Premium
Environmental effects on soil NO concentrations and root N uptake in beech and spruce forests
Author(s) -
Dong Fang,
Simon Judy,
Rienks Michael,
Schäffer Jürgen,
von Wilpert Klaus,
Rennenberg Heinz
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
journal of plant nutrition and soil science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.644
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1522-2624
pISSN - 1436-8730
DOI - 10.1002/jpln.201500191
Subject(s) - beech , lysimeter , chemistry , nitrogen , environmental science , environmental chemistry , soil water , agronomy , botany , biology , soil science , organic chemistry
This study aimed to investigate the shifts in net nitrogen (N) uptake and N compounds of fine roots over the vegetation period ( i.e. , spring, summer, autumn) and correlate this with NO concentration in the soil. Soil NO concentration was measured using gas lysimeters for collection and a chemiluminescence analyzer for quantification. Net N uptake by the roots was determined using the 15 N enrichment technique. N pools were quantified using spectrophotometric techniques. Soil NO concentrations at beech and spruce forest sites were highest in spring (June), and lowest in winter (December). Total N of the roots was similar during the seasons and between the two years under study despite considerable variation of different N compounds. Net N uptake generally increased with higher N supply. Correlation analysis revealed a positive relationship between soil NO concentration and net N uptake only for spruce trees. This relationship seemed to be modulated by environmental factors and tree species.