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Methane flux in non‐wetland soils in response to nitrogen addition: a meta‐analysis
Author(s) -
Aronson E. L.,
Helliker B. R.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.144
H-Index - 294
eISSN - 1939-9170
pISSN - 0012-9658
DOI - 10.1890/09-2185.1
Subject(s) - flux (metallurgy) , soil water , nitrogen , cycling , environmental science , precipitation , methane , environmental chemistry , wetland , nitrogen cycle , ecology , chemistry , hydrology (agriculture) , soil science , biology , forestry , geography , geology , geotechnical engineering , organic chemistry , meteorology
The controls on methane (CH 4 ) flux into and out of soils are not well understood. Environmental variables including temperature, precipitation, and nitrogen (N) status can have strong effects on the magnitude and direction (e.g., uptake vs. release) of CH 4 flux. To better understand the interactions between CH 4 ‐cycling microorganisms and N in the non‐wetland soil system, a meta‐analysis was performed on published literature comparing CH 4 flux in N amended and matched control plots. An appropriate study index was developed for this purpose. It was found that smaller amounts of N tended to stimulate CH 4 uptake while larger amounts tended to inhibit uptake by the soil. When all other variables were accounted for, the switch occurred at 100 kg N·ha −1 ·yr −1 . Managed land and land with a longer duration of fertilization showed greater inhibition of CH 4 uptake with added N. These results support the hypotheses that large amounts of available N can inhibit methanotrophy, but also that methanotrophs in upland soils can be N limited in their consumption of CH 4 from the atmosphere. There were interactions between other variables and N addition on the CH 4 flux response: lower temperature and, to a lesser extent, higher precipitation magnified the inhibition of CH 4 uptake due to N addition. Several mechanisms that may cause these trends are discussed, but none could be conclusively supported with this approach. Further controlled and in situ study should be undertaken to isolate the correct mechanism(s) responsible and to model upland CH 4 flux.