三种苔藓植物对模拟N沉降的生理响应

该文研究了华南地区常见的3种苔藓植物大灰藓(Hypnum plumaeforme)、刺边小金发藓拟刺亚种(Pogonatum cirratum subsp. fuscatum)和石地钱(Reboulia hemisphaerica)在模拟N沉降条件下碳氮代谢的响应特征, 探讨了N沉降对这3种苔藓植物生长的影响。结果表明: 3种植物对N沉降的响应存在差异。大灰藓在加氮浓度为0 ~ 60 kg N·hm^-2的范围内, 光合速率、淀粉、可溶性糖、总氮及可溶性蛋白的含量均随加氮浓度的升高而上升; 对照条件下NR(硝酸还原酶)可诱导活性很高, 表明其对氮的需求强烈; 膜K⁺渗漏在加氮浓度为20 kg N·hm^-2时高于对照, 但更高的加氮浓度下并未使其进一步上升。刺边小金发藓拟刺亚种在加氮浓度为0~40 kg N·hm^-2的范围内, 碳氮代谢的多数指标的变化趋势与大灰藓相似, 但当N沉降高于40 kg N·hm^-2时, 呈现相反的变化趋势; 在对照条件下具一定的NR可诱导活性, 但人工加氮使其可诱导活性急剧下降。石地钱的可溶性糖及可溶性蛋白含量在不同处理条件下变化不明显, 但光合速率和淀粉含量在加氮浓度为20和40 kg N·hm^-2时低于对照及加氮浓度为60 kg N·hm^-2时, 而植物总氮含量的变化趋势刚好相反; NR固有活性及可诱导活性在各种N处理条件下均极低, 显示其对NO₃^-利用率低。刺边小金发藓拟刺亚种和石地钱的膜K⁺渗漏仅在60 kg N·hm^-2处理时显著上升。     

九寨沟两种常见藓类植物对模拟氮沉降的生理响应

为探讨氮沉降对九寨沟藓类植物的影响，该研究以当地优势藓类植物锦丝藓(Actinothuidium hookeri)和塔藓(Hylocomium splendens)为对象，以NH₄NO₃为氮源，设置对照(0 kg N·hm^-2·a^-1)、低浓度(20 kg N·hm^-2·a^-1)、高浓度(50 kg N·hm^-2·a^-1)3种处理，开展为期6个月的氮沉降模拟实验。结果表明：(1)氮沉降处理导致两种藓类植物的活性氧、丙二醛、叶绿素、脯氨酸和可溶性蛋白含量显著增加，同时锦丝藓过氧化氢酶、过氧化物酶、超氧化物歧化酶、抗坏血酸过氧化物酶活性增加。(2)对于生长旺期和生长末期的塔藓，氮沉降导致其过氧化物酶、过氧化氢酶、抗坏血酸过氧化物酶活性降低。(3)锦丝藓的综合隶属函数值随氮沉降浓度增大而增加，在生长旺期和生长末期，塔藓综合隶属函数值对氮沉降的响应存在差异。综上认为，两种藓类植物对氮沉降处理的生理响应存在差异，高浓度氮沉...     

中国东部地区无机氮湿沉降: 南-北不同类型监测点的比较

中国被认为是全球氮沉降热点地区之一,东部地区作为经济发达和人口密集区域,更是人为活性氮大气排放和沉降的高发区,但针对我国整个东部不同生态系统的氮沉降及其南北区域特征差异的报导较少.2011—2013年,选择在我国东部的12个监测点(南北各6个,均包括城市、农村和背景点3种类型)利用传统雨量器(型号SDM6A)进行连续3年的氮素湿沉降观测.结果表明: 监测点降水中铵态氮、硝态氮和总无机氮沉降浓度波动范围分别为0.62～2.76、0.54～2.50和1.25～4.92 mg N·L^-1,平均浓度分别为1.4、1.5和2.9 mg N·L^-1,北方监测点的雨水中各活性氮浓度均高于南方监测点.12个监测点降水中铵态氮、硝态氮和总无机氮的湿沉降量的波动范围分别为7.0～18.3、6.9～18.9和14.9～32.6 kg N·hm^-2·a^-1,平均值分别为11.5、12.2和23.7 kg N·hm^-2·a^-1.北方不同类型监测点间存在显著差异,表现为:城市监测点(26.3±6.4 kg N·hm^-2·a^-1)>农村监测点(21.8±3.5 kg N·hm^-2·a^-1)>背景点(15.5±1.3 kg N·hm^-2·a^-1);与之相反,南方各监测点氮素湿沉降无显著差异,城市、农村和背景点的湿沉降量分别为(26.8±2.7)、(25.5±2.9)和(20.5±2.4) kg N·hm^-2·a^-1.除城市监测点外,南方的农村和背景点的氮素湿沉降量均高于北方相应类型的监测点.表明我国东部的南北各区域(包括背景地区)均面临较高水平的大气氮沉降,其引发的生态环境风险问题应加以重视.     

