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A Cross-Site Comparison of Factors Influencing Soil Nitrification Rates in Northeastern USA Forested Watersheds

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Abstract

Elevated N deposition is continuing on many forested landscapes around the world and our understanding of ecosystem response is incomplete. Soil processes, especially nitrification, are critical. Many studies of soil N transformations have focused on identifying relationships within a single watershed but these results are often not transferable. We studied 10 small forested research watersheds in the northeastern USA to determine if there were common factors related to soil ammonification and nitrification. Vegetation varied between mixed northern hardwoods and mixed conifers. Watershed surface soils (Oa or A horizons) were sampled at grid or transect points and analyzed for a suite of chemical characteristics. At each sampling point, vegetation and topographic metrics (field and GIS-based) were also obtained. Results were examined by watershed averages (n = 10), seasonal/watershed averages (n = 28), and individual sampling points (n = 608). Using both linear and tree regression techniques, the proportion of conifer species was the single best predictor of nitrification rates, with lower rates at higher conifer dominance. Similar to other studies, the soil C/N ratio was also a good predictor and was well correlated with conifer dominance. Unlike other studies, the presence of Acer saccharum was not by itself a strong predictor, but was when combined with the presence of Betula alleghaniensis. Topographic metrics (slope, aspect, relative elevation, and the topographic index) were not related to N transformation rates across the watersheds. Although found to be significant in other studies, neither soil pH, Ca nor Al was related to nitrification. Results showed a strong relationship between dominant vegetation, soil C, and soil C/N.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the Northern States Research Cooperative (USDA award 02CA11242343110) and USDA Hatch funds (VT-PS-00912). Numerous undergraduate students assisted with the field and laboratory efforts, including Abby Boak, Graham Burkhart, Shea Hagy, Rachel Hanish, Joe Ibrahim, Natalia Fajardo, Audrey Leduc, Isaac Paul, Lilah Ross, Chris Savastio, Stacy Thompson, Will Wheeler, Jason Wiener, and Kristin Williams. Cooperators at the research sites include Nancy Burt, Kathy Donna, and Hal Bell of the US Forest Service at Lye; Ralph Perron of the US Forest Service at Cone Pond; Jon Denner of the USGS at Sleepers and Brush Brook; and Tom Suleski of the USGS at Buck Creek and Lye.

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Correspondence to Donald S. Ross.

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Ross, D.S., Wemple, B.C., Jamison, A.E. et al. A Cross-Site Comparison of Factors Influencing Soil Nitrification Rates in Northeastern USA Forested Watersheds. Ecosystems 12, 158–178 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10021-008-9214-4

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