Major changes in forest carbon and nitrogen cycling caused by declining sulphur deposition

Sulphur (S) and nitrogen (N) deposition are important drivers of the terrestrial carbon (C) and N cycling. We analyzed changes in C and N pools in soil and tree biomass at a highly acidified spruce site in the Czech Republic during a 15 year period. Total S deposition decreased from 5 to 1.1 g m^?2 yr^?1 between 1995 and 2009, whereas bulk N deposition did not change. Over the same period, C and N pools in the Oa horizon declined by 116 g C and 4.2 g N m^?2 yr^?1, a total decrease of 47% and 42%, respectively. This loss of C and N probably originated from organic matter (OM) that had accumulated during the period of high acid deposition when litter decomposition was suppressed. The loss of OM from the Oa horizon coincided with a substantial leaching (1.3 g N m^?2 yr^?1 at 90 cm) in the 1990s to almost no leaching (<0.02 g N m^?2 yr^?1) since 2006. Forest floor net N mineralization also decreased. This had consequences for spruce needle N concentration (from 17.1 to 11.4 mg kg^?1 in current needles), an increase in litterfall C/N ratio (from 51 to 63), and a significant increase in the Oi + Oe horizon C/N ratio (from 23.4 to 27.3) between 1994 and 2009/2010. Higher forest growth and lower canopy defoliation was observed in the 2000s compared to the 1990s. Our results demonstrate that reducing S deposition has had a profound impact on forest organic matter cycling, leading to a reversal of historic ecosystem N enrichment, cessation of nitrate leaching, and a major loss of accumulated organic soil C and N stocks. These results have major implications for our understanding of the controls on both N saturation and C sequestration in forests, and other ecosystems, subjected to current or historic S deposition.     

Simulated chronic nitrogen deposition increases carbon storage in Northern Temperate forests

High levels of atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition in Europe and North America were maintained throughout the 1990s, and global N deposition is expected to increase by a factor of 2.5 over the next century. Available soil N limits primary production in many terrestrial ecosystems, and some computer simulation models have predicted that increasing atmospheric N deposition may result in greater terrestrial carbon (C) storage in woody biomass. However, empirical evidence demonstrating widespread increases in woody biomass C storage due to atmospheric N deposition is uncommon. Increased C storage in soil organic matter due to chronic N inputs has rarely been reported and is often not considered in computer simulation models of N deposition effects. Since 1994, we have experimentally simulated chronic N deposition by adding 3 g N m⁻² yr⁻¹ to four different northern hardwood forests, which span a 500 km geographic gradient in Michigan. Each year we measured tree growth. In 2004, we also examined soil C content to a depth of 70 cm. When we compared the control treatment with the NO₃⁻ deposition treatment after a decade of experimentation, ecosystem C storage had significantly increased in both woody biomass (500 g C m⁻²) and surface soil (0–10 cm) organic matter (690 g C m⁻²). The increase in surface soil C storage was apparently driven by altered rates of organic matter decomposition, rather than an increase in detrital inputs to soil. Our results, for study locations stretching across hundreds of kilometers, support the hypothesis that chronic N deposition may increase C storage in northern forests, potentially contributing to a sink for anthropogenic CO₂ in the northern Hemisphere.     

Different types of nitrogen deposition show variable effects on the soil carbon cycle process of temperate forests

Nitrogen (N) deposition significantly affects the soil carbon (C) cycle process of forests. However, the influence of different types of N on it still remained unclear. In this work, ammonium nitrate was selected as an inorganic N (IN) source, while urea and glycine were chosen as organic N (ON) sources. Different ratios of IN to ON (1 : 4, 2 : 3, 3 : 2, 4 : 1, and 5 : 0) were mixed with equal total amounts and then used to fertilize temperate forest soils for 2 years. Results showed that IN deposition inhibited soil C cycle processes, such as soil respiration, soil organic C decomposition, and enzymatic activities, and induced the accumulation of recalcitrant organic C. By contrast, ON deposition promoted these processes. Addition of ON also resulted in accelerated transformation of recalcitrant compounds into labile compounds and increased CO₂ efflux. Meanwhile, greater ON deposition may convert C sequestration in forest soils into C source. These results indicated the importance of the IN to ON ratio in controlling the soil C cycle, which can consequently change the ecological effect of N deposition.     

