Seasonal variation of water extractable aluminium forms in acidified forest organic soils under different vegetation cover

The Jizera Mountains area is affected by natural and anthropogenic acidification processes. The effect of acidification is reflected by presence of elevated amount of different Al forms in soil horizons. Changes of water extractable forms of Al (total $ {\text{Al}}_{{{\text{H}}_{2} {\text{O}}}} $ , species: Al(X)¹⁺, Al(Y)²⁺ and Al³⁺) and other soil characteristics (e.g. DOC, pH) were investigated in forest soils from April to October 2008. Seasonal changes of Al forms were identified in organic F and H soil horizons. No significant effect of the soil type on Al forms was documented. Nevertheless, influence of vegetation cover (beech and spruce forest, clear-cut area) on Al(X)¹⁺, Al(Y)²⁺ forms was proved. The results show that binding and mobility of Al forms are controlled mostly by pH and dissolved organic carbon (DOC).     

Effects of airborne sea salts on soil water acidification and leaching of aluminium in different forest ecosystems in Denmark

Studies on biogeochemical cycling of elements are performed in even aged forest ecosystems of Norway spruce, Sitka spruce and beech at several locations in Denmark. Episodes with high sea salt deposition and unusual low water surplus percolation caused extreme salt concentrations in the soil solutions. The changes were smallest beneath beech stands and most pronounced at the most salt-affected Sitka spruce stands. Contemporary, the pH drops and the Al³⁺ concentration increased above 20 mg L^-1 owing to cation exchange with Na⁺. The Cl^- and Al³⁺ concentrations reached levels reported as toxic for Norway spruce, but not for Sitka spruce and beech. The changes in the soil water chemistry must be considered as important factors for the reduced vitality in Norway spruce ecosystems in Denmark.     

Response of soil chemistry to forest dieback after bark beetle infestation

We evaluated changes in the chemistry of the uppermost soil horizons in an unmanaged spruce forest (National Park Bohemian Forest, Czech Republic) for 3 years after dieback caused by a bark beetle infestation, and compared these changes with a similar undisturbed forest area. The soils below the disturbed forest received 2–6 times more elements via litter fall compared to the unaffected plot. The subsequent decomposition of litter and reduced nutrient uptake by trees resulted in a steep increase in soil concentrations of soluble N (NH₄-N, organic-bound N) and P forms in the disturbed plot. The average concentrations of NH₄-N and soluble reactive P increased from 0.8 to 4.4 mmol kg^?1 and from 0.04 to 0.9 mmol kg^?1, respectively, in the uppermost soil horizon. Decomposition of litter at the disturbed plot elevated soil concentrations of Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺ and K⁺, which replaced Al³⁺ and H⁺ ions from the soil sorption complex. Consequently, soil concentrations of exchangeable base cations increased from 120 to 200 meq kg^?1, while exchangeable Al³⁺ and H⁺ decreased 66 and 50 %, respectively, and soil base saturation increased from 40 to 70 %. The Al³⁺ liberation did not elevate concentrations of ionic Al in the soil solution, because most of the liberated Al³⁺ was rapidly complexed by dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and transformed to DOC–Al complexes. The chemical parameters investigated at the unaffected plot remained stable during the study.     

Factors controlling spatial distribution of soil acidification and Al forms in forest soils

Soil acidification and Al release in forest soils is controlled by a number of factors, like acid deposition, forest type, parent rock, altitude, etc. This paper studies the principal stand factors affecting spatial distribution of the content of KCl-extractable Al (Al(KCl), mainly exchangeable), Na4P2O7-extractable Al (Al(Na4P2O7), mainly organically bound), and other soil characteristics related to acidification in surface organic (O) and subsurface mineral (B) horizons in the Jizera Mountains region. Geostatistical methods were exploited. The highest Al(KCl) contents in the O horizons were related to high S and N content, low pH and low Ca and Mg content in soil. Liming decreased Al(KCl) contents in the O horizons. Al(Na4P2O7) in the O horizons was more abundant under spruce than under beech; in both horizons it was increased on the immission clear-cut areas populated by grass. Surface horizons are more sensitive to external influence (acid deposition, liming) and their spatial variation is stronger. In the mineral horizons, the effect of pedogenetic processes is more important. The effect of stand factors on Al behaviour is complex and often indirect, mediated for example by organic matter or soil reaction. It is difficult to clearly distinguish the effects of the particular factors.     

