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High Nitrate Retention during Winter in Soils of the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest
| Content Provider | Semantic Scholar |
|---|---|
| Author | Judd, Kristin E. Likens, Gene E. Groffman, Peter M. |
| Copyright Year | 2007 |
| Abstract | Stream export of nitrogen (N) as nitrate (NO3−; the most mobile form of N) from forest ecosystems is thought to be controlled largely by plant uptake of inorganic N, such that reduced demand for plant N during the non-growing season and following disturbances results in increased stream NO3− export. The roles of microbes and soils in ecosystem N retention are less clear, but are the dominant controls on N export when plant uptake is low. We used a mass balance approach to investigate soil N retention during winter (December through March) at the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest by comparing NO3− inputs (atmospheric deposition), internal production (soil microbial nitrification), and stream output. We focused on months when plant N uptake is nearly zero and the potential for N export is high. Although winter months accounted for only 10–15% of annual net nitrification, soil NO3− production (0.8–1.0 g N m−2 winter−1) was much greater than stream export (0.03–0.19 N m−2 winter−1). Soil NO3− retention in two consecutive winters was high (96% of combined NO3− deposition and soil production; year 1) even following severe plant disturbance caused by an ice-storm (84%; year 2) We show that soil NO3− retention is surprisingly high even when N demand by plants is low. Our study highlights the need to better understand mechanisms of N retention during the non-growing season to predict how ecosystems will respond to high inputs of atmospheric N, disturbance, and climate change. |
| Starting Page | 217 |
| Ending Page | 225 |
| Page Count | 9 |
| File Format | PDF HTM / HTML |
| DOI | 10.1007/s10021-007-9027-x |
| Volume Number | 10 |
| Alternate Webpage(s) | https://www.caryinstitute.org/sites/default/files/public/reprints/Judd_et_al_07.pdf |
| Alternate Webpage(s) | https://doi.org/10.1007/s10021-007-9027-x |
| Journal | Ecosystems |
| Language | English |
| Access Restriction | Open |
| Content Type | Text |
| Resource Type | Article |
