Short-term impact of a wildfire on net and gross N transformation rates

Wildfires often modify soil properties, including the N status and net N mineralization rates, but their impacts on gross N fluxes have been scarcely evaluated. We aimed to ascertain the immediate effects of a medium–high severity wildfire on soil N transformations. Net and gross N rates were analytically and numerically (FLUAZ) quantified in burned (BS) and unburned (US) topsoils from the temperate–humid region (NW Spain). Analytical and numerical solutions were significantly correlated for both gross N mineralization (m) (r ²?=?0.815; p?<?0.001) and gross nitrification (n) (r ²?=?0.950; p?<?0.001). In BS, all NH₄ ⁺-N fluxes (net m, gross m and gross NH₄ ⁺-N immobilization, ‘ia’) increased, while those of NO₃ ^?-N decreased (gross n and gross NO₃ ^?-N immobilization, ‘in’) or did not vary (net n). In US and BS, gross m (0.26–3.60 and 4.70–15.42 mg N kg^?1 day^?1, respectively) predominated over gross n (0.026–2.45 and 0.001–0.002 mg N kg^?1 day^?1, respectively), and the same was true for the net fluxes. Compared with the few available data on recently burned soils (m?=?8–55 mg N kg^?1 day^?1; n?=?0.50–1.83 mg N kg^?1 day^?1), our gross m and n rates were similar and very low, respectively; gross n showed that nitrifiers were active in US and also in BS, despite the 98 % reduction observed immediately after the fire. For gross fluxes, m increased more than ia suggesting an NH₄ ⁺-N accumulation, but there is no risk of NO₃ ^?-N leaching because n decreased more than in.     

Temperature sensitivity of gross N transformation rates in an alpine meadow on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau

Purpose

Alpine ecosystems on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau are sensitive to global climatic changes. However, the effects of temperature change resulting from global warming or seasonal variation on soil N availability in those ecosystems are largely unknown.

Materials and methods

We therefore conducted a ¹⁵N tracing study to investigate the effects of various temperatures (5–35 °C) on soil gross N transformation rates in an alpine meadow (AM) soil on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. A natural secondary coniferous forest (CF) soil from the subtropical region was chosen as a reference to compare the temperature sensitivity of soil gross N transformation rates between alpine meadow and coniferous forest.

Results and discussion

Our results showed that increasing temperature increased gross N mineralization and NH₄ ⁺ immobilization rates and overall enhanced N availability for plants in both soils. However, both rates in the CF soil were less sensitive to a temperature change from 5 to 15 °C compared to the AM soil. In both soils, different N retention mechanisms could have been operating with respect to changing temperatures in the different climatic regions. In the CF soil, the absence of NO₃ ^? production at all incubation temperatures suggests that in the subtropical soil which is characterized by high rainfall, an increase in N availability due to increasing temperature could be completely retained in soils. In contrast, the AM soil may be vulnerable to N losses with respect to temperature changes, in particular at 35 °C, in which higher nitrification rates were coupled with lower NH₄ ⁺ and NO₃ ^? immobilization rates.

Conclusions

Our results suggest that increased soil temperature arising from global warming and seasonal variations will most likely enhance soil N availability for plants and probably increase the risk of N losses in the alpine meadow on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau.

     

Immobilization and remineralization of N following addition of wheat straw into soil: determination of gross N transformation rates by N-ammonium isotope dilution technique

N dynamics in soil where wheat straw was incorporated were investigated by a soil incubation experiment using ¹⁵N-labelled nitrate or ¹⁵N-labelled wheat straw. The incubated soils were sampled after 7, 28, 54 days from the incorporation of wheat straw, respectively, and gross rates of N transformations including N remineralization and temporal changes in the amount of microbial biomass were determined.Following the addition of wheat straw into soils, rapid decrease of nitrate content in soil and increase of microbial biomass C and N occurred within the first week from onset of the experiment. Both the gross rates of mineralization and immobilization determined by ¹⁵N-ammonium isotope dilution technique were remarkably enhanced by the addition of wheat straw, and gradually decreased with time. Remineralization rate of N derived from ¹⁵N-labelled nitrate, and mineralization rate of N derived from ¹⁵N-labelled wheat straw was estimated by ¹⁵N isotope dilution technique using non-labelled ammonium. Remineralization rates of N derived from ¹⁵N-labelled nitrate were calculated to be 0.71 mg N kg⁻¹ d⁻¹ after 7 days, 0.55 mg N kg⁻¹ d⁻¹ after 28 days, and 0.29 mg N kg⁻¹ d⁻¹ after 54 days.Nearly 10% of the ¹⁵N-labelled N originally contained in the wheat straw was held in the microbial biomass irrespective of the sampling time. The amount of inorganic N in soil which was derived from ¹⁵N-labelled wheat straw ranged between 1.93 and 2.37 mg N kg⁻¹.Rates of N transformations in soil with ¹⁵N-labelled wheat straw were obtained by assuming that the k value was equal to the ¹⁵N abundance of biomass N, and the obtained values were considered to be valid.     

