森林土壤氧化亚氮排放对大气氮沉降增加的响应研究进展

森林土壤N2O来源于土壤氮素的氧化还原反应,硝化、反硝化、硝化细菌反硝化以及化学反硝化是其产生的四个关键过程。当前,氮素富集条件下森林土壤N2O排放存在硝化和反硝化主导作用之争,对大气氮沉降增加的响应模式以及微生物驱动机制尚不清楚。综述了森林土壤N2O来源的稳定性同位素拆分,森林土壤总氮转化和N2O排放对增氮的响应规律,增氮对N2O产生菌群落活性和组成的影响,并指出研究的薄弱环节与未来的研究重点。总体而言,森林土壤N2O排放对大气氮沉降增加的响应呈现非线性,包括初期无明显响应、中期缓慢增加和后期急剧增加三个阶段,取决于森林生态系统"氮饱和"程度。施氮会引起森林土壤有效氮由贫氮向富氮的转变,相应地改变了土壤硝化细菌和反硝化细菌群落丰度与组成,进而影响土壤N2O排放。由于森林土壤N2O排放监测、土壤总氮转化和N2O产生菌群落动态研究多为独立进行的,难以阐明微生物功能群与N2O排放之间的耦合关系。未来研究应该有机结合15N-18O标记和分子生物学技术,准确量化森林土壤N2O的来源,揭示森林土壤N2O排放对增氮的非线性响应机理。     

Modeling soil respiration based on carbon, nitrogen, and root mass across diverse Great Lake forests

The variability in the net ecosystem exchange of carbon (NEE) is a major source of uncertainty in quantifying global carbon budget and atmospheric CO₂. Soil respiration, which is a large component of NEE, could be strongly influential to NEE variability. Vegetation type, landscape position, and site history can influence soil properties and therefore drive the microbial and root production of soil CO₂. This study measured soil respiration and soil chemical, biological and physical properties on various types of temperate forest stands in Northern Wisconsin (USA), which included ash elm, aspen, northern hardwood, red pine forest types, clear-cuts, and wetland edges. Soil respiration at each of the 19 locations was measured six times during 1 year from early June to mid-November. These data were combined with two additional data sets from the same landscape that represent two smaller spatial scales. Large spatial variation of soil respiration occurred within and among each forest type, which appeared to be from differences in soil moisture, root mass and the ratio of soil carbon to soil nitrogen (C:N). A soil climate driven model was developed that contained quadratic functions for root mass and the ratio of soil carbon to soil nitrogen. The data from the large range of forest types and site conditions indicated that the range of root mass and C:N on the landscape was also large, and that trends between C:N, root mass, and soil respiration were not linear as previously reported, but rather curvilinear. It should be noted this function appeared to level off and decline at C:N larger than 25, approximately the value where microbial nitrogen immobilization limits free soil nitrogen. Weak but significant relationships between soil water and soil C:N, and between soil C:N and root mass were observed indicating an interrelatedness of (1) topographically induced hydrologic patterns and soil chemistry, and (2) soil chemistry and root production. Future models of soil respiration should address multiple spatial and temporal factors as well as their co-dependence.     

三峡库区2种土地利用方式下土壤盐基离子及碳氮含量对氮添加的响应

为探究三峡库区2种土地利用方式下土壤交换性盐基离子及土壤碳氮含量对氮添加的响应,以湖北省秭归县的林地和果园土壤为研究对象,进行室内土柱淋溶模拟试验,研究4种不同氮添加量(0,50,120,200 kg/(hm²·a))下,土壤中交换性Ca²⁺、Mg²⁺、Na⁺、K⁺以及NO₃^--N、DOC的变化。结果表明：随着氮添加量的增加,林地土壤中的交换性盐基离子淋失量显著增加(p<0.05),而果园土壤中的交换性盐基离子淋失量无显著变化,且林地土壤中交换性盐基离子淋失总量与各盐基离子淋失量均高于果园土壤;经N1、N2、N3处理后,与对照组(N0)相比,林地土壤中的交换性盐基离子淋失总量分别增加1.78%,4.45%,8.49%,且NO₃^--N淋失量分别增加89.21%,77.73%,157.25%,说明氮添加通过加剧土壤中NO₃^--N的淋失带走土壤中交...     