氮沉降对森林生态系统土壤碳库的影响

森林土壤碳库是陆地生态系统碳库的重要组成部分,对维持全球碳平衡具有重要意义。不断加剧的全球氮沉降有可能改变森林生态系统中碳元素的地球化学循环过程,从而引起森林土壤碳储量的变化。本文从森林土壤碳收支的角度,将氮沉降对森林生态系统土壤碳库影响的复杂过程划分为凋落物分解、细根周转、土壤呼吸和土壤可溶性有机碳淋失4个相对独立的过程。综合国内外研究现状,对其进行了简要评述,指出了目前研究的不足,并探讨了这一研究领域的发展方向。     

Anthropogenic nitrogen deposition enhances carbon sequestration in boreal soils

It is proposed that carbon (C) sequestration in response to reactive nitrogen (N_r) deposition in boreal forests accounts for a large portion of the terrestrial sink for anthropogenic CO₂ emissions. While studies have helped clarify the magnitude by which N_r deposition enhances C sequestration by forest vegetation, there remains a paucity of long‐term experimental studies evaluating how soil C pools respond. We conducted a long‐term experiment, maintained since 1996, consisting of three N addition levels (0, 12.5, and 50 kg N ha^?1 yr^?1) in the boreal zone of northern Sweden to understand how atmospheric N_r deposition affects soil C accumulation, soil microbial communities, and soil respiration. We hypothesized that soil C sequestration will increase, and soil microbial biomass and soil respiration will decrease, with disproportionately large changes expected compared to low levels of N addition. Our data showed that the low N addition treatment caused a non‐significant increase in the organic horizon C pool of ~15% and a significant increase of ~30% in response to the high N treatment relative to the control. The relationship between C sequestration and N addition in the organic horizon was linear, with a slope of 10 kg C kg^?1 N. We also found a concomitant decrease in total microbial and fungal biomasses and a ~11% reduction in soil respiration in response to the high N treatment. Our data complement previous data from the same study system describing aboveground C sequestration, indicating a total ecosystem sequestration rate of 26 kg C kg^?1 N. These estimates are far lower than suggested by some previous modeling studies, and thus will help improve and validate current modeling efforts aimed at separating the effect of multiple global change factors on the C balance of the boreal region.     

凋落物添加和模拟氮磷沉降对红松凋落物木质素降解和碳释放的影响

通过对阔叶红松林和红松人工林2种林型凋落物处理（分别为不添加凋落物（原样组）、添加凋落物（双倍组）和去除凋落物（去除组）等3个处理）与模拟氮磷沉降（分别为对照CK （0 g N m^-2 a^-1、0 g P m^-2 a^-1）、低浓度氮磷（5 g N m^-2 a^-1、5 g P m^-2 a^-1）、中浓度氮磷（15 g N m^-2 a^-1、10g P m^-2 a^-1）和高浓度氮磷（30 g N m^-2 a^-1、20 g P m^-2 a^-1）等4个强度）原位培养试验,研究凋落物质量的增加与氮磷沉降及两种处理的耦合作用对碳（C）和木质素分解释放的影响。结果表明：凋落物添加在试验前期（6月）抑制人工林L层的C释放,促进H层的C释放;试验后期（10月）促进人工林L层C释放,而抑制H层的C释放。凋落物添加在前期（6月）是促进天然林L层C释放的,但在后期（10月）产生抑制作用。与L层相反,凋落物添加持续促进天然林H层的C释放。低、中浓度氮磷沉降显著促进了红松人工林和阔叶红松林L、H层C释放和木质素降解,但高浓度的氮磷添加会抑制C释放和木质素的降解,两种处理之间无交互作用。     

High nitrogen deposition alters the decomposition of bog plant litter and reduces carbon accumulation

