Denitrification Potential and CO2 Emission in the Northern Forest Soils of the Yenisei Meridian (the Siberian IGBP Transect)

To estimate the probable contribution of northern forest soils to the global budget of greenhouse microgases, the cryogenic soils along the Yenisei meridian have been studied with respect to their potential denitrification and carbon mineralization activities. It is shown that the forest soils of the boreal zone have a high denitrification potential and, under conditions of a high nitrate nitrogen content, may be a source of nitrous oxide emission. A significant correlation is observed between N₂O and CO₂ emissions (r = 0.85, p < 0.001).