Alpine meadow restorations by non-dominant species increased soil nitrogen transformation rates but decreased their sensitivity to warming

Purpose

Alpine meadow soils are large carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) pools correlated significantly with global C and N cycling. Soil N transformations, including nitrification and N mineralization, are key processes controlling N availability. Alpine meadow degradations are common worldwide, and vegetation restorations have been widely implemented. However, grass species used for restorations may alter soil N transformations or their response to warming and N deposition due to divergent plant traits and their different effects on soil characteristic. To understand the effects of meadow restorations by non-historically dominant species on N transformations, we measured N transformation rates in restored soils and control soils under the context of warming and N deposition.

Materials and methods

We collected soils from plots restored by dominant (Miscanthus floridulus) and non-dominant species (including Carex chinensis and Fimbristylis dichotoma) and non-restored plots in alpine meadows of Wugong Mountain, China. We measured nitrification and N mineralization rates when soils were incubated at different temperature (15 or 25 °C) and N additions (control vs. 4 g m^?2) to examine their responses to restoration species, warming, and N.

Results and discussion

Vegetation restored soils differed substantially from non-restored bare soils. Total N, total organic C, pH, and dissolved organic C contributed the most to the separation. Restoration altered soil N transformations substantially, even though the effects varied among restoration species. Specifically, non-historically dominant species accelerated N transformations, while the originally dominant species decreased N transformations. In addition, sensitivity of nitrification to warming in restored soils was decreased by restorations. Soils restored by originally dominant species were higher in sensitivity of N transformations to warming than those restored by the other two species. Warming increased nitrification rates by 45.5 and 17.4 % in bare soils and restored soils, respectively. Meanwhile, N mineralization rates were increased by 52.8 and 21.9 %, respectively.

Conclusions

Vegetation restoration of the degraded meadows impacted N transformations and their sensitivity to warming. The effects varied with identity of the restoration species, suggesting that grass species should be considered in future restorations of degraded meadows in terms of their divergent effects on N transformations and sensitivity to warming.

     

Temperature and stubble management influence microbial CO2-C evolution and gross N transformation rates

Few studies have examined the kinetics of gross nitrogen (N) mineralization, immobilization, and nitrification rates in soil at temperatures above 15 °C. In this study, ¹⁵N isotopic pool dilution was used to evaluate the influence of retaining standing crop residues after harvest versus burning crop residues on short-term gross N transformation rates at constant temperatures of 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, and 40 °C. Gross N mineralization rates calculated per unit soil organic carbon were between 1 and 7 times lower in stubble burnt treatments than in stubble retained treatments. In addition, significant declines in soil microbial biomass (P=0.05) and CO₂-C evolution (P<0.001) were associated with stubble burning. Immobilization rates were of similar magnitude to gross N mineralization rates in stubble retained and burnt treatments incubated between 5 and 20 °C, but demonstrated significant divergence from gross N mineralization rates at temperatures between 20 and 40 °C. Separation in the mineralization immobilization turnover (MIT) in soil at high temperatures was not due to a lack of available C substrate, as glucose-C was added to one treatment to test this assumption. Nitrification increased linearly with temperature (P<0.001) and dominated over immobilization for available ammonium in soil incubated at 5 °C, and above 20 °C indicating that nitrification is often the principal process controlling consumption in a semi-arid soil. These findings illustrate that the MIT at soil temperatures above 20 °C is not tightly coupled, and consequently that the potential for loss of N (as nitrate) is considerably greater due to increased nitrification.     