Bogs are globally important sinks of atmospheric carbon (C) due to the accumulation of partially decomposed litter that forms peat. Because bogs receive their nutrients from the atmosphere, the world‐wide increase of nitrogen (N) deposition is expected to affect litter decomposition and, ultimately, the rate of C accumulation. However, the mechanism of such biogeochemical alteration remains unclear and quantification of the effect of N addition on litter accumulation has yet to be done. Here, we show that 7 years of N addition to a bog decreased the C : N ratio, increased the bacterial biomass and stimulated the activity of hydrolytic and oxidative enzymes in surface peat. Furthermore, N addition modified nutrient limitation of microbes during litter decomposition so that phosphorus became a primary limiting nutrient. Alteration of N release from decomposing litter affected bog water chemistry and the competitive balance between peat‐forming mosses and vascular plants. We estimate that deposition of about 4 g N m^?2 yr^?1 will cause a mean annual reduction of fresh litter C accumulation of about 40 g m^?2 primarily as a consequence of decreased litter production from peat‐forming mosses. Our findings show that N deposition interacts with both above and below ground components of biodiversity to threaten the ability of bogs to act as N‐sinks, which may offset the positive effects of N on C accumulation seen in other ecosystems.     

氮输入对东北土壤碳蓄积氮素利用效率的影响

由于人类活动影响,通过沉降和施肥方式进入生态系统的活性氮显著增加,其对土壤有机碳库产生重要影响。氮素利用效率(NUE)作为深入理解陆地生态系统碳氮耦合关系的重要参数,对NUE时空规律的研究不仅可以评估目前氮输入对陆地生态系统碳汇增加的贡献,同时也有助于预测未来氮输入情况下陆地生态系统的碳平衡。利用生态系统过程模型——CEVSA2模型的模拟结果,分析了东北地区氮输入情况下,土壤碳的氮素利用效率(SNUE)的时空变化规律及其影响因素,结果表明:(1)1961—2010年,氮输入的显著增加促进了土壤碳的蓄积,但SNUE显著下降;(2)森林的平均SNUE最高,农田最低;灌丛的下降速率最大,森林的SNUE变化趋势最不显著;(3)三江平原和长白山地区以及大小兴安岭的部分地区SNUE最大,其次是辽河平原、松嫩平原地区;内蒙古高原、呼伦贝尔高原地区以及大、小兴安岭的部分地区SNUE出现负值,说明在这些地区,外援氮输入抑制了土壤碳的蓄积;(4)氮输入的空间分异和不同生态系统响应氮输入的差异共同决定了SNUE及其变化的空间格局。该研究结果可为进一步分析不同区域氮促汇潜力和预测未来氮输入情景下的区域碳平衡提供参考。     

A global assessment of forest surface albedo and its relationships with climate and atmospheric nitrogen deposition

We present a global assessment of the relationships between the short‐wave surface albedo of forests, derived from the MODIS satellite instrument product at 0.5° spatial resolution, with simulated atmospheric nitrogen deposition rates (N_dep), and climatic variables (mean annual temperature T_m and total annual precipitation P), compiled at the same spatial resolution. The analysis was performed on the following five forest plant functional types (PFTs): evergreen needle‐leaf forests (ENF); evergreen broad‐leaf forests (EBF); deciduous needle‐leaf forests (DNF); deciduous broad‐leaf forests (DBF); and mixed‐forests (MF). Generalized additive models (GAMs) were applied in the exploratory analysis to assess the functional nature of short‐wave surface albedo relations to environmental variables. The analysis showed evident correlations of albedo with environmental predictors when data were pooled across PFTs: T_m and N_dep displayed a positive relationship with forest albedo, while a negative relationship was detected with P. These correlations are primarily due to surface albedo differences between conifer and broad‐leaf species, and different species geographical distributions. However, the analysis performed within individual PFTs, strengthened by attempts to select ‘pure’ pixels in terms of species composition, showed significant correlations with annual precipitation and nitrogen deposition, pointing toward the potential effect of environmental variables on forest surface albedo at the ecosystem level. Overall, our global assessment emphasizes the importance of elucidating the ecological mechanisms that link environmental conditions and forest canopy properties for an improved parameterization of surface albedo in climate models.     

