Soil nitrification as affected by N fertility and changes in forest floor C/N ratio in four forest soils

Potential and actual nitrification were compared between a high and low N fertility Inceptisol in Washington State and between two Tennessee Ultisols to investigate the effect of soil N status and changes in forest floor C/N ratio on NO 3 -N production. Soil and soil solution data were collected (i)...

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Veröffentlicht in:Canadian journal of forest research 1990, Vol.20 (7), p.1012-1019
Hauptverfasser: Van Miegroet, H, Johnson, D.W, Cole, D.W
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Sprache:eng
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Zusammenfassung:Potential and actual nitrification were compared between a high and low N fertility Inceptisol in Washington State and between two Tennessee Ultisols to investigate the effect of soil N status and changes in forest floor C/N ratio on NO 3 -N production. Soil and soil solution data were collected (i) prior to treatment, (ii) after doubling the forest floor C/N ratio with sawdust, and (iii) after doubling the forest floor N content by adding urea N to each of the four forest types. Nitrate N production during aerobic soil incubation before and 1 year after treatment demonstrated significantly higher nitrification capacity of the N-rich Washington soil under alder, the stimulatory effect of N addition, and the suppressing effect of C on nitrification. Our study also indicated that the N fertility status was not as different between the Tennessee soils as originally assumed, that both soils in fact behaved similarly to the N-poor Washingon soil, and that these three soils should be considered in the same category of low N fertility sites. Nitrate concentrations in soil and soil solution samples collected in the field generally agreed with the laboratory findings, but differences in NO 3 − leaching between the untreated soils and between treatments were often less pronounced. Soil solution NO 3 − concentrations were
ISSN:0045-5067
1208-6037
DOI:10.1139/x90-135