Soil–plant nitrogen cycling modulated carbon exchanges in a western temperate conifer forest in Canada

Nitrogen controls, on the seasonal and inter-annual variability of net ecosystem productivity (NEP) in a western temperate conifer forest in British Columbia, Canada, were simulated by a coupled carbon and nitrogen (C&N) model. The model was developed by incorporating plant–soil nitrogen algorithms in the Carbon-Canadian Land Surface Scheme (C-CLASS). In the coupled C&N-CLASS, the maximum carboxylation rate of Rubisco (V_cmax) is determined non-linearly from the modelled leaf Rubisco-nitrogen, rather than being prescribed. Hence, variations in canopy assimilation and stomatal conductance are sensitive to leaf nitrogen status through the Rubisco enzyme. The plant–soil nitrogen cycle includes nitrogen pools from photosynthetic enzymes, leaves and roots, as well as organic and mineral reservoirs from soil, which are generated, exchanged, and lost by biological fixation, atmospheric deposition, fertilization, mineralization, nitrification, root uptake, denitrification, and leaching. Model output was compared with eddy covariance flux measurements made over a 5-year period (1998–2002). The model performed very well in simulating half-hourly and monthly mean NEP values for a range of environmental conditions observed during the 5 years. C&N-CLASS simulated NEP values were 274, 437, 354, 352 and 253 g C m⁻² for 1998–2002, compared to observed NEP values of 269, 360, 381, 418 and 264 g C m⁻², for the respective years. Compared to the default C-CLASS, the coupled C&N model showed improvements in simulating the seasonal and annual dynamics of carbon fluxes in this forest. The nitrogen transformation to soil organic forms, mineralization, plant nitrogen uptake and leaf Rubisco-nitrogen concentration patterns were strongly influenced by seasonal and annual temperature variations. In contrast, the impact of precipitation was insignificant on the overall forest nitrogen budget. The coupled C&N modelling framework will help to evaluate the impact of nitrogen cycle on terrestrial ecosystems and its feedbacks on Earth's climate system.     

Successional changes in microbial biomass,respiration and nutrient status during litter decomposition in an aspen and pine forest

Microbial biomass, microbial respiration, metabolic quotient (qCO₂), C_mic/C_org ratio and nutrient status of the microflora was investigated in different layers of an aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) and pine forest (Pinus contorta Loud.) in southwest Alberta, Canada. Changes in these parameters with soil depth were assumed to reflect successional changes in aging litter materials. The microbial nutrient status was investigated by analysing the respiratory response of glucose and nutrient (N and P) supplemented microorganisms. A strong decline in qCO₂ with soil depth indicated a more efficient C use by microorganisms in later stages of decay in both forests. C_mic/C_org ratio also declined in the aspen forest with soil depth but in the pine forest it was at a maximum in the mineral soil layer. Microbial nutrient status in aspen leaf litter and pine needle litter indicated N limitation or high N demand, but changes in microbial nutrient status with soil depth differed strongly between both forests. In the aspen forest N deficiency appeared to decline in later stages of decay whereas P deficiency increased. In contrast, in the pine forest microbial growth was restricted mainly by N availability in each of the layers. Analysis of the respiratory response of CNP-supplemented microorganisms indicated that growth ability of microorganisms is related to the fungal-bacterial ratio.     

林分类型和氮添加对亚热带森林土壤氧化亚氮排放的影响

为揭示亚热带森林土壤N₂O排放对林分类型和氮添加的响应特征,选取位于福建省三明市的中亚热带米槠次生林、杉木人工林和马尾松人工林土壤为研究对象,分别设置无氮添加(N0 mg/kg)、低氮添加(N10 mg/kg)、中氮添加(N25 mg/kg)和高氮添加(N50 mg/kg)4个氮添加水平,进行微宇宙培养试验,测定土壤N₂O排放。结果表明：与无氮添加处理相比,氮添加整体上降低3种林分土壤pH,增加土壤NH₄⁺-N和NO₃^--N含量。无氮添加处理中杉木人工林和马尾松人工林土壤N₂O累积排放量分别为9.67和9.62 mg/kg,显著高于米槠次生林土壤N₂O累积排放量6.81 mg/kg。低氮添加处理中杉木人工林和马尾松人工林土壤N₂O累积排放量显著高于米槠次生林。但在中氮和高氮添加处理中,3种林分土壤N₂O累积排放量均无显著性差异。不同氮添加处理均促进3种林分土壤N     