去除根系和凋落物对滨海沙地3种防护林土壤碳氮库的短期影响

以福建长乐滨海沙地上3种人工林(尾巨桉、纹荚相思、木麻黄)土壤为研究对象,设置去除凋落物、去除根系和对照3种处理,观测1年后分析改变地上、地下有机质输入对沙地土壤碳氮储量、可溶性有机碳(DOC)氮(DON)和微生物量碳(MBC)氮(MBN)的影响。结果表明:不同树种人工林间土壤碳氮储量无显著差异;不同树种人工林间土壤活性碳氮组分差异显著,木麻黄土壤DOC含量显著高于纹荚相思,纹荚相思土壤DON显著高于木麻黄和尾巨桉,尾巨桉土壤MBN显著高于木麻黄和纹荚相思。改变地上地下有机质输入对滨海沙地土壤碳氮库有显著影响且这种影响随树种而异。去除凋落物后纹荚相思、木麻黄土壤碳储量分别下降38.0%、25.1%,氮储量分别下降12.9%、12.5%;去除凋落物后尾巨桉、纹荚相思、木麻黄土壤DOC分别下降37.5%、30.6%、52.9%,MBC分别下降31.0%、56.9%、29.7%,MBN分别下降50.7%、34.9%、42.2%;去除根系后尾巨桉、纹荚相思土壤MBC分别下降57.7%、15.4%。回归分析显示,滨海沙地土壤DOC、MBC与土壤碳储量呈显著正相关,土壤DOC和MBC分别能够解释土壤碳储量变化的47.7%和57.7%。研究表明:树种通过调控地上、地下输入影响可溶性有机碳氮和微生物量碳氮,进而影响土壤碳氮库。     

Effects of experimental nitrogen deposition on soil organic carbon storage in Southern California drylands

Atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition is enriching soils with N across biomes. Soil N enrichment can increase plant productivity and affect microbial activity, thereby increasing soil organic carbon (SOC), but such responses vary across biomes. Drylands cover ~45% of Earth's land area and store ~33% of global SOC contained in the top 1 m of soil. Nitrogen fertilization could, therefore, disproportionately impact carbon (C) cycling, yet whether dryland SOC storage increases with N remains unclear. To understand how N enrichment may change SOC storage, we separated SOC into plant-derived, particulate organic C (POC), and largely microbially derived, mineral-associated organic C (MAOC) at four N deposition experimental sites in Southern California. Theory suggests that N enrichment increases the efficiency by which microbes build MAOC (C stabilization efficiency) if soil pH stays constant. But if soils acidify, a common response to N enrichment, then microbial biomass and enzymatic organic matter decay may decrease, increasing POC but not MAOC. We found that N enrichment had no effect on C fractions except for a decrease in MAOC at one site. Specifically, despite reported increases in plant biomass in three sites and decreases in microbial biomass and extracellular enzyme activities in two sites that acidified, POC did not increase. Furthermore, microbial C use and stabilization efficiency increased in a non-acidified site, but without increasing MAOC. Instead, MAOC decreased by 16% at one of the sites that acidified, likely because it lost 47% of the exchangeable calcium (Ca) relative to controls. Indeed, MAOC was strongly and positively affected by Ca, which directly and, through its positive effect on microbial biomass, explained 58% of variation in MAOC. Long-term effects of N fertilization on dryland SOC storage appear abiotic in nature, such that drylands where Ca-stabilization of SOC is prevalent and soils acidify, are most at risk for significant C loss.     

Altered ecosystem carbon and nitrogen cycles by plant invasion: a meta-analysis

Plant invasion potentially alters ecosystem carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) cycles. However, the overall direction and magnitude of such alterations are poorly quantified. Here, 94 experimental studies were synthesized, using a meta-analysis approach, to quantify the changes of 20 variables associated with C and N cycles, including their pools, fluxes, and other related parameters in response to plant invasion. Pool variables showed significant changes in invaded ecosystems relative to native ecosystems, ranging from a 5% increase in root carbon stock to a 133% increase in shoot C stock. Flux variables, such as above-ground net primary production and litter decomposition, increased by 50-120% in invaded ecosystems, compared with native ones. Plant N concentration, soil NH+4 and NO-3 concentrations were 40, 30 and 17% higher in invaded than in native ecosystems, respectively. Increases in plant production and soil N availability indicate that there was positive feedback between plant invasion and C and N cycles in invaded ecosystems. Invasions by woody and N-fixing plants tended to have greater impacts on C and N cycles than those by herbaceous and nonN-fixing plants, respectively. The responses to plant invasion are not different among forests, grasslands, and wetlands. All of these changes suggest that plant invasion profoundly influences ecosystem processes.     

