Abstract
Chronic N deposition has been hypothesized to affect DOC production in forest soils due to the carbon demand exerted by microbial immobilization of inorganic N. We tested this hypothesis in field experiments at the Harvard Forest, Petersham, Massachusetts, USA. During four years of sampling soil solution collected beneath the forest floor in zero-tension lysimeters, we observed little change in DOC concentrations (10-30% increase, not statistically significant) associated with elevated N inputs, but did observe significant increases in DON concentrations. Both DOC and DON varied seasonally with highest concentrations in summer and autumn. Mean DON concentrations increased 200-300 % with the highest rate of inorganic N fertilization, and concentrations of DON were highest in samples with high inorganic N concentrations. We conclude that the organic chemistry of soil solution undergoes qualitative changes as a result of long-term N amendment at this site, with small changes in DOC, large increases in DON, and a decline in the C:N ratio of dissolved organic matter.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Aber, J.D.: 1992, TREE 7, 220.
Aber, J.D. and Federer, C. A.: 1992, Oecol. 92, 463.
Aber, J.D., Magill, A., Boone, R., Melillo, J.M., Steudler, P. and Bowden, R.: 1993, Ecol. Applic. 3, 156.
Aber, J.D., Nadelhoffer, K.J., Steudler, P. and Melillo, J.M.: 1989, BioScience 39, 378.
Benjamin, S.S.: 1996, Effects of Nitrogen Status on Dissolved Organic Carbon Dynamics in Forest Soils, Thesis, University of New Hampshire,Durham.
Currie, W.S., Aber, J.D., McDowell, W.H., Boone, R.D. and Magill, A.H.: 1996, Biogeochemistry 35, 471.
Güdde, M., David, M.B., Christ, M.J., Kaupenjohann, M. and Vance, G.F.: 1996, Soil Biol. Biochem. 28, 1181.
Guggenberger, G.: 1994, Environ. Internat. 20, 31.
Guggenberger, G., Zech, W. and Schulten, H.: 1994, Org. Geochem. 21, 51.
Gundersen, P., Emmett, B.A., Kjønaas, O.J., Koopmans, C.J. and Tietema, A.: 1997, Forest Ecol. Manag., in press.
Johnson, D.W. and Lindberg, S.E.: 1992, Atmospheric Deposition and Forest Nutrient Cycling, Springer-Verlag, New York.
Kahl, J.S., Norton, S.A., Fernandez, I.J., Nadelhoffer, K.J., Driscoll, C.T. and Aber, J.D.: 1993, Environ. Sci. Techol. 27, 565.
Kaye, J.P. and Hart, S.C.: 1997, TREE 12, 139.
Magill, A.H., Aber, J.D., Hendricks, J.J., Bowden, R.D., Melillo, J.M. and Steudler, P.A.: 1997, Ecol. Applic. 7, 402.
McDowell, W.H. and Wood, T.: 1984, Soil Sci. 137, 23.
Merriam, J., McDowell, W.H. and Currie, W.S.: 1996, Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 60, 1050.
Qualls, R G. and Haines, B.L.: 1991, Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 55, 1112.
Rustad, L.E., David, M.B., Mitchell, M.J., Nadelhoffer, K.J. and Fuller, R.B.: 1996, Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 60, 1933.
Schiff, S.L., Aravena, R., Trumbore, S.E. and Dillon, P.J.: 1990, Water Resourc. Res. 26, 2949.
Sollins, P. and McCorison, F.M.: 1981, Water Resourc. Res. 17, 1409.
Solorzano, L. and Sharp, J.H.: 1980, Limnol. Oceanogr. 25, 751.
Stuanes, A.O., Kjonaas, O.J. and Van Miegroet, H.: 1995, For. Ecol. Manage. 71, 99.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
McDowell, W.H., Currie, W.S., Aber, J.D. et al. Effects of Chronic Nitrogen Amendments on Production of Dissolved Organic Carbon and Nitrogen in Forest Soils. Water, Air, & Soil Pollution 105, 175–182 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1005032904590
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1005032904590