The behaviour of nitrogen fertilizers in neutral and acid loess soils II. Distribution and balances of 15 N-tagged nitrogen

A study, to investigate the remaining fertilizer-N in undisturbed soil columns from agricultural and forest soils after 60 days of percolation (see part I), was carried out. The columns were fertilized with two 15-N tagged nitrogen fertilizers (Ca(NO₃)₂ and (NH₄)₂SO₄) at a rate of 80kg N/ha. The investigation involved the distribution and fractionation of nitrogen in the soils. The soil columns were therefore cut into 8 segments and nitrogen forms analyzed were: total N, fixed-NH₄-N, exchangeable NH₄-N, NO₃-N and organic N. Consequently, the N-balances were established. It was ascertained that immobilization and gaseous losses from the fertilizers were higher after NH₄- than after NO₃-application in both soils. Immobilization in all treatments was temperature dependent and concentrated at the upper segments of the columns. The forest soil had higher incorporation than the agricultural soil. Nitrification was low in the forest soil while in the agricultural soil there was a fairly high nitrification even at 4°C. The balances showed losses of nitrogen in the range of 10 to 35 %. While this agrees with the findings of other workers in case of the agricultural soil, it leaves however, some questions unanswered in case of the forest soil.     

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.     

太白山不同海拔土壤碳、氮、磷含量及生态化学计量特征

为探究太白山土壤碳(C)、氮(N)、磷(P)含量垂直分布特征,阐明土壤C、N、P生态化学计量学特征对海拔梯度的响应规律,在秦岭太白山1 700~3 500 m区域以100 m海拔间隔进行研究。结果表明:(1)不同海拔高度下土壤有机碳、全氮、全磷变化范围分别是23.56~83.59g kg-1、2.00~5.77 g kg-1、0.32~0.47 g kg-1。土壤有机碳与全氮含量随海拔梯度升高先增后降,土壤全磷含量空间变异较小;(2)土壤C∶N、C∶P、N∶P范围分别为7.17~18.41、60.61~190.4、5.81~12.26。随海拔增加,土壤C∶N在阔叶林带呈降低趋势,针叶林带时转变为增加趋势。土壤C∶P随海拔梯度的变化趋势与土壤C∶N类似,N∶P随海拔梯度增加先升后降,至3 200 m有所升高;(3)两个阔叶林带(辽东栎林带和桦木林带)与高山草甸的土壤C、N含量及生态化学计量比高。冷杉林带C、N含量及其生态化学计量比最小;(4)温度、含水量、海拔和植被对土壤C、N、P化学计量特征具有重要影响,通过冗余分析揭示每个因素分别可解释系统变异信息的25.0%、24.3%、11.1%和6.9%,合计为67.3%。可见这些环境因素直接决定了土壤养分及生态化学计量特征。结果可为探明森林土壤养分供应状况和限制因素及太白山生态系统的保护、森林土壤质量评价等提供基础。     

Diversity of total,nitrogen‐fixing and denitrifying bacteria in an acid forest soil

To assess the diversity of total, denitrifying and N₂‐fixing bacteria in a nitrogen (N)‐limited, acid forest soil, isolated DNA was analysed for the genes 16S rRNA, nosZ and nifH. Sequence information for these genes was obtained from clone libraries and from our TReFID computer program, which employs terminal restriction patterns for bacteria using multiple restriction enzymes. Both approaches indicated that Proteobacteria (α‐ and γ‐groups) and Acidobacteria dominated. A comprehensive list of bacteria retrieved from this soil is provided and compared with literature data on the bacterial community compositions from other sites. The study indicated that the current PCR conditions with the primers employed allowed retrieval of only a portion of the bacteria occurring in soils. Massive treatment of a soil plot with NH₄NO₃ caused an increase in the N content, which was rapidly followed by an enhancement of carbon (C) content. Thus the C/N ratio stayed below 16.0 and the soil remained N‐limited. This may explain why the bacterial diversity did not undergo drastic shifts as was tentatively inferred from the available data sets.     