Comparison of water-soluble and exchangeable forms of Al in acid forest soils

Soil acidification promotes Al release from minerals and parent bedrocks; it also affects Al mobilization and speciation. Speciation of KCl extractable and water-extractable Al in forest soils was done by means of HPLC/IC method. Species Al3+ were the most abundant Al forms in the KCl extracts (around 93%). Prevailing Al forms (more than 70%) in aqueous extracts were Al(X)1+, [i.e., Al(OH)2+, Al(SO4)+, AlF2+, Al(oxalate)+, Al(H-citrate)+, etc.] species. It is assumed that most of KCl and water-extractable Al is bound in soil sorption complex (i.e., highly dispersed colloidal fraction of the soil solid phase creating negative charge) where majority of Al exists in the form of Al3+ species. The ECEC values, total carbon content and parameters related to soil organic matter composition (N and S content) have apparent effect on Al speciation. The most toxic Al3+ species are more concentrated in the B horizons compared to the A and E horizons. Aqueous extracts simulate Al release to soil solution under normal conditions; it can thus exhibit the actual Al toxicity. On the other hand, KCl extraction describes a potential threat for case of strong disturbance of natural soil conditions.     

Vertical distribution of biological and geochemical phosphorus subcycles in two southern Appalachian forest soils

We measured Al, Fe, and P fractions by horizon in two southern Appalachian forest soil profiles, and compared solution PO₄ ^–1 removal in chloroform-sterilized and non-sterilized soils, to determine whether biological and geochemical P subcycles were vertically stratified in these soils. Because organic matter can inhibit Al and Fe oxide crystallization, we hypothesized that concentrations of non-crystalline (oxalate-extractable) Al (Al₀) and Fe (Fe₀), and concomitantly P sorption, would be greatest in near-surface mineral (A) horizons of these soils.Al₀ and Fe₀ reached maximum concentrations in forest floor and near-surface mineral horizons, declined significantly with depth in the mineral soil, and were highly correlated with P sorption capacity. Small pools of readily acid-soluble (AF-extractable) and readily-desorbable P suggested that PO₄ ^3– was tightly bound to Al and Fe hydroxide surfaces. P sorption in CHCl₃-sterilized mineral soils did not differ significantly from P sorption in non-sterilized soils, but CHCl₃ sterilization reduced P sorption 40–80% in the forest floor. CHCl₃ labile (microbial) P also reached maximum concentrations in forest floor and near-surface mineral horizons, comprising 31–35% of forest floor organic P. Combined with previous estimates of plant root distributions, data suggest that biological and geochemical P subcycles are not distinctly vertically stratified in these soils. Plant roots, soil microorganisms, and P sorbing minerals all reach maximum relative concentrations in near-surface mineral horizons, where they are likely to compete strongly for PO₄ ^3– available in solution.     

The proton cycle of a deciduous forest ecosystem in the Netherlands and its implications for soil acidification

Investigations into the proton cycle of a forest ecosystem in the Netherlands revealed an intermediate rate of soil acidification: 4.5 × 10² keq km^-2 yr^-1 of which 2/3 is caused by external proton sources. The high retention of NH₄-N in the biomass is the dominant source of protons. This retention of accounts for 90% of the external and for 59% of the total proton source, while atmospheric input of free acidity only accounts for 4% of total proton production. Next to this, Ca release by weathering is the main proton sink, accounting for 72% to total proton consumption. The proton transfer processes have caused very acid conditions of the upper soil horizons (pH 2.9–3.5) which resulted in the mobilization of aluminium as inorganic monomeric (toxic) Al up to maximum concentrations of 1500 μmol L^-1 (40 mg Al³⁺ L^-1).     