Gross N transformation rates and net N mineralisation rates related to the C and N contents of soil organic matter fractions in grassland soils of different age

We investigated the relationship between soil organic matter (SOM) content and N dynamics in three grassland soils (0-10 and 10-20 cm depth) of different age (6, 14 and 50 y-old) with sandy loam textures. To study the distribution of the total C and N content the SOM was fractionated into light, intermediate and heavy density fractions of particulate macro-organic matter (150-2000 μm) and the 50-150 μm and <50 μm size fractions. The potential gross N transformation rates (mineralisation, nitrification, NH₄⁺ and NO₃⁻ immobilization) were determined by means of short-term, fully mirrored ¹⁵N isotope dilution experiments (7-d incubations). The long-term potential net N mineralisation and gross N immobilization rates were measured in 70-d incubations. The total C and N contents mainly tended to increase in the 0-10 cm layer with increasing age of the grassland soils. Significant differences in total SOM storage were detected for the long-term (50 y-old) conversion from arable land to permanent grassland. The largest relative increase in C and N contents had occurred in the heavy density fraction of the macro-organic matter, followed by the 50-150 and <50 μm fractions. Our results suggest that the heavy density fraction of the macro-organic matter could serve as a good indicator of early SOM accumulation, induced by converting arable land to permanent grassland. Gross N mineralisation, nitrification, and (long-term) gross N immobilization rates tended to increase with increasing age of the grasslands, and showed strong, positive correlations with the total C and N contents. The calculated gross N mineralisation rates (7-d incubations) and net N mineralisation rates (70-d incubations) corresponded with a gross N mineralisation of 643, 982 and 1876 kg N ha⁻¹ y⁻¹, and a net N mineralisation of 195, 208 and 274 kg N ha⁻¹ y⁻¹ in the upper 20 cm of the 6, 14 and 50 y-old grassland soils, respectively. Linear regression analysis showed that 93% of the variability of the gross N mineralisation rates could be explained by variation in the total N contents, whereas total N contents together with the C-to-N ratios of the <50 μm fraction explained 84% of the variability of the net N mineralisation rates. The relationship between long-term net N mineralisation rates and gross N mineralisation rates could be fitted by means of a logarithmic equation (net m=0.24Ln(gross m)+0.23, R²=0.69, P<0.05), which reflects that the ratio of gross N immobilization-to-gross N mineralisation tended to increase with increasing SOM contents. Microbial demand for N tended to increase with increasing SOM content in the grassland soils, indicating that potential N retention in soils through microbial N immobilization tends to be limited by C availability.     

Effects of six grassland plant species on soil nematodes: A glasshouse experiment

The effects of six individual plant species on the abundance and composition of nematode communities were studied in a glasshouse experiment during 16 weeks. The effect of the presence of plants, the correlation between nematode abundance and plant biomass, the response of plant-feeding nematodes and other nematode groups to different plant species was examined and also whether the effect differed between plant species within a plant functional group. The total number of nematodes increased during the study period in all treatments, although in some treatments, the increase levelled off after 8 or 12 weeks. The identity of the plant species affected both the total abundance of nematodes and the nematode community composition. The number of bacterial-feeding nematodes was greatest under grasses and legumes and was positively correlated with shoot biomass and negatively with root biomass. The response of the plant-feeding nematodes, which differed in abundance under both the investigated legume and the forb species, suggests that the identity of the plant species is more important than the plant functional group. A possible explanation could be related to differences in plant secondary metabolites. Despite some differences in the nematode species pool, the effects of plant species appear quite consistent between the present glasshouse study and previous field experiments.     

Effects of soil moisture on gross N transformations and N2O emission in acid subtropical forest soils

Soil moisture changes, arising from seasonal variation or from global climate changes, could influence soil nitrogen (N) transformation rates and N availability in unfertilized subtropical forests. A ¹⁵?N dilution study was carried out to investigate the effects of soil moisture change (30–90 % water-holding capacity (WHC)) on potential gross N transformation rates and N₂O and NO emissions in two contrasting (broad-leaved vs. coniferous) subtropical forest soils. Gross N mineralization rates were more sensitive to soil moisture change than gross NH₄ ⁺ immobilization rates for both forest soils. Gross nitrification rates gradually increased with increasing soil moisture in both forest soils. Thus, enhanced N availability at higher soil moisture values was attributed to increasing gross N mineralization and nitrification rates over the immobilization rate. The natural N enrichment in humid subtropical forest soils may partially be due to fast N mineralization and nitrification under relatively higher soil moisture. In broad-leaved forest soil, the high N₂O and NO emissions occurred at 30 % WHC, while the reverse was true in coniferous forest soil. Therefore, we propose that there are different mechanisms regulating N₂O and NO emissions between broad-leaved and coniferous forest soils. In coniferous forest soil, nitrification may be the primary process responsible for N₂O and NO emissions, while in broad-leaved forest soil, N₂O and NO emissions may originate from the denitrification process.     

