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Soil Fluxes of Carbon Dioxide, Nitrous Oxide, and Methane at a Productive Temperate Deciduous Forest
Author(s) -
Bowden R. D.,
Rullo G.,
Stevens G. R.,
Steudler P. A.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
journal of environmental quality
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.888
H-Index - 171
eISSN - 1537-2537
pISSN - 0047-2425
DOI - 10.2134/jeq2000.00472425002900010034x
Subject(s) - cycling , carbon dioxide , temperate forest , soil respiration , nitrification , mineralization (soil science) , nitrous oxide , soil water , chemistry , trace gas , temperate deciduous forest , temperate climate , deciduous , environmental chemistry , nitrogen cycle , carbon cycle , zoology , nitrogen , environmental science , ecology , ecosystem , soil science , forestry , biology , organic chemistry , geography
We measured CO 2 , N 2 O, and CH 4 fluxes between soils and the atmosphere in ambient and N‐addition plots at a productive black cherry‐sugar maple forest in northwest Pennsylvania to examine the link between N‐cycling and trace gas fluxes. Fluxes were estimated the using in‐situ chambers. Net annual N mineralization was 121.0 kg N ha −1 yr −1 , and net nitrification was 85.8 kg N ha −1 yr −1 , or 71% of net mineralization. Carbon dioxide (5.09 Mg C ha −1 yr −1 ) efflux and CH 4 uptake (8.90 kg C ha −1 yr −1 ) were among the highest rates reported for temperate deciduous forests. Emissions of N 2 O (0.228 kg N ha −1 yr −1 ) were within the range of rates reported elsewhere, including locations with lower rates of N‐cycling. A short‐term study (May–Oct.) showed that N fertilization reduced both CO 2 emissions and CH 4 uptake (CO 2 by 19%; CH 4 by 24%). N 2 O effluxes in fertilized plots were not different from control plots. The relatively high rate of soil respiration corresponded to a high rate of N‐cycling; however, N 2 O emissions were not substantially greater than those measured at other locations, suggesting that rapid N‐cycling or N additions in temperate forests do not necessarily result in large emissions of N 2 O. Concurrent rapid rates of N‐cycling and high rates of CH 4 uptake did not support the hypothesis that N‐cycling rates directly control CH 4 uptake. Links between N‐cycling and CH 4 oxidation are complex; the influence of N‐cycling on flux rates must consider not only the rate of cycling, but also the disposition of N‐cycling products, and the factors that influence rates of N dynamics.