Distribution of sulphur forms in soils from beech and spruce forests of Mont Lozère (France)

From a quantitative inventory of sulphur forms and sulphur budget, the relation between the distribution of the various sulphur forms and the sulphate fluxes in three soil profiles has been addressed. These profiles are located in two forested watersheds at Mont Lozère. One has been sampled in a beech forest and the other two in a spruce forest and in a harvested plot of this spruce forest, respectively. The mean annual input-output budgets showed a sulphur immobilization in the soil cover of the three plots. In the preserved spruce forest plot, because of larger dry depositions, the sulphur immobilization is much greater than in other plots and occurs essentially in the B horizons. In the other two profiles, the dominant immobilization occurs in the parent material.The total sulphur content is very high in the forest floor reaching 2065 g S g^-1 in the litter of one of the soils under spruce. In the organo-mineral horizons of soils under spruce, the total sulphur content decreases with depth and ranges from 310 to 520 g S g^-1 in the A horizons to 100–200 g S g^-1 in the parent material. In the profile under beech, the total sulphur content is lower except in the parent material. In all cases, the organic sulphur is the major part of sulphur often representing more than 90% of total sulphur. In organo-mineral soil horizons of the spruce forest, the part of the sulphateesters is more important than in the soil of the beech forest, probably related to the different nature of the microbial activity in the spruce forest. In contrast, the humification processes are more efficient in the soil under beech, which can be due to the greater input of organic sulphur by litterfall. It appears that the dominant organic sulphur form varies as a function of microbial ecology and sulphate flux. The maximum of the inorganic sulphate is located at the base of the B horizons in the soil of the spruce forest and in the parent material of the soil under beech. In these horizons, the high content of inorganic sulphate can be related to the higher amounts of amorphous Fe and Al phases.     

Rapid transformations of plant water-soluble organic compounds in relation to cation mobilization in an acid Oxisol

The maintenance of plant residues on the surface of acid soils in no-tillage cropping systems reportedly increases the downward mobility of Ca and Al. This study investigated the effects of application of aqueous extracts of residues of radish (Raphanus sativus), blue lupine (Lupinus angustifolius), black oat (Avena strigosa), soybean (Glicine max), and wheat (Triticum aestivum), without incubation (initial extract) or incubated (15-day extract), on the chemistry of an acid Oxisol in 0.20-m columns. The application of initial extracts of plant residues increased the pH and the KCl-extractable contents of Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺ and Mehlich 1-extractable K⁺, and decreased the KCl-extractable Al³⁺ in the following order: blue lupine > radish > black oat > soybean > wheat. The Ca concentrations of the effluents, after application of the initial extracts of radish and blue lupine, were virtually the same as those in the extracts before application, whereas K was decreased by 40 – 90%, and more Al was extracted from the soil than the amount determined as KCl-extractable Al. The initial and 15-day extracts had similar effects on soil Ca and Al, however, the capacity of mobilizing Ca and Al was markedly decreased in the latter. This difference was associated with the type and relative composition of organic compounds in the water soluble organic fraction in both extracts as determined by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). The concentration of water soluble organic compounds in the fresh green manures residues became drastically decreased (50% on average) after the incubation. The initial extracts of blue lupine and radish had a high proportion (20 and 30%, respectively) of the organic compounds as short-chain fatty acids with a high capacity of forming stable complexes with Ca and Al. In contrast, the 15-day extracts were predominated by long-chain fatty acids and aromatic compounds, which did not show the same effect. Fresh green-manure residues had water-soluble organic compounds of low molecular weight with high capacity of forming stable complexes with Ca and Al. The biological oxidation of these organic compounds occurred rapidly, markedly decreasing the capacity to mobilize cations in the aqueous plant-residue extracts.     