施氮量对冬小麦氮素吸收、转运及产量的影响

2004至2005年在田间条件下,研究了施氮量0、105、2103、15.kg/hm2对冬小麦氮素吸收、累积、转运、产量及氮肥利用率的影响。结果表明,施用氮肥可显著提高冬小麦的子粒、秸秆产量及成熟期地上部总吸氮量,但过量施用氮肥对子粒和秸秆增产不显著;各施氮处理的氮肥利用率在34.2%～38.3%之间,随施氮量增加而略有降低。植株中氮素含量随生育期的延长而降低,氮素累积量总体呈增加趋势。施氮量对冬小麦氮素吸收有显著影响,同一生育时期,氮素含量和累积量都随着施氮量增加而提高。施氮可显著地促进氮素在子粒中累积,其中69%～87%的氮素是靠营养体的转运而来的。施氮量影响氮素的转运效率,随施氮量增加,转运效率降低。本试验条件下,冬小麦的合理施氮量应控制在105～210.kg/hm2之间。     

不同施氮水平对冬小麦季化肥氮去向及土壤氮素平衡的影响

采用田间微区15N示踪技术,研究了冬小麦季化肥氮去向及土壤氮素平衡。结果表明,在供试土壤肥力水平和生产条件下,N 150 kg/hm2的施肥量已达到较高产量,再增加氮肥用量小麦产量不再增加。随着施肥量的增加,地上部吸氮量有所增加,氮肥的表观利用率和农学利用率持续下降,而生理利用率则表现为低—高—低的变化趋势。在低施氮条件下,小麦主要吸收土壤氮的比例高于化肥氮;在高施氮条件下,小麦吸收土壤氮的比例下降。冬小麦收获后,仍有26.7%4~0.6%的氮肥残留在0—100 cm土层中,17.4%2~4.8%的氮肥损失。残留在土壤剖面中的氮肥主要分布在表土层。随着施氮量的增加,土壤氮素总平衡由亏缺转为盈余;土壤根区硝态氮也由播前消耗转为在播前的基础上累加,两个小麦品种表现为相同的趋势。     

Impact of soil fumigation practices on soil nematodes and microbial biomass

This study was designed to understand the impact of methyl bromide (MB) (CHaBr) and its alternatives on both free-living and root-knot nematodes in the soil. A randomized complete block experiment with six treatments and 4 replicates (each replicate in a separate greenhouse) was established in Qingzhou, Shandong Province, China. In addition to MB and untreated control (CK) treatments there were four alternative soil fumigation practices including MB virtually impermeable films (VIF), metam sodium (MS), MS VIF and soil solarization combined with selected biological control agents (SS BCA). Two tomato (Lycopersicum esculentum Mill.) cultivars, cv. Maofen-802 from the Xian Institute of Vegetable Science, China, and cv. AF179 Brillante from the Israeli Hazera Quality Seeds, were selected as test crops. The results indicated that Rhabditidae was the most dominant population with percentage abundance as high as 85% of the total number of identified free-living nematodes, followed by that of Cephalobidae. Methyl bromide and its alternatives except for the non-chemical SS BCA treatment controlled the target pest, root-knot nematodes. Also, the impact of the three chemical alternatives on free-living nematode number and functional group abundance was similar to the impact associated with a typical methyl bromide application. Chemical fumigation practices, especially that with MB, significantly reduced the number of nematodes in the soil and simultaneously significantly reduced the number of nematode genera thereby reducing nematode diversity. All the four soil chemical fumigation activities decreased soil microbial biomass and had an obvious initial impact on microorganism biomass. Furthermore, both plant-parasitic and fungivore nematodes were positively correlated with soil microbial biomass.     

