Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Storage in Upper Montane Riparian Meadows |
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Authors: | Jay B Norton Laura J Jungst Urszula Norton Hayley R Olsen Kenneth W Tate William R Horwath |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Renewable Resources, University of Wyoming, Dept. 3354, 1000 E. University Avenue, Laramie, Wyoming 82071, USA;(2) Helena National Forest, 2880 Skyway Drive, Helena, Montana 59602, USA;(3) Department of Plant Sciences, University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming 82071, USA;(4) Department of Plant Science, University of California Davis, Davis, California 95616, USA;(5) Department of Land, Air, and Water Resources, University of California Davis, Davis, California 95616, USA |
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Abstract: | Though typically limited in aerial extent, soils of high-elevation riparian wetlands have among the highest density of soil
carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) of terrestrial ecosystems and therefore contribute disproportionally to ecosystem services such
as water retention, forage production, wildlife habitat, and reactive N removal. Because much soil C and N is stored in labile
forms in anaerobic conditions, management activities or environmental changes that lead to drying cause mineralization of
labile soil organic matter, and loss of C and N. Meadows are focal points of human activities in mountain regions, often with
incised stream channels from historically heavy grazing exacerbated by extreme runoff events. To quantify soil C and N stores
in montane riparian meadows across hydrologic conditions, 17 meadows between 1950- and 2675-m elevation were selected in the
central Sierra Nevada Range, California, that were classified using the proper functioning condition (PFC) system. Results
indicate that C and N density in whole-solum soil cores were equivalent at forest edge positions of properly functioning,
functioning at-risk, and nonfunctioning condition. Soils under more moist meadow positions in properly functioning meadows
have at least twice the C, N, dissolved organic C, and dissolved organic N (DON) than those under nonfunctioning meadows.
Densities of total N and DON, but not C, of functioning at-risk meadows are significantly lower (P < 0.05) than those of properly functioning meadows at mid-slope and stream-bank positions, suggesting accelerated loss of
N early in degradation processes. Though variable, the soil attributes measured correspond well to the PFC riparian wetland
classification system. |
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