Geochemical aspects of aluminium in forest soils in Galicia (N.W. Spain)

The aqueous speciation of Al was studied in acid forest soils in N.W. Spain. Aluminum concentrations were 10–70 mol L^–1, with variable proportions oflabile, nonlabile, andacid-soluble Al. Almost all thelabile Al was found complexed with F^–, Al³⁺ concentrations being low. The importance of organic matter was seen in the formation of Al-organic complexes in the solid soil fraction and the presence of aqueous alumino-organic complexes in superficial horizons (umbric epipedons) rich in organic matter.     

Changes in soil properties after afforestation of former intensively managed soils with oak and Norway spruce

In many European countries, surplus agricultural production and ecological problems due to intensive soil cultivation have increased the interest in afforestation of arable soils. Many environmental consequences which might rise from this alternative land-use are only known from forest establishment on less intensively managed or marginal soils. The present study deals with changes in soil properties following afforestation of nutrient-rich arable soils. A chronosequence study was carried out comprising seven Norway spruce (Picea abies (Karst.) L.) and seven oak (Quercus robur L.) stands established from 1969 to 1997 on former horticultural and agricultural soils in the vicinity of Copenhagen, Denmark. For comparison, a permanent pasture and a ca. 200-year-old mixed deciduous forest were included. This paper reports on changes in pH values, base saturation (BS_eff), exchangeable calcium, soil N pools (N_min contents), and C/N ratios in the Ap-horizon (0–25 cm) and the accumulated forest floor. The results suggest that afforestation slowly modifies soil properties of former arable soils. Land-use history seems to influence soil properties more than the selected tree species. An effect of tree species was only found in the forest floor parameters. Soil acidification was the most apparent change along the chronosequence in terms of a pH decrease from 6 to 4 in the upper 5 cm soil. Forest floor pH varied only slightly around 5. Nitrogen storage in the Ap-horizon remained almost constant at 5.5 Mg N ha^–1. This was less than in the mineral soil of the ca. 200-year-old forest. In the permanent pasture, N storage was somewhat higher in 0–15 cm depth than in afforested stands of comparable age. Nitrogen storage in the forest floor of the 0–30-year-old stands increased in connection with the build-up of forest floor mass. The increase was approximately five times greater under spruce than oak. Mineral soil C/N ratios ranged from 10 to 15 in all stands and tended to increase in older stands only in 0–5 cm depth. Forest floor C/N ratios were higher in spruce stands (26.4) as compared to oak stands (22.7). All stands except the youngest within a single tree species had comparable C/N ratios.     

Chemical changes in soil and soil solution after calcium silicate addition to a northern hardwood forest

Liming has been used to mitigate effects of acidic deposition in forest ecosystems. This study was designed to examine the effects of calcium (Ca) supply on the spatial patterns and the relations between soil and soil solution chemistry in a base-poor forest watershed. Watershed 1 at the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest in New Hampshire, USA was experimentally treated with wollastonite (CaSiO₃) in October, 1999. Exchangeable Ca (Ex-Ca), soil pH_s (in 0.01 M CaCl₂), effective cation exchange capacity (CEC_e), and effective base saturation (BS_e) increased, while exchangeable acidity (Ex-Acid) decreased in organic soil horizons in 2000 and 2002. Mineral soils experienced either small increases in Ex-Ca, pH_s, CEC_e, BS_e, small decreases in Ex-Acid or no changes. Thus, most of the added Ca remained in the forest floor during the study period. Prior to the treatment the BS_e decreased with increasing elevation in organic and mineral soil horizons. This spatial pattern changed significantly in the forest floor after the treatment, suggesting that soils at higher elevations were more responsive to the chemical addition than at lower elevations. Soil solutions draining the forest floor responded to the treatment by increases in concentrations of Ca, dissolved silica, pH, and acid neutralizing capacity (ANC), and a decrease in inorganic monomeric Al (Al_i). Treatment effects diminished with increasing soil depth and decreasing elevation. Positive correlations between Ca/total monomeric Al (Al_m) in soil solution and Ex-Ca/Ex-Al ratios in soil indicated that changes in the chemistry of soils significantly influenced the chemistry of soil water, and that Ca derived from the dissolution of wollastonite mitigated the mobilization of Al within the experimental watershed.     