Impact of coastal wetland cultivation on microbial biomass, ammonia-oxidizing bacteria, gross N transformation and N2O and NO potential production

A ¹⁵N dilution experiment was carried out to investigate effects of cultivation on the gross N transformation rate in coastal wetland zone. Microbial community composition was estimated by phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) analysis and abundance of soil ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) was quantified by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Soil salinity decreased significantly, while total N increased after coastal wetland was cultivated. Microbial biomass (total PLFA), bacterial biomass, fungal biomass, and actinomycete biomass of the native coastal wetland soils were significantly (p < 0.05) lower than those of the cultivated soils whereas AOB population size also significantly increased after coastal wetland cultivation. Multiple regression analysis showed that total PLFA biomass and soil total N (TN) explained 97% of the variation of gross N mineralization rate in the studied soils (gross mineralization rate = 0.179 total PLFA biomass + 5.828TN − 2.505, n = 16, p < 0.01). Gross nitrification rate increased by increasing the soil AOB population size and gross mineralization rate (M) (gross nitrification rate = 3.39AOB + 0.18 M − 0.075, R ² = 0.98, n = 16, p < 0.01). Management of salt discharge and mineral N fertilization during the cultivation of wetland soils might have changed composition of soil microflora and AOB population size, thus influencing mineralization and nitrification. Probably, the cultivation of coastal wetland soils increased the risk of N losses from soil through nitrate leaching and gas emission (e.g., N₂O and NO).     

Sequential transformation rates of soil organic sulfur fractions in two-step mineralization process

To understand the organic sulfur (S) stabilization in volcanic soils, we investigated organic S transformation rates and their relationships to soil properties in incubation experiments using forest soils from the Nikko volcanic region, central Japan. We hypothesized that carbon (C)-bonded S would first be transformed into ester sulfate-S and then into inorganic sulfate-S. We separately calculated the rates of decrease of C-bonded S (velocity 1, v ₁) and ester sulfate-S (velocity 2, v ₂) concentrations. During incubation, the ester sulfate-S concentration increased in two soils characterized by a high concentration of both ammonium oxalate-extractable aluminum (Al_o) and pyrophosphate-extractable Al (Al_p), whereas the C-bonded S concentration decreased in all soils. A large proportion of the S that was lost in the incubation experiments consisted of C-bonded S rather than ester sulfate-S. Velocity 2 was negatively correlated with both of Al_o and Al_p contents when soils were incubated at 20 °C. These results suggest that when C-bonded S is transformed into ester sulfate-S, complete mineralization to inorganic sulfate is inhibited, because ester sulfate-S is stabilized due to organo–mineral association. Incubation temperatures significantly affected v ₂. Thus, production of inorganic sulfate by mineralization of ester sulfate-S appeared to be regulated by soil Al contents and temperatures. Velocity 1 was proportional to soil pH ranging from 4.5 to 5.5, indicating that the degradation of C-bonded S is pH dependent.     

Temporal variations of crop residue effects on soil N transformation depend on soil properties as well as residue qualities

Purple soils (Eutric Regosols) are widely distributed in humid subtropical Southwest China. They are characterized by high nitrification activities, with risks of severe NO₃^? leaching. Incorporation of crop residues is considered an effective method to reduce NO₃^? loss. In the present study, we compared the effects of alfalfa, rice straw, and sugarcane bagasse on gross N transformation turnover in a purple soil (purple soil, pH 7.62) compared with those in an acid soil (acid soil, pH 5.26), at 12 h, 3 months, and 6 months after residue incorporation. The gross N transformation rates were determined by ¹⁵N tracing. All tested crop residues stimulated the gross N mineralization rates, but reduced the net mineralization rates in both soils at 12 h after residue incorporation; however, the extent of the effect varied with the crop residue qualities, with rice straw having the strongest effects. Crop residues reduced net nitrification rates by depressing gross autotrophic nitrification rates and stimulating NO₃^? immobilization rates in the purple soil, particularly after rice straw incorporation (net nitrification rate decreased from 16.72 mg N kg^?1 d^?1 in the control to ??29.42 mg N kg^?1 d^?1 at 12 h of residue incorporation); however, crop residues did not affect the gross autotrophic nitrification rates in the acid soil. Crop residue effects subsided almost completely within 6 months, with sugarcane bagasse showing the longest lasting effects. The results indicated that crop residues affected the N transformation rates in a temporal manner, dependent on soil properties and residue qualities.     

