Details
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 2990-3003 |
| Number of pages | 14 |
| Journal | Global change biology |
| Volume | 16 |
| Issue number | 11 |
| Publication status | Published - 16 Dec 2009 |
Abstract
Global nitrogen (N) deposition rates in terrestrial environments have quadrupled since preindustrial times, causing structural and functional changes of ecosystems. Different emission reduction policies were therefore devised. The aim of our study was to investigate if, and over what timescale, processes of soil organic matter (OM) transformation respond to a decline in atmospheric N deposition. A N-saturated spruce forest (current N deposition: 34 kg ha-1 yr-1; critical N load: 14 kg ha-1 yr-1), where N deposition has been reduced to 11.5 kg ha-1 yr-1 since 1991, was studied. Besides organic C and organic and inorganic N, noncellulosic carbohydrates, amino sugars and amino acids were determined. A decline in organic N in litter indicated initial effects at plant level. However, there were no changes in biomarkers upon the reduction in N deposition. In addition, inorganic N was not affected by reduced N deposition. The results showed that OM cycling and transformation processes have not responded so far. It was concluded that no direct N deposition effects have occurred due to the large amount of stored organic N, which seems to compensate for the reduction in deposited N. Obviously, the time span of atmospheric N reduction (about 14.5 years) is too short compared with the mean turnover time of litter to cause indirect effects on the composition of organic C and N compounds. It is assumed that ecological processes, such as microbial decomposition or recycling of organic N and C, react slowly, but may start within the next decade with the incorporation of the new litter.
Keywords
- Amino acid enantiomers, Amino acids, Amino sugars, Biomarker, N deposition, Non-cellulosic carbohydrates, Soil organic nitrogen, Solling roof project
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Environmental Science(all)
- Global and Planetary Change
- Environmental Science(all)
- Environmental Chemistry
- Environmental Science(all)
- Ecology
- Environmental Science(all)
- General Environmental Science
Sustainable Development Goals
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In: Global change biology, Vol. 16, No. 11, 16.12.2009, p. 2990-3003.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer review
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Slow response of soil organic matter to the reduction in atmospheric nitrogen deposition in a Norway spruce forest
AU - Dörr, Nicole
AU - Kaiser, Klaus
AU - Mikutta, Robert
AU - Guggenberger, Georg
PY - 2009/12/16
Y1 - 2009/12/16
N2 - Global nitrogen (N) deposition rates in terrestrial environments have quadrupled since preindustrial times, causing structural and functional changes of ecosystems. Different emission reduction policies were therefore devised. The aim of our study was to investigate if, and over what timescale, processes of soil organic matter (OM) transformation respond to a decline in atmospheric N deposition. A N-saturated spruce forest (current N deposition: 34 kg ha-1 yr-1; critical N load: 14 kg ha-1 yr-1), where N deposition has been reduced to 11.5 kg ha-1 yr-1 since 1991, was studied. Besides organic C and organic and inorganic N, noncellulosic carbohydrates, amino sugars and amino acids were determined. A decline in organic N in litter indicated initial effects at plant level. However, there were no changes in biomarkers upon the reduction in N deposition. In addition, inorganic N was not affected by reduced N deposition. The results showed that OM cycling and transformation processes have not responded so far. It was concluded that no direct N deposition effects have occurred due to the large amount of stored organic N, which seems to compensate for the reduction in deposited N. Obviously, the time span of atmospheric N reduction (about 14.5 years) is too short compared with the mean turnover time of litter to cause indirect effects on the composition of organic C and N compounds. It is assumed that ecological processes, such as microbial decomposition or recycling of organic N and C, react slowly, but may start within the next decade with the incorporation of the new litter.
AB - Global nitrogen (N) deposition rates in terrestrial environments have quadrupled since preindustrial times, causing structural and functional changes of ecosystems. Different emission reduction policies were therefore devised. The aim of our study was to investigate if, and over what timescale, processes of soil organic matter (OM) transformation respond to a decline in atmospheric N deposition. A N-saturated spruce forest (current N deposition: 34 kg ha-1 yr-1; critical N load: 14 kg ha-1 yr-1), where N deposition has been reduced to 11.5 kg ha-1 yr-1 since 1991, was studied. Besides organic C and organic and inorganic N, noncellulosic carbohydrates, amino sugars and amino acids were determined. A decline in organic N in litter indicated initial effects at plant level. However, there were no changes in biomarkers upon the reduction in N deposition. In addition, inorganic N was not affected by reduced N deposition. The results showed that OM cycling and transformation processes have not responded so far. It was concluded that no direct N deposition effects have occurred due to the large amount of stored organic N, which seems to compensate for the reduction in deposited N. Obviously, the time span of atmospheric N reduction (about 14.5 years) is too short compared with the mean turnover time of litter to cause indirect effects on the composition of organic C and N compounds. It is assumed that ecological processes, such as microbial decomposition or recycling of organic N and C, react slowly, but may start within the next decade with the incorporation of the new litter.
KW - Amino acid enantiomers
KW - Amino acids
KW - Amino sugars
KW - Biomarker
KW - N deposition
KW - Non-cellulosic carbohydrates
KW - Soil organic nitrogen
KW - Solling roof project
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=77953199626&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1111/j.1365-2486.2009.02148.x
DO - 10.1111/j.1365-2486.2009.02148.x
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:77953199626
VL - 16
SP - 2990
EP - 3003
JO - Global change biology
JF - Global change biology
SN - 1354-1013
IS - 11
ER -