Effects of artificial nitrogen deposition on the forest floor and soil chemistry in chestnut-leaved oak (Quercus castaneifolia) plantation in northern Iran

Human demand for food and energy has led to significant changes in the level of reactive nitrogen (N) released to the atmosphere and then deposited in the biosphere. This study aimed to investigate the impact of the deposition of artificial N on the forest floor and on the soil chemical properties in an oak (Quercus castaneifolia C.A. Mey.) plantation in northern Iran. Twelve plots of 200 m 2 (20 m × 10 m) were set up in the study area. Four N treatments were considered: zero (control), 50 (low), 100 (medium), and 150 (high) kg N·ha −1 ·year −1 . N in the form of NH 4 NO 3 solution was manually sprayed onto the understory plots monthly for 1 year. The total N, phosphorus (P), potassium (K), and organic carbon (OC) of the forest floor were measured. Soil N, available P, available K, pH, EC (electrical conductivity), OC, microbial biomass C (MBC), and urease enzyme activity were measured in the 0–10 cm depth. The concentration of total N and P of the forest floor was significantly higher in the high-N treatment. The total concentration of N (+36%), the urease activity (+44%), and EC (+12%) of soil increased with raising the high-N treatment compared to the control, but the MBC (−20%), available P (−28%), and available K (−15%) were significantly reduced in the high-N treatment. Our results were obtained with simulated deposition rates that exceed ambient fluxes, but ambient N deposition is nevertheless high in our study area.