost exclusively in the organic layer of the forest soil. Liming caused a significant decrease in the rate of NO emission by 43 to 100%, whereas irrigation with simulated acid rain increased the emission of NO by a factor of 3.1. Irrigation with simulated normal rain decreased the emission of NO by 35 to 100%. No such effects could be detected for the deposition of NO₂.     

Interactions of elevated CO2, NH3 and O3 on mycorrhizal infection,gas exchange and N metabolism in saplings of Scots pine

Four-year-old saplings of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) (L.) were exposed for 11 weeks in controlled-environment chambers to charcoad-filtered air, or to charcoal-filtered air supplemented with NH₃ (40 g m^–3), O₃ (110 g m^–3 during day/ 40 g m^–3 during night) or NH₃+O₃. All treatments were carried out at ambient (259 L L^–1) and at elevated CO₂ concentration (700 L L^–1). Total tree biomass, mycorrhizal infection, net CO₂ assimilation (P_n), stomatal conductance (g_s), transpiration of the shoots and NH₃ metabolization of the needles were measured. In ambient CO₂ (1) gaseous NH₃ decreased mycorrhizal infection, without significantly affecting tree biomass or N concentration and it enhanced the activity of glutamine synthetase (GS) and glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) in one-year-old needles; (2) ozone decreased mycorrhizal infection and the acitivity of GS in the needles, while it increased the activity og GDH; (3) exposure to NH₃+O₃ lessened the effects of single exposures to NH₃ and O₃ on reduction of mycorrhizal infection and on increase in GDH activity. Similar lessing effects on mycorrhizal infection as observed in trees exposed to NH₃+O₃ at ambient CO₂, were measured in trees exposed to NH₃+O₃ at elevated CO₂. Exposure to elevated CO₂ without pollutants did not significantly affect any of the parameters studied, except for a decrease in the concentration of soluble proteins in the needles. Elevated CO₂ _NH₃ strongly decreased root branching and mycorrhizal infection and temporarily stimulated P_n and g_s. The exposure to elevated CO₂+NH₃+O₃ also transiently stimulated P_n. The possible mechanisms underlying and integrating these effects are discussed. Elevated CO₂ clearly did not alleviate the negative effects of NH₃ and O₃ mycoorhiral infection. The significant reduction of mycorrhizal infection after exposure to NH₃ or O₃, observed before significant changes in gas exchange or growth occurred, suggest the use of mycorrhizal infection as an early indicator for NH₃ and O₃ induced stress.Abbreviations DW dry weight - FA filtered air - FA_a filtered air at ambient CO₂ - FA_e filtered air at elevated CO₂ - FW fresh weight - GDH glutamate dehydrogenase - GS glutamine synthetase - g_s stomatal conductance - P_n net CO₂ assimilation - RWR root weight ratio - SRL specific root length     

Elevated CO2 and temperature effects on soil carbon and nitrogen cycling in ryegrass/white clover turves of an Endoaquept soil

Effects of elevated CO₂ (700 L L^–1) and a control (350 L L^–1 CO₂) on the productivity of a 3-year-old ryegrass/white clover pasture, and on soil biochemical properties, were investigated with turves of a Typic Endoaquept soil in growth chambers. Temperature treatments corresponding to average winter, spring, and summer conditions in the field were applied consecutively to all of the turves. An additional treatment, at 700 L L^–1 CO₂ and a temperature 6°C higher throughout than in the other treatments, was included.Under the same temperature conditions, overall herbage yields in the 700 L L^–1 CO₂ treatment were ca. 7% greater than in the control at the end of the summer period. Root mass (to ca 25 cm depth) in the 700 L L^–1 CO₂ treatment was then about 50% greater than in the control, but in the 700 L L^–1 CO₂+6°C treatment it was 6% lower than in the control. Based on decomposition results, herbage from the 700 L L^–1+6°C treatment probably contained the highest proportion of readily decomposable components.Elevated CO₂ had no consistent effect on soil total C and N, microbial C and N, or extractable C concentrations in any of the treatments. Under the same temperature conditions, it did, however, enhance soil respiration (CO₂-C production) and invertase activity. The effects of elevated CO₂ on rates of net N mineralization were less distinct, and the apparent availability of N for the sward was not affected. Under elevated CO₂, soil in the higher-temperature treatment had a higher microbial C:N ratio; it also had a greater potential to degrade plant materials.Data interpretation was complicated by soil spatial variability and the moderately high background levels of organic matter and biochemical properties that are typical of New Zealand pasture soils. More rapid cycling of C under CO₂ enrichment is, nevertheless, indicated. Futher long-term experiments are required to determine the overall effect of elevated CO₂ on the soil C balance.     