Spatio-temporal Trends in Soil Solution Bc/Al and N in Relation to Critical Limits in European Forest Soils

Chemical composition of soil solution provides information on the availability of nutrients and potentially toxic substances to plant roots and mycorrhizas. It is therefore used to monitor impacts of air pollutants on soils. In this study we examined two soil solution parameters, base cations/aluminium ratio (Bc/Al_tot ratio) and inorganic nitrogen concentration (N), in samples collected at 300 intensive monitoring plots of the International Co-operative Programme on Assessment and Monitoring of Air Pollution Effects on Forests (ICP Forests) from the early 1990s to 2006 in order to detect possible critical limit exceedances (CLimE). CLimE for Bc/Al_tot ratio indicating negative effects for tree growth were only rarely detected. Quite the contrary was observed in CLimE for inorganic N concentrations where the safety limits were frequently exceeded in parts of Europe. Especially noteworthy is the number of the plots where leaching of N from forest soils occurred over the studied period. With ongoing high atmospheric N input into forest soils, we expect critical limits to be exceeded in the future as well.     

不同利用方式下土壤有机氮素矿化特征的研究

采用长期淹水密闭培养-间歇淋洗法(30℃),测定了长期(16年)定位的水田、旱地和林地土壤有机氮素的矿化氮数量,利用一级反应动力学模型对有机氮素的矿化过程进行了拟合,并探讨了不同利用方式下土壤有机氮素的矿化特征。结果表明,3种利用方式下土壤有机氮素的矿化过程均可用一级反应动力学模型很好地拟合;任意两种土壤利用方式之间的N0值差异均达1%显著水平,水田与旱地、林地之间的k值差异均达1%显著水平,而旱地与林地之间的k值差异则达5%显著水平,林地土壤氮素矿化势最大(72.96 mg kg-1),约为旱地和水田土壤的1.3倍和7.4倍,水田土壤氮素矿化速率最大(0.0908 d-1),约为旱地和林地土壤的4.1倍和2.3倍;旱地和林地土壤供氮能力大小相接近,分别为88.24 mg kg-1和89.11 mg kg-1,约为水田土壤的2倍左右。由此可见,长期(16年)不同利用方式对土壤有机氮素矿化特征影响显著,水田土壤可供矿化的有机氮数量最少且矿化时间最为短暂,旱地土壤可供矿化的有机氮数量较多且矿化时间最为缓慢持久,林地土壤可供矿化的有机氮数量最多且矿化时间较为缓慢持久。     

模拟氮沉降对华北落叶松人工林土壤微生物碳和微生物氮的动态影响

为揭示过量的大气氮沉降对华北落叶松人工林土壤微生物碳、氮和土壤呼吸的影响,通过对照(N0:0 g/(m^2·a))、轻度施氮(N1:8 g/(m^2·a))、重度施氮(N2:15 g/(m^2·a))3个外源施氮水平下5年的野外定点试验和观测,模拟过量氮沉降条件下华北落叶松人工林土壤微生物碳、氮和土壤呼吸的变化,旨在阐明林下土壤微生物和呼吸对过量氮沉降的响应及其对土壤碳氮循环的影响。结果表明:在5-10月生长季中,土壤微生物碳和氮的平均含量分别为1 098.93,97.31 mg/kg,二者都随土层深度的增加呈下降趋势;轻度施氮促进土壤微生物碳和氮的增加,重度施氮抑制土壤微生物碳和氮的增加;土壤微生物碳和微生物氮从生长初期5月起,5-7月呈增加趋势,7月出现峰值,8月降低,9-10月小幅增加,呈现"N"形曲线。土壤微生物碳氮比为4.94~18.54,且随施氮量增加而减小。各氮处理下,华北落叶松人工林土壤呼吸速率5,6月较低,7-8月持续增加,并在8月达到最高,9-10月逐渐降低。相关分析表明,土壤呼吸与土壤全氮、含水量、微生物碳和微生物氮含量呈极显著正相关关系,与土壤有机质呈显著正相关关系。在全球变化背景下,研究结果可为进一步明确过量大气氮沉降对森林生态系统碳氮循环的影响途径和机制研究提供重要参考。     