不同氮素用量对杭白菊养分累积、转运及产量的影响

通过田间小区试验,研究不同施氮量对杭白菊养分积累、转运及产量的影响,以确定杭白菊最佳氮肥用量。试验设5个处理,氮素用量分别为0、90 kg/hm2、120 kg/hm2、150 kg/hm2、180 kg/hm2,以N0、N1、N2、N3、N4表示,5次重复。结果表明,不同氮素用量影响杭白菊不同时期干物质和养分的阶段积累量,但不影响其积累趋势,整个生育期内杭白菊氮、磷、钾积累量为钾氮磷。不同施氮量影响茎叶氮、磷、钾的转移效率和在不同器官中的分配比率,以不施肥处理最高,N3(150 kg/hm2)次之。在氮、磷、钾三种元素中,转运效率磷氮钾。收获期氮、磷、钾在不同器官的分配比率不同,氮素、钾素分配比率为茎花叶根,磷素分配比率为茎花根叶。各处理杭白菊花的产量在1746.232~211.3 kg/hm2之间,以N3(150 kg/hm2)处理产量最高。在本实验条件下,杭白菊的推荐施氮量为150 kg/hm2。     

不同供氮水平对夏玉米养分累积、转运及产量的影响

通过田间小区试验,研究了高肥力土壤上施N.125、250、375.kg/hm2对夏玉米生物量、子粒产量、N、P、K养分累积动态、及氮肥表观利用率、养分转运的影响。结果表明,不同施氮量只影响夏玉米不同生育时期养分的阶段累积量,而对累积趋势基本无影响。植株生物量及N、P、K养分累积量随生育期的延长而增加,且它们的累积趋势相似,都呈S型曲线。各处理的子粒产量在7000～7700.kg/hm2之间,只有N250处理增产达显著水平;氮肥表观利用率在10%～18%之间,随施氮量的增加略有降低。施氮可提高子粒中的氮素累积量,而对磷的累积量影响不大。随着施氮量的增加,氮素的转运量、转运效率及其在子粒中的比例都降低,磷的转运与氮表现出类似的趋势。综合考虑产量、氮肥利用率、养分转运及环境污染等因素,该地区夏玉米的推荐施氮量应控制在125.kg/hm2以内。     

氮肥增效剂对海南砖红壤土壤氮转化影响的研究

抑制剂施用能显著降低尿素及含脲肥料施用带来的环境问题。通过室内培养试验,对硝化抑制剂双氰胺(DCD)和氯唑灵(Dwell)以及长效复混肥添加剂(NAM)对海南花岗岩母质土壤尿素氮转化的影响进行研究。结果表明,NAM和DCD可提高土壤NH4+-N含量,抑制硝化作用,可应用到海南地区以尿素作为氮源的肥料中,其推荐用量分别为施入纯氮量的0.8%和3.5%。但由于NAM和DCD能在较长一段时间内显著提高土壤酸碱度,有导致土壤氨挥发加大及NO2-积累的风险,建议在施肥时不要集中大量施用。     

Interactions between land-use history and earthworms control gross rates of soil methane production in an overwintering pasture

The effects of earthworms on soil CH₄ emissions remain ambiguous, as previous studies revealed both positive and negative effects on net rates of CH₄ production. These differences may be linked to land-use history such as pasturing intensity, as the treading of livestock and the input of faeces will affect physical and chemical soil characteristics that are important to methanogenic and methanotrophic bacteria. In order to concomitantly measure the effects of earthworms on the activities of both of these bacterial groups, we performed an isotope dilution assay to measure gross CH₄ production and consumption rates. Samples from three soil types, differing mainly in pasture intensity over the past 15 years, were incubated for 8 weeks in the presence or absence of the vermicomposting species Eisenia andrei. Following the incubation, earthworms had a positive effect on gross process rates in the non-pasture control soil, had no effect in the moderate pasture soil, and had a negative effect in the intensive pasture soil. Phospholipid fatty-acid profiles and chemical characteristics of the fresh soil samples suggested that the non-pasture soil would likely produce less CH₄ than the control soil. Likewise, methanogenic specific mcrA gene abundance following the incubation was two orders of magnitude higher in the two pasture soils than in the control soil. The isotope dilution assay revealed, however, higher gross CH₄ production rates in the control soil. It was also found that gross CH₄ transformation rates were neither correlated to net production rates nor to mcrA gene abundance. We discuss the value and limitations of the isotope dilution assay for understanding the factors and underlying mechanisms governing net CH₄ emissions rates from soils.