Effects of soil frost on soil respiration and its radiocarbon signature in a Norway spruce forest soil

Apart from a general increase of mean annual air temperature, climate models predict a regional increase of the frequency and intensity of soil frost with possibly strong effects on C cycling of soils. In this study, we induced mild soil frost (up to −5 °C in a depth of 5 cm below surface) in a Norway spruce forest soil by removing the natural snow cover in the winter of 2005/2006. Soil frost lasted from January to April 2006 and was detected down to 15 cm depth. Soil frost effectively reduced soil respiration in the snow removal plots in comparison to undisturbed control plots. On an annual basis 6.2 t C ha⁻¹ a⁻¹ were emitted in the control plots compared with 5.1 t C ha⁻¹ a⁻¹ in the snow removal plots. Only 14% of this difference was attributed to reduced soil respiration during the soil frost period itself, whereas 63% of this difference originated from differences during the summer of 2006. Radiocarbon (Δ¹⁴C) signature of CO₂ revealed a considerable reduction of heterotrophic respiration on the snow removal plots, only partly compensated for by a slight increase of rhizosphere respiration. Similar CO₂ concentrations in the uppermost mineral horizons of both treatments indicate that differences between the treatments originated from the organic horizons. Extremely low water contents between June and October of 2006 may have inhibited the recovery of the heterotrophic organisms from the frost period, thereby enhancing the differences between the control and snow removal plots. We conclude that soil frost triggered a change in the composition of the microbial community, leading to an increased sensitivity of heterotrophic respiration to summer drought. A CO₂ pulse during thawing, such as described for arable soils several times throughout the literature, with the potential to partly compensate for reduced soil respiration during soil frost, appears to be lacking for this soil. Our results from this experiment indicate that soil frost reduces C emission from forest soils, whereas mild winters may enhance C losses from forest soils.     

Nutrient status of black spruce (Picea mariana [Mill.] BSP) forest soils dominated by Kalmia angustifolia L.

A study was conducted to determine soil chemistry in an uncut black spruce (Picea mariana) forest with and without the ericaceous understory shrub Kalmia angustifolia, as well as on a cut black spruce forest currently dominated by Kalmia. The organic (humus) and mineral (Ae, upper and lower B horizons) soils associated with Kalmia from uncut and cut forests, and non-Kalmia soils from uncut forest, were analyzed for selected soil properties. In general, mineral soils (B horizon) associated with Kalmia in uncut forest have lower values for organic matter (3.25%), organic nitrogen (0.66 mg·g⁻¹), Fe³⁺ (95.4 μg·g⁻¹) and Mn²⁺ (9 μg·g⁻¹), and higher values for pH (4.12) and Ca²⁺ (27 μg·g⁻¹) compared to non-Kalmia (organic matter, 3.43%; organic-N, 1.15 mg·g⁻¹; Fe³⁺, 431 μg·g⁻¹; Mn²⁺, 23.2 μg·g⁻¹; pH, 3.14; Ca²⁺, 15.6 μg·g⁻¹) and cut black spruce-Kalmia (organic matter, 3.74%; organic-N, 0.94 mg·g⁻¹; Fe³⁺, 379 μg·g⁻¹; Mn²⁺, 27 μg·g⁻¹; pH, 2.87; Ca²⁺, 25.2 μg·g⁻¹) forest. The high C:N ratio in Kalmia mineral soil from upper B (29.73) and lower B (identified as B+) (33.08) in uncut black spruce forest was recorded compared to non-Kalmia soils in B (18.17) and B+ (17.05) horizons in uncut black spruce forest. Phenolics leached out from Kalmia litter were lower in Kalmia associated soils than the non-Kalmia soils from the uncut forest, and Kalmia associated soils from the cut forest area. Results indicate that soils associated with Kalmia were nutrient poor particularly for nitrogen, phosphorus, iron and manganese, and provide some basis for the hypothesis that Kalmia has dominated microsites that were nutrient poor prior to Kalmia colonization.     