30 Years of N Fertilisation in a Forest Ecosystem - The Fate of Added N and Effects on N Fluxes

We investigated the fate of added N and its effect on N fluxes in a long-term nitrogen fertilisation experiment. Ammonium nitrate was added annually (30 years) at mean rates of 0 (N0), 35 (N1), 73 (N2) and 108 (N3) kg N ha^?1 yr^?1 to a spruce forest in Sweden, which initially showed signs of N deficiency. Net N mineralisation and N leaching were measured in situ together with soil N pools. We used the PnET-CN model to model the maximum sustainable net N mineralisation rate. The short-term fate of added N was studied by addition of ¹⁵NH₄Cl. In N1 and N2 most of the added N (80–120%) was retained in the system, compared to 45% in N3. A major fraction was retained in the organic horizons (58–79%). The internal N fluxes had increased considerably as a result of the N additions. Net N mineralisation in N1 had increased by a factor 10 and litterfall N flux by a factor 4. The PnET-CN model could not mimic the fast changes in tree growth and N mineralisation, but the maximum N mineralisation rate seems realistic. The ratio of actual to maximum mineralisation rate indicates that the N1 treatment now is close to N saturation, and nitrate was occasionally found in soil solution from the B-horizon in N1. The N retained was probably to a great extent immobilised directly by mycorrhizal fungi, as indicated by the high amounts of ¹⁵N found in the L and F layers and by the great fraction of ¹⁵N found in amino sugars compared to amino acids.     

Near-infrared characteristics of forest humus are correlated with soil respiration and microbial biomass in burnt soil

Near-infrared spectroscopy and soil physicochemical determinations (pH_H2O, organic matter content, total C content, NH _inf4 ^sup+ , total N content, cation-exchange capacity, and base saturation) were used to characterize fire-or wood ash-treated humus samples. The spectroscopic and the soil physicochemical analysis data from the humus samples were used separately to explain observed variations in soil respiration and microbial biomass C by partial least-square regression. The first regression component obtained from the physicochemical and spectroscopic characterization explained 10–12% and 60–80% of the biological variation, respectively. This suggests that information on organic material collected from near-infrared spectra is very useful for explaining biological variations in forest humus.     

Contrasting response of two forest soils to nitrogen input: rapidly altered NO and N2O emissions and nirK abundance

Denitrification represents one of the main microbial processes producing the primary and secondary greenhouse gases nitrous oxide (N₂O) and nitric oxide (NO) in soils. It is well established that abiotic factors like the soil water content and the availability of nitrogen (N) are key parameters determining the activity of denitrifiers in soils. However, soils differing regarding their characteristics such as the content of C_org, the soil texture or the pH value may respond in specific manners to equivalent changes in soil moisture and N input. Thus, short-term incubation experiments were performed to test and compare the capacity of two contrasting Austrian forest soils to respond to mineral N application at increased soil water contents. Soils from the pristine Rothwald forest (rich in C_org) and the more acidic Schottenwald forest (poor in C_org) were amended with either NH ₄ ⁺ -N or NO ₃ ^? -N and were incubated at 40% and 70% water-filled pore space for 4 days. Changes in mineral N pools, nitrite reductase activity and NO and N₂O emission rates were measured, and the abundance and structural community composition of the functional group involved in nitrite reduction were analysed via quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of the nirK gene. Rapid and distinct activity responses to increased soil moisture and altered mineral nitrogen availability were observed in two contrasting forest soils. In both soils, nitrogen oxide emission rates were stimulated by N inputs and, depending on the soil moisture status, either NO or N₂O emission was prevailing. However, different N cycling processes appeared to predominate in either soil under equivalent treatment. Nitrogen oxide emissions peaked following NO ₃ ^? application in Schottenwald soils but were the highest after NH ₄ ⁺ application in Rothwald soils. Denitrifying (nirK) communities differed significantly in Rothwald and Schottenwald soils; however, changes in the community structure were marginal during the short-term incubation. Abundances of nirK genes remained unaffected by N application in either soil. The soil water content affected nirK gene abundances only in Rothwald soil, indicating a distinct reaction of nitrite reducing communities in the two soils.     

Nitrogen addition impacts on the emissions of greenhouse gases depending on the forest type: a case study in Changbai Mountain,Northeast China

Purpose

Anthropogenic-induced greenhouse gas (GHG) emission rates derived from the soil are influenced by long-term nitrogen (N) deposition and N fertilization. However, our understanding of the interplay between increased N load and GHG emissions among soil aggregates is incomplete.