Ecological effects of atmospheric reactive nitrogen deposition on semi-natural terrestrial ecosystems

Evidence that enhanced reactive nitrogen deposition is affecting semi-natural terrestrial ecosystems comes from historic increases in plant tissue N concentrations, correlations between tissue N concentrations and present-day total atmospheric N deposition, changes in plant amino-acid composition and effects on N assimilation. The ecological significance of such changes in biomarkers is uncertain. This paper explores the ecological significance of reactive atmospheric N deposition through a review of previous experimental findings and new experimental evidence from an acidic and a calcareous grassland, both showing phosphorus limitation, and a N-limited Calluna vulgaris (L.) Hull heathland in upland Britain. Nitrogen addition in the range 0–20 g N m⁻² yr⁻¹ initially (years 0–4) increased the growth of Calluna and a decline in some subordinate species. In subsequent years, shoot extension was not stimulated, but winter injury was observed from 1993 onwards, suggesting a strong interaction between N supply and climatic conditions. By contrast, the grasslands showed a small decrease in the cover of higher plants in later years (6–7) of the experimental treatments (0–14 g N m⁻² yr⁻¹) and no growth stimulation. All N treatments reduced the bryophyte cover in the acidic grassland. There were marked effects on below-ground processes, including a sustained stimulation of N mineralization in the grassland soils, and an increase in the bacterial utilization of organic substrates in the heathland, as measured in BIOLOG plates. The results strongly suggest the importance of atmospheric N deposition on microbially driven processes in soils, and are discussed in relation to the scale of potential ecosystem changes and their reversibility by pollution abatement.     

The effect of increased deposition of atmospheric nitrogen on Calluna vulgaris in upland Britain

Regular (monthly) additions of NH₄NO₃ (4–12 g N m⁻² yr⁻¹) were made over a period of 8 yr (1989–98) to areas of moorland in North Wales dominated by the ericaceous shrub Calluna vulgaris . Results from the early stages of the experiment (1990–94) have shown marked and dose-related increases in shoot extension and canopy height in response to the nitrogen treatments, with significantly higher shoot nitrogen contents. The nitrogen-related stimulation in the growth of the C. vulgaris canopy over this period has resulted in large accumulations of litter on the high-nitrogen-treated plots (6.6 kg m⁻² in plots treated with 12 g N m⁻² yr⁻¹, compared with 3.8 kg m⁻² for the water controls). Litter nitrogen concentrations were also significantly increased at the higher rates of nitrogen addition, leading to a doubling of the total return of nitrogen to the litter layer over the experimental period. These changes in vegetation structure were associated with large reductions in the abundance of the bryophyte and lichen species normally present under the untreated canopy. Results since 1994, however, show little increase in shoot extension in response to the nitrogen treatments, with no clear dose response to increasing levels of addition. These findings are associated with a dose-related increase in the susceptibility of the nitrogen-treated areas of the C. vulgaris canopy to late winter injury, characterized as browning of the shoot tips in early to late spring. These results indicate that deleterious effects are now accumulating as a result of the long-term addition of nitrogen to these moorland plots.     