大气CO2浓度升高和N沉降对南亚热带主要乡土树种叶片元素含量的影响

大气CO₂浓度升高和N沉降以及二者之间的耦合作用对陆地森林生态系统的影响是当前国际生态学界关注的热点之一。该实验运用大型开顶箱(open-top chamber, OTC)研究: 1)高CO₂浓度(700 μmol×mol^-1) +高N沉降(100 kg N×hm^-2×a^-1) (CN); 2)高CO₂浓度(700 μmol×mol^-1)和背景N沉降(CC); 3)高N沉降(100 kg N×hm^-2×a^-1)和背景CO₂浓度(NN); 4)背景CO₂和背景N沉降(CK) 4种处理对南亚热带主要乡土树种木荷(Schima superba)、红锥(Castanopsis hystrix)、肖蒲桃(Acmena acuminatissima)、红鳞蒲桃(Syzygium hancei)、海南红豆(Ormosia pinnata)叶片元素含量的影响。研究结果表明, 大气CO₂浓度升高对5种乡土树种叶片元素含量有较大的影响, 除海南红豆叶片的Ca含量外, 其他树种的叶片元素含量在高CO₂浓度处理下都显著升高(p < 0.05); 而在N沉降处理下, 5个树种的叶片K和Ca含量都降低。大气CO₂浓度升高与N沉降处理对5种乡土树种植物叶片元素含量影响的交互作用不是很明显, 仅仅木荷和红鳞蒲桃的叶片Ca和Mn以及海南红豆的叶片Mn含量在大气CO₂浓度上升和N沉降交互处理下显著下降, 而肖蒲桃的叶片P含量在大气CO₂浓度上升和N沉降交互处理下显著上升。     

氮添加对东北红豆杉幼苗生长发育及生理特征的影响

为探究氮添加对濒危植物东北红豆杉幼苗生长-防御权衡的影响,为该物种的保护工作提供理论依据,本研究以东北红豆杉4年生幼苗为对象,进行了3种氮源(硫酸铵、硝酸铵和硝酸钾)和4个施氮量(30、60、90、120 kg N·hm^-2·a^-1)的氮添加实验。结果表明：(1)东北红豆杉幼苗的苗高增长量、地径增长量和总生物量随施氮量增加显著增加,施氮量超过90 kg N·hm^-2·a^-1后地径增长量和总生物量开始下降,施氮处理的幼苗根冠比显著低于对照组,但在不同施氮量下无显著差异;(2)净光合速率(P_n)和气孔导度在氮添加处理后显著提高,在施氮量为90 kg N·hm^-2·a^-1时达峰值,胞间CO₂浓度与P_n的变化方向相反,说明氮添加可以缓解植物的非气孔限制;(3)黄酮类化合物含量在施氮后呈现先增高后降低的趋势,施氮量30 kg N·hm^-2·a^-1为转折点;(...     

模拟氮沉降降低亚热带米槠天然林土壤氧化亚氮排放潜势

我国亚热带地区大气氮沉降量逐年上升,对森林土壤生物地球化学循环造成严重影响。本研究设置了对照(不添加氮)、低氮(40 kg·hm^-2·a^-1)和高氮(80 kg·hm^-2·a^-1)处理,分析了亚热带米槠天然林土壤反硝化功能基因丰度和N₂O排放潜势对氮沉降的响应。结果表明: 高氮处理显著降低土壤N₂O排放潜势。长期(8年)氮沉降对nirS、nirK、nosZ Ⅰ和nosZ Ⅱ基因丰度均无显著影响,但nosZ Ⅰ丰度均显著高于nosZ Ⅱ丰度,表明nosZ Ⅰ在酸性森林土壤中占主导。与对照相比,高氮处理显著降低(nirK+nirS)/(nosZ Ⅰ+nosZ Ⅱ)值。(nirK+nirS)/(nosZ Ⅰ+nosZ Ⅱ)值与土壤pH值呈显著正相关。长期高氮沉降可能通过降低土壤pH值使得土壤(nirK+nirS)/(nosZ Ⅰ+nosZ Ⅱ)值下降,从而降低森林土壤N₂O排放潜势。     