Materials and methods

Here, we conducted an incubation experiment to explore the effects of soil aggregate size and N addition on GHG emissions. The soil aggregate samples (0–10 cm) were collected from two 6-year N addition experiment sites with different vegetation types (mixed Korean pine forest vs. broad-leaved forest) in Northeast China. Carbon dioxide (CO₂), nitrous oxide (N₂O), and methane (CH₄) production were quantified from the soil samples in the laboratory using gas chromatography with 24-h intervals during the incubation (at 20 °C for 168 h with 80 % field water capacity).

Results and discussion

The results showed that the GHG emission/uptake rates were significantly higher in the micro-aggregates than in the macro-aggregates due to the higher concentration of soil bio-chemical properties (DOC, MBC, NO₃ ^?, NH₄ ⁺, SOC and TN) in smaller aggregates. For the N addition treatments, the emission/uptake rates of GHG decreased after N addition across aggregate sizes especially in mixed Korean pine forest where CO₂ emission was decreased about 30 %. Similar patterns in GHG emission/uptake rates expressed by per soil organic matter basis were observed in response to N addition treatments, indicating that N addition might decrease the decomposability of SOM in mixed Korean pine forest. The global warming potential (GWP) which was mainly contributed by CO₂ emission (>98 %) decreased in mixed Korean pine forest after N addition but no changes in broad-leaved forest.

Conclusions

These findings suggest that soil aggregate size is an important factor controlling GHG emissions through mediating the content of substrate resources in temperate forest ecosystems. The inhibitory effect of N addition on the GHG emission/uptake rates depends on the forest type.

     

Heterotrophic nitrification is the predominant NO<Stack><Subscript>3</Subscript><Superscript>−</Superscript></Stack> production mechanism in coniferous but not broad-leaf acid forest soil in subtropical China

A study was carried out to investigate the potential gross nitrogen (N) transformations in natural secondary coniferous and evergreen broad-leaf forest soils in subtropical China. The simultaneously occurring gross N transformations in soil were quantified by a ¹⁵N tracing study. The results showed that N dynamics were dominated by NH₄⁺ turnover in both soils. The total mineralization (from labile and recalcitrant organic N) in the broad-leaf forest was more than twice the rate in the coniferous forest soil. The total rate of mineral N production (NH₄⁺ + NO₃⁻) from the large recalcitrant organic N pool was similar in the two forest soils. However, appreciable NO₃⁻ production was only observed in the coniferous forest soil due to heterotrophic nitrification (i.e. direct oxidation of organic N to NO₃⁻), whereas nitrification in broad-leaf forest was little (or negligible). Thus, a distinct shift occurred from predominantly NH₄⁺ production in the broad-leaf forest soil to a balanced production of NH₄⁺ and NO₃⁻ in the coniferous forest soil. This may be a mechanism to ensure an adequate supply of available mineral N in the coniferous forest soil and most likely reflects differences in microbial community patterns (possibly saprophytic, fungal, activities in coniferous soils). We show for the first time that the high nitrification rate in these soils may be of heterotrophic rather than autotrophic nature. Furthermore, high NO₃⁻ production was only apparent in the coniferous but not in broad-leaf forest soil. This highlights the association of vegetation type with the size and the activity of the SOM pools that ultimately determines whether only NH₄⁺ or also a high NO₃⁻ turnover is present.     

Wheat Grain Nitrogen Uptake,as Affected by Soil Total and Mineral Nitrogen,for the Determination of Optimum Nitrogen Fertilizer Rates for Wheat Production

Determination of appropriate nitrogen (N) fertilization for wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) production with respect to the available resources can result in the enhanced efficiency of agricultural systems and ecosystem health. Hence, a 3-year field experiment was conducted to determine (1) the effects of soil total N and soil mineral N (including nitrate, NO₃-N, and ammonium, NH₄-N) measured at seeding and postseeding for wet and dry soil samples at 0- to-30 cm and 0- to 60-cm depths on wheat grain N uptake and (2) the regression equations that can best explain the variation in wheat grain N uptake by N fertilizer and soil total and mineral N. Determination of wheat grain N uptake as affected by soil NO₃-N in areas with reasonable amounts of organic matter can also be used as a very useful tool for determination of appropriate N fertilization, which is of great agricultural and environmental implications.