Influence of dolomitic lime on DOC and DON leaching in a forest soil

The influence of liming on leaching and distribution of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and nitrogen (DON) in mineral soil was investigated in a leaching experiment with soil columns. Soil samples from separate horizons (O, A and B horizons) were collected from control and limed plots in a field liming experiment in a spruce forest in southern Sweden. The field liming (0.88 kg m^-2) had been carried out 8 years before sampling. To minimize the variation among replicates, soil profiles were reconstructed in the laboratory so that the dry weight was the same for each individual soil horizon regardless of treatment. Two soil column types were used with either the O+A horizons or the O+A+B horizons. One Norway spruce seedling (Picea abies (L.) Karst) was planted in each soil column. Average pH in the leachate water was greater in the limed treatment than in the control treatment (5.0 versus 4.0 for O+A columns and 4.3 versus 3.8 for O+A+B columns). After reaching an approximate steady state, the leaching of DOC was 3--4 times greater from the limed O+A and O+A+B columns than from the corresponding control columns but the leaching of DON increased (3.5 times) only in the limed O+A columns. There was a significant correlation between DOC and DON in the leachates from all columns except for the control O+A+B columns, which indicated a decoupling of DOC and DON retention in the B horizon in the control treatment. This might be explained by a selective adsorption of nitrogen poor hydrophobic compounds (C/N ratio: 32--77) while there was a lower retention of nitrogen rich hydrophilic compounds (C/N ratio: 14--20). Proportionally more hydrophobic compounds were leached from the limed soil compared to the unlimed soil. These hydrophobic compounds also became more enriched in nitrogen after liming so in the limed treatment nitrogen might be adsorbed at nearly the same proportion as carbon, which might explain the fact that there was no decoupling of leached DOC and DON from the B horizon after liming.     

Thiosulfate sulfurtransferase (rhodanese) in forest soils

Concentrations of thiosulfate sulfurtransferase (rhodanese; EC 2.8.1.1) in soils of five types of forest stands (spruce and pine stands without ground vegetation, and mountain ash, birch and pine stands with grass cover) were followed. Soils from grassed stands contained much higher concentrations of the enzyme than soils without ground vegetation. On grassed locations higher enzyme concentrations were found in fermentation horizons, whereas on locations without the ground vegetation they were detected in humus horizons. Urea fertilization and SO₂ pollution did not exhibit any significant effect.     

Impact of faunal complexity on nutrient supply in field mesocosms from a spruce forest soil

A field study in an acidic spruce forest soil using soil mesocosms was conducted to investigate the effects of mesofauna and macrofauna on exchangeable cations, organic matter content, base saturation, and Ca-lactate extractable nutrients. In the field, intact soil monoliths were taken from the ground, defaunated by deep-freezing and wrapped in nets of various mesh-sizes to control immigration of different faunal size classes. The monoliths were then replanted in the field. Three types of treatments for the mesocosms were prepared: (1) microbiota only, (2) microbiota and mesofauna, (3) microbiota, mesofauna, and macrofauna (=complex fauna). After eight months the mesocosms and unmanipulated control plots (treatment 4) were destructively sampled and submitted to chemical analysis. Generally, the exchangeable base cations and Mn²⁺ showed higher contents with increasing faunal complexity, whereas the exchangeable acidic cations of Fe³⁺ and Al³⁺ decreased in the monoliths with complex fauna. These effects were significant for K⁺, Mg²⁺ and Mn²⁺ in the L/F-layer and for Ca²⁺, Mn²⁺, Al³⁺ and Fe³⁺ in the H-layer. As a possible explanation a rise of ion-binding sites in the course of enhanced humification processes is discussed.In the L/F-layer base cations showed higher concentrations in the monoliths with complex fauna as compared to the control plot, which contained intact roots. This might be due to nutrient uptake by roots in the control plot or enhanced mineralization in the monoliths with complex fauna, where roots had been cut.     