氮沉降对黄河三角洲芦苇湿地土壤呼吸的影响

2012年6月至2012年10月, 对黄河三角洲芦苇(Phragmites australis)湿地进行了模拟氮沉降试验, 氮沉降水平分别为对照(CK, 0 kg N·hm^-2·a^-1)、低氮(LN, 50 kg N·hm^-2·a^-1)和高氮(HN, 100 kg N·hm^-2·a^-1)。利用LI-8100土壤碳通量测量系统测定土壤呼吸速率。结果表明, 氮沉降促进了芦苇湿地土壤呼吸作用, LN和HN处理使芦苇生长季(6-10月)平均土壤呼吸速率比CK分别提高19%和58%。积水改变了芦苇湿地土壤呼吸日动态。地面无积水时, 各处理土壤呼吸日动态均呈单峰型曲线; 地面有积水时, 土壤呼吸日动态峰值推后或无单峰型波动规律。积水影响土壤呼吸作用对温度的响应。地面无积水时, 各处理土壤呼吸速率均与气温呈极显著的正指数相关关系, 气温分别解释了CK、LN和HN处理下土壤呼吸季节变化的69.9%、64.5%和59.9%; 地面有积水时, 各处理土壤呼吸与气温相关性不显著。CK、LN和HN处理下土壤呼吸温度敏感性系数Q₁₀值分别为1.68、1.75和1.68, 表明LN处理增强了土壤呼吸温度敏感性, HN处理对其影响不显著。     

氮添加诱导的磷限制改变了亚热带黄山松林土壤微生物群落结构

土壤微生物在陆地生态系统的生物地球化学循环中起着重要作用。然而目前尚不清楚氮(N)添加量及其持续时间如何影响土壤微生物群落结构,以及微生物群落结构变化与微生物相对养分限制状况是否存在关联。本研究在亚热带黄山松林开展了N添加试验以模拟N沉降,并设置3个处理:对照(CK, 0 kg N·hm^-2·a^-1)、低N(LN, 40 kg N·hm^-2·a^-1)和高N(HN, 80 kg N·hm^-2·a^-1)。在N添加满1年和3年时测定土壤基本理化性质、磷脂脂肪酸含量和碳(C)、N、磷(P)获取酶活性,并通过生态酶化学计量分析土壤微生物的相对养分限制状况。结果表明: 1年N添加对土壤微生物群落结构无显著影响,3年LN处理显著提高了革兰氏阳性菌(G⁺)、革兰氏阴性菌(G^-)、放线菌(ACT)和总磷脂脂肪酸(TPLFA)含量,而3年HN处理对微生物的影响不显著,表明细菌和ACT对N添加可能更为敏感。N添加加剧了微生物C和P限制,而P限制是土壤微生物群落结构变化的最佳解释因子。这表明,N添加诱导的P限制可能更有利于部分贫营养菌(如G⁺)和参与P循环的微生物(如ACT)的生长,从而改变亚热带黄山松林土壤微生物群落结构。     

亚热带杉木林土壤有机碳及其活性组分对氮磷添加的响应

通过野外氮、磷添加,分析N₀(0 kg N·hm^-2·a^-1)、N₁(50 kg N·hm^-2·a^-1)、N₂(100 kg N·hm^-2·a^-1)、P(50 kg P·hm^-2·a^-1)、N₁P和N₂P等6种处理3年后对亚热带杉木人工林土壤有机碳(SOC)、颗粒有机碳(POC)和水溶性有机碳(WSOC)的影响.结果表明:氮、磷添加对0～20 cm土层SOC含量无显著影响.磷添加显著降低0～5 cm土层POC含量,与无磷处理相比,加磷处理POC含量降低26.1%.WSOC含量对氮、磷添加的响应主要表现在0～5 cm土层,低水平氮添加和磷添加显著提高WSOC含量.在0～5 cm土层,氮添加对POC/SOC值无显著影响,而与无磷添加相比,POC/SOC值在磷添加处理下显著降低15.9%.在5～10和10～20 cm土层,氮、磷添加处理对POC/SOC值无显著影响.在亚热带地区,森林土壤碳稳定性主要受磷含量的调控,短期磷添加易导致表层土壤活性有机碳分解,增加土壤碳稳定性.     

