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How important is plant litter to the regulation of mineral‐N leaching to streams in winter? An observations‐led experimental approach
Author(s) -
Riaz M.,
Mian I. A.,
Cresser M. S.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
soil use and management
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.709
H-Index - 81
eISSN - 1475-2743
pISSN - 0266-0032
DOI - 10.1111/j.1475-2743.2010.00306.x
Subject(s) - microcosm , leaching (pedology) , dissolved organic carbon , nitrate , ammonium , environmental chemistry , chemistry , plant litter , soil water , environmental science , lessivage , agronomy , nutrient , soil science , biology , organic chemistry
Ammonium‐N concentrations were frequently observed to exceed nitrate‐N concentrations in an intermittently flowing stream draining acid grassland in North Yorkshire. This prompted the design of a soil microcosm experiment to investigate the role of litter in the leaching of ammonium and nitrate from soil profiles during winter. Drainage water was analysed weekly for N species, pH, mineral acid anions and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) for a period of 11 weeks, while extractable mineral‐N was determined after 5 and 11 weeks. The results demonstrate that litter plays an important role in reducing mineral‐N leaching in winter months. They also suggest that DOC from the litter participates in mineral‐N retention in the soil profiles in winter. Ammonium‐N and nitrate‐N concentrations measured in the microcosm drainage water are similar to those of the stream.