Total, organic and extractable-P in humus and soil beneath Sitka spruce planted in pure stands and in mixture with Scots pine

Total, organic and extractable P were measured in the humus and underlying soil to 10 cm depth beneath Sitka spruce (SS) and mixed Sitka spruce and Scots pine (SS+SP) stands planted on upland heath. The humus beneath SS+SP contained significantly (p<0.01) greater amounts of total and organic-P than that in SS and the mixed stands had more effectively retained approximately 87 per cent of previously applied fertilizer-P, totalling 100 kg P ha^–1, compared with 70 per cent in SS. Despite the larger amounts of total-P in the mixed plots 0.01 M CaCl₂ extractable molybdate reactive phosphorus (MRP) was significantly (p<0.05) greater in SS+SP humus only during March and April. Greater concentrations of MRP were released from the humus and soil during July and August at a mean rate of 58 g P ha^–1 day^–1. This coincided with drying of the soil during the summer and the rate of release, attributed to death of fine roots and microorganisms, was 4 to 30 times greater than reported values for rates of net mineralization of P from forest soils.     

The fate of 15N-labelled nitrate additions to a northern hardwood forest in eastern Maine,USA

We followed the movements of ¹⁵N-labelled nitrate additions into biomass and soil pools of experimental plots (15×15 m each) in a mid-successional beech-maple-birch-spruce forest in order to identify sinks for nitrate inputs to a forest ecosystem. Replicate plots (n=3) were spray-irrigated with either 28 or 56 kg N ha^–1 year^–1 using ¹⁵N-labelled nitric acid solutions (¹⁵N = 344 ) during four successive growing seasons (April–October). The ¹⁵N contents of foliage, bolewood, forests floor and mineral soil (0–5 cm) increased during the course of treatments. Mass balance calculations showed that one-fourth to one-third of the nitrate applied to forest plots was assimilated into and retained by above ground plant tissues and surface soil horizons at both rates of nitrate application. Plant and microbial assimilation were of approximately equal importance in retaining nitrate additions to this forest. Nitrate use among tree species varied, however, with red spruce showing lower rates of nitrate assimilation into foliage and bolewood than American beech and other deciduous species.     

Short-term increases in relative nitrification rates due to trenching in forest floor and mineral soil horizons of different forest types

The representation of NO₃ ^– dynamics within forest growth simulation models could improve forest management. An extensive literature review revealed an 88% probability of measuring a higher relative nitrification index (i.e. RNI = [NO₃ ^–] ÷ [NO₃ ^– + NH₄ ⁺]) in mineral soil horizons than in forest floors, across a wide range of conifer and hardwood ecosystems. We then hypothesised that humus form and fine root density could be used as two crude variables to predict changes in in situ, potential and relative nitrification rates. Twenty-seven trench plots were established in 1999, across nine contrasting hardwood and coniferous stands in the Eastern Townships of Québec. Forest floor and mineral soil samples were collected from each plot, and from a 1 m radius surrounding each plot, on three dates during summer 2000. In situRNI values increased significantly in trench plots as the season progressed. Potential nitrification rates (i.e. NO₃ ^– concentrations following incubation) were two orders of magnitude higher in forest floor than in mineral soil samples. RNI was significantly higher in mineral soil than in forest floor samples after incubations, but the relative increase in RNI due to trenching was higher in forest floor samples. Indices of available C were significantly higher in forest floor than mineral soil samples, and decreased only in forest floor samples during incubations. Likewise, trenching significantly reduced available C in forest floor samples only. Seasonal changes in soil temperature and fine root growth were the most plausible explanations for seasonal changes in NO₃ ^– dynamics, whereas other factors such soil acidity and moisture appeared less important in determining NO₃ ^– dynamics in this study. We conclude that crude assessments of humus form and fine root density have the potential to be used as calibration parameters for the simulation of NO₃ ^– dynamics in forest growth and yield models.