氮添加对天然油松林油松不同器官N-P分配策略的影响

作为植物重要器官,叶、茎、根对环境变化的响应策略一直是生态学研究的重要课题。然而,植物不同器官的氮-磷(Nitrogen-Phosphorus)分配策略对氮沉降的响应规律仍不清楚。为了揭示不同器官的养分对氮添加的响应规律,本研究以山西太岳山天然油松林为研究对象,设置4个人工氮添加水平,分别为对照(CK, 0 kg hm^-2 a^-1)、低氮(LN, 50 kg hm^-2 a^-1)、中氮(MN, 100 kg hm^-2 a^-1)和高氮(HN, 150 kg hm^-2 a^-1),模拟氮沉降对油松不同器官N-P分配策略的影响。实验结果表明:1)随着氮添加浓度的增加,茎N含量显著降低(P<0.05),根N含量显著增加(P<0.05);茎P含量在低氮条件下与其他氮添加水平相比显著降低(P<0.05);叶N∶P在低氮条件下与其他氮添加水平相比显著增加(P<0.05),茎N∶P在高氮条件下与其他氮添加水平...     

Future climate change effects on US forest composition may offset benefits of reduced atmospheric deposition of N and S

Climate change and atmospheric deposition of nitrogen (N) and sulfur (S) are important drivers of forest demography. Here we apply previously derived growth and survival responses for 94 tree species, representing >90% of the contiguous US forest basal area, to project how changes in mean annual temperature, precipitation, and N and S deposition from 20 different future scenarios may affect forest composition to 2100. We find that under the low climate change scenario (RCP 4.5), reductions in aboveground tree biomass from higher temperatures are roughly offset by increases in aboveground tree biomass from reductions in N and S deposition. However, under the higher climate change scenario (RCP 8.5) the decreases from climate change overwhelm increases from reductions in N and S deposition. These broad trends underlie wide variation among species. We found averaged across temperature scenarios the relative abundance of 60 species were projected to decrease more than 5% and 20 species were projected to increase more than 5%; and reductions of N and S deposition led to a decrease for 13 species and an increase for 40 species. This suggests large shifts in the composition of US forests in the future. Negative climate effects were mostly from elevated temperature and were not offset by scenarios with wetter conditions. We found that by 2100 an estimated 1 billion trees under the RCP 4.5 scenario and 20 billion trees under the RCP 8.5 scenario may be pushed outside the temperature record upon which these relationships were derived. These results may not fully capture future changes in forest composition as several other factors were not included. Overall efforts to reduce atmospheric deposition of N and S will likely be insufficient to overcome climate change impacts on forest demography across much of the United States unless we adhere to the low climate change scenario.     

The likely impact of elevated [CO2], nitrogen deposition, increased temperature and management on carbon sequestration in temperate and boreal forest ecosystems: a literature review

Temperate and boreal forest ecosystems contain a large part of the carbon stored on land, in the form of both biomass and soil organic matter. Increasing atmospheric [CO2], increasing temperature, elevated nitrogen deposition and intensified management will change this C store. Well documented single-factor responses of net primary production are: higher photosynthetic rate (the main [CO2] response); increasing length of growing season (the main temperature response); and higher leaf-area index (the main N deposition and partly [CO2] response). Soil organic matter will increase with increasing litter input, although priming may decrease the soil C stock initially, but litter quality effects should be minimal (response to [CO2], N deposition, and temperature); will decrease because of increasing temperature; and will increase because of retardation of decomposition with N deposition, although the rate of decomposition of high-quality litter can be increased and that of low-quality litter decreased. Single-factor responses can be misleading because of interactions between factors, in particular those between N and other factors, and indirect effects such as increased N availability from temperature-induced decomposition. In the long term the strength of feedbacks, for example the increasing demand for N from increased growth, will dominate over short-term responses to single factors. However, management has considerable potential for controlling the C store.     