Control of carbon mineralization to CH4 and CO2 in anaerobic,Sphagnum-derived peat from Big Run Bog,West Virginia

The mineralization of organic carbon to CH₄ and CO₂ inSphagnum-derived peat from Big Run Bog, West Virginia, was measured at 4 times in the year (February, May, September, and November) using anaerobic, peat-slurry incubations. Rates of both CH₄ production and CO₂ production changed seasonally in surface peat (0–25 cm depth), but were the same on each collection date in deep peat (30–45 cm depth). Methane production in surface peat ranged from 0.2 to 18.8 mol mol(C)^–1 hr^–1 (or 0.07 to 10.4 g(CH₄) g^–1 hr^–1) between the February and September collections, respectively, and was approximately 1 mol mol(C)^–1 hr^–1 in deep peat. Carbon dioxide production in surface peat ranged from 3.2 to 20 mol mol(C)^–1 hr^–1 (or 4.8 to 30.3 g(CO₂) g^–1 hr^–1) between the February and September collections, respectively, and was about 4 mol mol(C)^–1 hr^–1 in deep peat. In surface peat, temperature the master variable controlling the seasonal pattern in CO₂ production, but the rate of CH₄ production still had the lowest values in the February collection even when the peat was incubated at 19°C. The addition of glucose, acetate, and H₂ to the peat-slurry did not stimulate CH₄ production in surface peat, indicating that CH₄ production in the winter was limited by factors other than glucose degradation products. The low rate of carbon mineralization in deep peat was due, in part, to poor chemical quality of the peat, because adding glucose and hydrogen directly stimulated CH₄ production, and CO₂ production to a lesser extent. Acetate was utilized in the peat by methanogens, but became a toxin at low pH values. The addition of SO₄ ^2– to the peat-slurry inhibited CH4 production in surface peat, as expected, but surprisingly increased carbon mineralization through CH4 production in deep peat. Carbon mineralization under anaerobic conditions is of sufficient magnitude to have a major influence on peat accumulation and helps to explain the thin (< 2 m deep), old (> 13,000 yr) peat deposit found in Big Run Bog.     

Effects of elevated CO2 and nitrogen on nutrient uptake in ponderosa pine seedlings

This paper reports on the results of a controlled-environment study on the effects of CO₂ (370, 525, and 700 mol mol^-1) and N [0, 200, and 400 g N g soil^-1 as (NH₄)SO₄] on ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) seedlings. Based upon a review of the literature, we hypothesized that N limitations would not prevent a growth response to elevated CO₂. The hypothesis was not supported under conditions of extreme N deficiency (no fertilizer added to a very poor soil), but was supported when N limitations were less severe but still suboptimal (lower rate of fertilization). The growth increases in N-fertilized seedlings occurred mainly between 36 and 58 weeks without any additional N uptake. Thus, it appeared that elevated CO₂ allowed more efficient use of internal N reserves in the previously-fertilized seedlings, whereas internal N reserves in the unfertilized seedlings were insufficient to allow this response. Uptake rates of other nutrients were generally proportional to growth. Nitrogen treatment caused reductions in soil exchangeable K⁺, Ca²⁺, and Mg²⁺ (presumably because of nitrification and NO₃ ^- leaching) but increases in extractable P (presumably due to stimulation of phosphatase activity).The results of this and other seedling studies show that elevated CO₂ causes a reduction in tissue N concentration, even under N-rich conditions. The unique response of N is consistent with the hypothesis that the efficiency of Rubisco increases with elevated CO₂. These results collectively have significant implications for the response of mature, N-deficient forests to evevated CO₂.