Nitrification and Methane Oxidation in Forest Soil: Acid Deposition, Nitrogen Input and Plant Effects

In a laboratory incubation experiment, nitrification potential, methane oxidation, N₂O and CO₂ release were studied in the organic soil layer (0–10 cm) of field lysimeters containing re-established soil profiles from a 100-year-old Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) forest of Norway. The experiment was designed as a full factorial (3 factors; N fertilisation rates, soil acidification, and plants), with three replicates. The more acidic irrigation (pH 3) significantly reduced nitrification potential and N₂O fluxes, methane oxidation and CO₂ release. We concluded that the reduction in soil N₂O release by severe acid deposition is partly due to reduction in nitrification potential. The highest N₂O fluxes were observed in the combination of fertilised planted and less acidic pH treatment. N fertilisation (90 kg N ha^?1 y^?1 with NH₄NO₃) increased soil N₂O release by a factor of 8 and decreased CH₄ oxidation by 60–80%. Plant effects on soil nitrification potential and methane oxidation rates are discussed.