模拟氮沉降和干旱对准噶尔盆地两种一年生荒漠植物生长和光合生理的影响

氮素和水分是荒漠生态系统的两个主要限制因子, 研究两者对荒漠植物的效应有助于深入了解荒漠生态系统对全球变化的响应。该文选择准噶尔盆地荒漠地区两种常见的一年生植物涩荠(Malcolmia africana)和钩刺雾冰藜(Bassia hyssopifolia), 设置0、0.18和0.72 g N·m ^-2·week ^-13个施氮浓度和湿润与干旱两个土壤水分处理, 研究模拟氮沉降增加和干旱对其生长和光合生理的影响。结果表明: (1)两种植物的根长、根重、叶片数、叶面积、总生物量和冠根比均随着施氮浓度的增加而增加, 干旱能够抑制氮对植物生长的促进作用, 但是, 氮的增加同时也能部分缓解干旱对植物生长的影响。与钩刺雾冰藜相比, 涩荠的根长、生物量和冠根比更易受氮增加和干旱的影响。(2)两种植物的最大净光合速率、叶绿素含量、可溶性蛋白含量随着氮浓度增加而增加, 但涩荠和钩刺雾冰藜对氮增加和干旱的生理响应也有所不同, 涩荠的响应更加敏感。两种植物对氮沉降和干旱胁迫响应的差异可能是其生活型等生物学特性差异所引起。通过对两种一年生植物的生长和光合生理分析表明, 在古尔班通古特沙漠, 春季丰富的降水和氮素增加将有利于涩荠和钩刺雾冰藜的生长和生产力的增加, 相对地下生长, 地上部分增加更显著。当干旱季节来临时, 氮的增加又能够在一定程度上降低干旱对这两种植物的负效应, 说明其对干旱具有一定的生态补偿作用。     

Soil cadmium toxicity and nitrogen deposition differently affect growth and physiology in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Toxicodendron vernicifluum</Emphasis> seedlings

To ultimately determine whether different levels of soil nitrogen (N) deposition can modify the detrimental effects of cadmium (Cd), the seedlings of Toxicodendron vernicifluum (Strokes) F. A. Barkley were exposed to soil Cd stress (0, 5 and 15 mg kg^?1 dry soil), N deposition (0, 13 and 40 mg kg^?1 dry soil) and their combinations. Soil Cd stress caused damage in plant growth, photosynthesis and other physiological indexes, and in the ultrastructure of mesophyll cells. The effects of N deposition on growth, lipid peroxidation and enzyme activities depended on the relative amounts of N supplied. The combination of low N deposition and Cd stress was positive to plant growth, photosynthesis and enzyme activities, and it caused lower levels of Cd accumulation and lipid peroxidation compared with the effect of Cd stress alone. The combination of high N deposition and Cd stress led to a higher Cd accumulation and lipid peroxidation, and to lower enzyme activities, as compared with the effect of Cd stress alone. T. vernicifluum was found to be sensitive to soil Cd stress. Soil Cd had detrimental effects on T. vernicifluum seedlings, but the tolerance of T. vernicifluum to Cd increased under low N deposition.     

不同氮素水平辣椒幼苗对低温响应的差异

为研究低温对不同氮素水平辣椒幼苗生长的影响,在2228℃条件下分别用0.00g·L-1,2.00g·L-1和3.00g·L-13个浓度尿素水溶液培养的3个品种辣椒4叶1心期幼苗在人工气候箱内进行低温处理。结果显示:3个辣椒品种幼苗对相同低温的响应存在差异,其受低温危害由轻到重依次为中椒四号、市祥206和红龙。3个氮素水平下培养的3个品种辣椒幼苗进行连续3d11.0/5.0℃(Ⅲ)低温处理后,均危害严重,各项生理指标与对照差异显著,不能恢复正常生长,危害的程度因品种和氮素水平高低存在差异,氮素水平愈低受害愈重。连续3d15.0/9.0℃(Ⅰ)或13/7℃(Ⅱ)对辣椒幼苗处理后,受危害的程度仍因品种和氮素水平高低存在明显差异,但各项生理指标与对照差异显著减小,均能恢复生长,且氮素水平愈高,与对照的差异愈小。氮素水平影响辣椒幼苗对低温的响应,浓度较高时(3.00g·L-1)辣椒幼苗抵御低温的能力较强,较高的氮素水平虽能减轻低温对辣椒幼苗的影响程度,却不能完全抵消低温的危害。     