氮输入对中国东北地区土壤碳蓄积的影响

由于人类活动的干扰,通过沉降和施肥形式进入陆地生态系统的氮素持续增加,中国已经成为继欧洲和北美之后的第三大氮沉降区,同时也是最大的化肥消费国。氮输入与陆地生态系统生物地球化学循环的一系列过程都相互联系,碳循环及其格局也受到氮输入的影响。土壤有机碳库在全球碳循环中具有重要作用,氮输入能否或在多大程度上对土壤碳库产生影响已经成为全球变化和氮沉降研究中不可回避的问题。东北地区是世界三大黑土带之一,土壤碳的变化不仅对于土壤肥力维持具有重要意义,而且对区域碳收支具有重要影响。利用生态系统过程模型——CEVSA2模型,基于我国能源消费、施氮数据和降水数据生成了一套中国大气氮沉降的时空网格数据,结合大气CO_2浓度、气候、土地覆被、土壤类型和质地的时空数据,模拟评估了1961-2010年氮输入对中国东北地区土壤碳蓄积的影响。结果表明:(1)1961-2010年东北地区的平均氮沉降速率为1.00gNm~(-2)a~(-1),年增长率为0.047 gN m~(-2)a~(-1)。东北农田总氮输入速率达到5.78 gN m~(-2)a~(-1),从20世纪80年代开始显著增加。(2)氮输入促进了东北地区土壤碳的蓄积,东北陆地生态系统的土壤碳密度平均增加了135 gC/m~2,50a氮输入共增加土壤碳蓄积0.16 PgC。(3)氮输入引起的东北地区土壤碳蓄积量的变化呈现出东高西低、南高北低的空间格局,辽河平原、松嫩平原和三江平原的土壤碳密度增加量超过了300 gC/m~2。(4)不同植被类型下的土壤碳密度对氮输入的响应存在较大差异,农田土壤碳密度平均增加了230 gC/m~2,森林、灌丛和草地则分别增加了76、169 gC/m~2和89 gC/m~2。氮输入的空间差异和不同植被类型对氮输入响应的差异共同决定了东北地区土壤碳增加量的空间格局。通过本研究阐明了氮输入对东北农田土壤碳蓄积的影响,从而为农田生态系统的固碳减排和农田土壤碳氮管理提供了决策依据。     

Elevated carbon dioxide increases soil nitrogen and phosphorus availability in a phosphorus‐limited Eucalyptus woodland

Free‐air CO₂ enrichment (FACE) experiments have demonstrated increased plant productivity in response to elevated (e)CO₂, with the magnitude of responses related to soil nutrient status. Whilst understanding nutrient constraints on productivity responses to eCO₂ is crucial for predicting carbon uptake and storage, very little is known about how eCO₂ affects nutrient cycling in phosphorus (P)‐limited ecosystems. Our study investigates eCO₂ effects on soil N and P dynamics at the EucFACE experiment in Western Sydney over an 18‐month period. Three ambient and three eCO₂ (+150 ppm) FACE rings were installed in a P‐limited, mature Cumberland Plain Eucalyptus woodland. Levels of plant accessible nutrients, evaluated using ion exchange resins, were increased under eCO₂, compared to ambient, for nitrate (+93%), ammonium (+12%) and phosphate (+54%). There was a strong seasonality to responses, particularly for phosphate, resulting in a relatively greater stimulation in available P, compared to N, under eCO₂ in spring and summer. eCO₂ was also associated with faster nutrient turnover rates in the first six months of the experiment, with higher N (+175%) and P (+211%) mineralization rates compared to ambient rings, although this difference did not persist. Seasonally dependant effects of eCO₂ were seen for concentrations of dissolved organic carbon in soil solution (+31%), and there was also a reduction in bulk soil pH (‐0.18 units) observed under eCO₂. These results demonstrate that CO₂ fertilization increases nutrient availability – particularly for phosphate – in P‐limited soils, likely via increased plant belowground investment in labile carbon and associated enhancement of microbial turnover of organic matter and mobilization of chemically bound P. Early evidence suggests that there is the potential for the observed increases in P availability to support increased ecosystem C‐accumulation under future predicted CO₂ concentrations.     