Nitrogen Deposition Reduces Plant Diversity and Alters Ecosystem Functioning: Field-Scale Evidence from a Nationwide Survey of UK Heathlands

Findings from nitrogen (N) manipulation studies have provided strong evidence of the detrimental impacts of elevated N deposition on the structure and functioning of heathland ecosystems. Few studies, however, have sought to establish whether experimentally observed responses are also apparent under natural, field conditions. This paper presents the findings of a nationwide field-scale evaluation of British heathlands, across broad geographical, climatic and pollution gradients. Fifty two heathlands were selected across an N deposition gradient of 5.9 to 32.4 kg ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹. The diversity and abundance of higher and lower plants and a suite of biogeochemical measures were evaluated in relation to climate and N deposition indices. Plant species richness declined with increasing temperature and N deposition, and the abundance of nitrophilous species increased with increasing N. Relationships were broadly similar between upland and lowland sites, with the biggest reductions in species number associated with increasing N inputs at the low end of the deposition range. Both oxidised and reduced forms of N were associated with species declines, although reduced N appears to be a stronger driver of species loss at the functional group level. Plant and soil biochemical indices were related to temperature, rainfall and N deposition. Litter C:N ratios and enzyme (phenol-oxidase and phosphomonoesterase) activities had the strongest relationships with site N inputs and appear to represent reliable field indicators of N deposition. This study provides strong, field-scale evidence of links between N deposition - in both oxidised and reduced forms - and widespread changes in the composition, diversity and functioning of British heathlands. The similarity of relationships between upland and lowland environments, across broad spatial and climatic gradients, highlights the ubiquity of relationships with N, and suggests that N deposition is contributing to biodiversity loss and changes in ecosystem functioning across European heathlands.     

Impacts of atmospheric nitrogen deposition: responses of multiple plant and soil parameters across contrasting ecosystems in long‐term field experiments

Atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition is a global and increasing threat to biodiversity and ecosystem function. Much of our current understanding of N deposition impacts comes from field manipulation studies, although interpretation may need caution where simulations of N deposition (in terms of dose, application rate and N form) have limited realism. Here, we review responses to simulated N deposition from the UKREATE network, a group of nine experimental sites across the UK in a diversity of heathland, grassland, bog and dune ecosystems which include studies with a high level of realism and where many are also the longest running globally on their ecosystem type. Clear responses were seen across the sites with the greatest sensitivity shown in cover and species richness of bryophytes and lichens. Productivity was also increased at sites where N was the limiting nutrient, while flowering also showed high sensitivity, with increases and declines seen in dominant shrub and forb species, respectively. Critically, these parameters were responsive to some of the lowest additional loadings of N (7.7–10 kg ha^?1 yr^?1) showing potential for impacts by deposition rates seen in even remote and ‘unpolluted’ regions of Europe. Other parameters were less sensitive, but nevertheless showed response to higher doses. These included increases in soil %N and ‘plant available’ KCl extractable N, N cycling rates and acid–base status. Furthermore, an analysis of accumulated dose that quantified response against the total N input over time suggested that N impacts can ‘build up’ within an ecosystem such that even relatively low N deposition rates can result in ecological responses if continued for long enough. Given the responses have important implications for ecosystem structure, function, and recovery from N loading, the clear evidence for impacts at relatively low N deposition rates across a wide range of habitats is of considerable concern.     

Wetting-induced soil CO2 emission pulses are driven by interactions among soil temperature,carbon, and nitrogen limitation in the Colorado Desert

Warming-induced changes in precipitation regimes, coupled with anthropogenically enhanced nitrogen (N) deposition, are likely to increase the prevalence, duration, and magnitude of soil respiration pulses following wetting via interactions among temperature and carbon (C) and N availability. Quantifying the importance of these interactive controls on soil respiration is a key challenge as pulses can be large terrestrial sources of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂) over comparatively short timescales. Using an automated sensor system, we measured soil CO₂ flux dynamics in the Colorado Desert—a system characterized by pronounced transitions from dry-to-wet soil conditions—through a multi-year series of experimental wetting campaigns. Experimental manipulations included combinations of C and N additions across a range of ambient temperatures and across five sites varying in atmospheric N deposition. We found soil CO₂ pulses following wetting were highly predictable from peak instantaneous CO₂ flux measurements. CO₂ pulses consistently increased with temperature, and temperature at time of wetting positively correlated to CO₂ pulse magnitude. Experimentally adding N along the N deposition gradient generated contrasting pulse responses: adding N increased CO₂ pulses in low N deposition sites, whereas adding N decreased CO₂ pulses in high N deposition sites. At a low N deposition site, simultaneous additions of C and N during wetting led to the highest observed soil CO₂ fluxes reported globally at 299.5 μmol CO₂ m⁻² s⁻¹. Our results suggest that soils have the capacity to emit high amounts of CO₂ within small timeframes following infrequent wetting, and pulse sizes reflect a non-linear combination of soil resource and temperature interactions. Importantly, the largest soil CO₂ emissions occurred when multiple resources were amended simultaneously in historically resource-limited desert soils, pointing to regions experiencing simultaneous effects of desertification and urbanization as key locations in future global C balance.     

Nitrogen (N) Deposition Impacts Seedling Growth of Pinus massoniana via N:P Ratio Effects and the Modulation of Adaptive Responses to Low P (Phosphorus)

Background

In forest ecosystems with phosphorus (P) deficiency, the impact of atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition on nutritional traits related to P uptake and P use potentially determines plant growth and vegetation productivity.

Methodology/Principal Findings

Two N deposition simulations were combined with three soil P conditions (homogeneous P deficiency with evenly low P; heterogeneous P deficiency with low subsoil P and high topsoil P; high P) using four full-sib families of Masson pine (Pinus massoniana). Under homogeneous P deficiency, N had a low effect on growth due to higher N:P ratios, whereas N-sensitive genotypes had lower N:P ratios and greater N sensitivity. The N effect increased under higher P conditions due to increased P concentration and balanced N:P ratios. An N:P threshold of 12.0–15.0 was detected, and growth was increased by N with an N:P ratio ≤ 12.0 and increased by P with an N:P ratio ≥ 15.0. Under homogeneous P deficiency, increased P use efficiency by N deposition improved growth. Under heterogeneous P deficiency, a greater P deficiency under N deposition due to increased N:P ratios induced greater adaptive responses to low P (root acid phosphatase secretion and topsoil root proliferation) and improved P acquisition and growth.

Conclusions/Significance

N deposition diversely affected seedling growth across different P conditions and genotypes via N:P ratio effects and the modulation of adaptive responses to low P. The positive impact of N on growth was genotype-specific and increased by soil P addition due to balanced N:P ratios. These results indicate the significance of breeding N-sensitive tree genotypes and improving forest soil P status to compensate for increasing N deposition.     

Effects of Simulated Nitrogen Deposition on Soil Respiration in a Populus euphratica Community in the Ebinur Lake Area,a Desert Ecosystem of Northwestern China

One of the primary limiting factors for biological activities in desert ecosystems is nitrogen (N). This study therefore examined the effects of N and investigated the responses of an arid ecosystem to global change. We selected the typical desert plant Populus euphratica in a desert ecosystem in the Ebinur Lake area to evaluate the effects of N deposition on desert soil respiration. Three levels of N deposition (0, 37.5 and 112.5 kg·N·ha^-1·yr^-1) were randomly artificially provided to simulate natural N deposition. Changes in the soil respiration rates were measured from July to September in both 2010 and 2013, after N deposition in April 2010. The different levels of N deposition affected the total soil N, soil organic matter, soil C/N ratio, microorganism number, and microbial community structure and function. However, variable effects were observed over time in relation to changes in the magnitude of N deposition. Simulated high N deposition significantly reduced the soil respiration rate by approximately 23.6±2.5% (P<0.05), whereas low N deposition significantly increased the soil respiration rate by approximately 66.7±2.7% (P<0.05). These differences were clearer in the final growth stage (September). The different levels of N deposition had little effect on soil moisture, whereas N deposition significantly increased the soil temperature in the 0–5 cm layer (P<0.05). These results suggest that in the desert ecosystem of the Ebinur Lake area, N deposition indirectly changes the soil respiration rate by altering soil properties.