Interannual climate variability mediates changes in carbon and nitrogen pools caused by annual grass invasion in a semiarid shrubland

Exotic plant invasions alter ecosystem properties and threaten ecosystem functions globally. Interannual climate variability (ICV) influences both plant community composition (PCC) and soil properties, and interactions between ICV and PCC may influence nitrogen (N) and carbon (C) pools. We asked how ICV and non-native annual grass invasion covary to influence soil and plant N and C in a semiarid shrubland undergoing widespread ecosystem transformation due to invasions and altered fire regimes. We sampled four progressive stages of annual grass invasion at 20 sites across a large (25,000 km²) landscape for plant community composition, plant tissue N and C, and soil total N and C in 2013 and 2016, which followed 2 years of dry and wet conditions, respectively. Multivariate analyses and ANOVAs showed that in invasion stages where native shrub and perennial grass and forb communities were replaced by annual grass-dominated communities, the ecosystem lost more soil N and C in wet years. Path analysis showed that high water availability led to higher herbaceous cover in all invasion stages. In stages with native shrubs and perennial grasses, higher perennial grass cover was associated with increased soil C and N, while in annual-dominated stages, higher annual grass cover was associated with losses of soil C and N. Also, soil total C and C:N ratios were more homogeneous in annual-dominated invasion stages as indicated by within-site standard deviations. Loss of native shrubs and perennial grasses and forbs coupled with annual grass invasion may lead to long-term declines in soil N and C and hamper restoration efforts. Restoration strategies that use innovative techniques and novel species to address increasing temperatures and ICV and emphasize maintaining plant community structure—shrubs, grasses, and forbs—will allow sagebrush ecosystems to maintain C sequestration, soil fertility, and soil heterogeneity.     

氮沉降对杉木人工林土壤有机碳矿化和土壤酶活性的影响

为探讨氮沉降对亚热带森林土壤有机碳矿化及土壤酶活性的影响规律,在杉木人工林中开展了野外模拟N沉降试验。试验设计为4种处理,分别为N0（对照）、N1（60 kg N?hm-2?a-1）、N2（120 kg N?hm-2?a-1）和N3（240 kg N?hm-2?a-1）,每处理重复3次。通过28 d的培养后发现,各土层有机碳日均矿化量随培养时间的延长呈下降趋势,而有机碳累计矿化量则逐步增加。不同氮沉降处理下各土层有机碳累计矿化量总体趋势表现为：随着氮沉降量的增加而降低,日均矿化量降低幅度以N1最大,其次是N0和N2,N3降幅最小。相同N沉降处理下,参与土壤碳循环的6种主要酶（蔗糖酶、纤维素酶、淀粉酶、β-葡糖苷酶、多酚氧化酶、过氧化物酶）活性、土壤有机碳日均矿化量和有机碳累计矿化量均随土层加深而降低。氮沉降对6种土壤酶活性的影响存在差异,对纤维素酶和多酚氧化酶具有促进作用,而对淀粉酶和过氧化物酶表现出一定的抑制作用;中-低氮沉降（N1、N2）对蔗糖酶无影响,而对β-葡糖苷酶具有促进作用,高氮沉降（N3）促进了蔗糖酶活性,但抑制了β-葡糖苷酶活性。表层土壤中,土壤有机碳累积矿化量与土壤纤维素酶、β-葡糖苷酶、过氧化物酶活性呈显著正相关。因此,氮沉降促进了表层土壤纤维素酶、多酚氧化酶和蔗糖酶的活性,但在一定程度上抑制了淀粉酶和过氧化物酶,对土壤有机碳矿化也表现出明显的抑制作用。     

氮沉降对森林生态系统碳吸存的影响

工业化带来的大气氮沉降增加是影响森林生态系统碳吸存的重要因素。将森林碳库分为地上和地下两部分,从3个方面综述了国内外氮沉降对森林生态系统碳吸存影响的研究现状。(1)地上部分:氮限制的温带森林,氮沉降增加了地上部分碳吸存。氮丰富的热带森林,氮沉降对地上部分碳吸存没有影响。过量的氮输入会造成森林死亡率的上升,从而降低地上部分碳吸存。(2)地下部分:相比地上部分研究得少,表现为增加、降低和没有影响3种效果。(3)目前的结论趋向于认为氮沉降促进森林生态系统碳吸存,然而氮沉降所带来的森林生态系统碳吸存能力到底有多大依然无法确定,这也将成为未来氮碳循环研究的重点问题。分析了氮沉降影响森林生态系统碳吸存的机理,介绍了氮沉降对森林生态系统碳吸存影响的4种研究方法。探讨了该领域研究的不足及未来的研究方向。