CH4 oxidation and emissions of CH4 and N2O from Lolium perenne swards under elevated atmospheric CO2

Emissions of N₂O and CH₄ and CH₄ oxidation rates were measured from Lolium perenne swards in a short-term study under ambient (36 Pa) and elevated (60 Pa) atmospheric CO₂ at the Free Air Carbon dioxide Enrichment experiment, Eschikon, Switzerland. Elevated pCO₂ increased (P<0.05) N₂O emissions from high N fertilised (11.2 g N m⁻²) swards by 69%, but had no significant effect on net emissions of CH₄. Application of ¹³C-CH₄ (11 μl l⁻¹; 11 at.% excess ¹³C) to closed chamber headspaces in microplots enabled determination of rates of ¹³C-CH₄ oxidation even when net CH₄ fluxes from main plots were positive. We found a significant interaction between fertiliser application rate and atmospheric pCO₂ on ¹³C-CH₄ oxidation rates that was attributed to differences in gross nitrification rates and C and N availability. CH₄ oxidation was slower and thought to be temporarily inhibited in the high N ambient pCO₂ sward. The most rapid CH₄ oxidation of 14.6 μg ¹³C-CH₄ m⁻² h⁻¹ was measured in the high fertilised elevated pCO₂ sward, and we concluded that either elevated pCO₂ had a stimulatory effect on CH₄ oxidation or inhibition of oxidation following fertiliser application was lowered under elevated pCO₂. Application of ¹⁴NH₄¹⁵NO₃ and ¹⁵NH₄¹⁵NO₃ (10 at.% excess ¹⁵N) to different replicates enabled determination of the respective contributions of nitrification and denitrification to N₂O emissions. Inhibition of CH₄ oxidation in the high fertilised ambient pCO₂ sward, due to competition between NH₃ and CH₄ for methane monooxygenase enzymes or toxic effects of NH₂OH or NO₂⁻ produced during nitrification, was hypothesised to increase gross nitrification (12.0 mg N kg dry soil⁻¹) and N₂O emissions during nitrification (327 mg ¹⁵N-N₂O m⁻² over 11 d). Our results indicate that increasing atmospheric concentrations of CO₂ may increase emissions of N₂O by denitrification, lower nitrification rates and either increase or decrease the ability of soil to act as a sink for atmospheric CH₄ depending on fertiliser management.     

Carbon dynamics in a temperate grassland soil after 9 years exposure to elevated CO2 (Swiss FACE)

Elevated pCO₂ increases the net primary production, C/N ratio, and C input to the soil and hence provides opportunities to sequester CO₂-C in soils to mitigate anthropogenic CO₂. The Swiss 9 y grassland FACE (free air carbon-dioxide enrichment) experiment enabled us to explore the potential of elevated pCO₂ (60 Pa), plant species (Lolium perenne L. and Trifolium repens L.) and nitrogen fertilization (140 and 540 kg ha⁻¹ y⁻¹) on carbon sequestration and mineralization by a temperate grassland soil. Use of ¹³C in combination with respired CO₂ enabled the identification of the origins of active fractions of soil organic carbon. Elevated pCO₂ had no significant effect on total soil carbon, and total soil carbon was also independent of plant species and nitrogen fertilization. However, new (FACE-derived depleted ¹³C) input of carbon into the soil in the elevated pCO₂ treatments was dependent on nitrogen fertilization and plant species. New carbon input into the top 15 cm of soil from L. perennne high nitrogen (LPH), L. perenne low nitrogen (LPL) and T. repens low nitrogen (TRL) treatments during the 9 y elevated pCO₂ experiment was 9.3±2.0, 12.1±1.8 and 6.8±2.7 Mg C ha⁻¹, respectively. Fractions of FACE-derived carbon in less protected soil particles >53 μm in size were higher than in <53 μm particles. In addition, elevated pCO₂ increased CO₂ emission over the 118 d incubation by 55, 61 and 13% from undisturbed soil from LPH, LPL and TRL treatments, respectively; but only by 13, 36, and 18%, respectively, from disturbed soil (without roots). Higher input of new carbon led to increased decomposition of older soil organic matter (priming effect), which was driven by the quantity (mainly roots) of newly input carbon (L. perenne) as well as the quality of old soil carbon (e.g. higher recalcitrance in T. repens). Based on these results, the potential of well managed and established temperate grassland soils to sequester carbon under continued increasing concentrations of atmospheric CO₂ appears to be rather limited.     

Priming depletes soil carbon and releases nitrogen in a scrub-oak ecosystem exposed to elevated CO2

Elevated atmospheric CO₂ tends to stimulate plant productivity, which could either stimulate or suppress the processing of soil carbon, thereby feeding back to atmospheric CO₂ concentrations. We employed an acid-hydrolysis-incubation method and a net nitrogen-mineralization assay to assess stability of soil carbon pools and short-term nitrogen dynamics in a Florida scrub-oak ecosystem after six years of exposure to elevated CO₂. We found that soil carbon concentration in the slow pool was 27% lower in elevated than ambient CO₂ plots at 0-10 cm depth. The difference in carbon mass was equivalent to roughly one-third of the increase in plant biomass that occurred in the same experiment. These results concur with previous reports from this ecosystem that elevated CO₂ stimulates microbial degradation of relatively stable soil organic carbon pools. Accordingly, elevated CO₂ increased net N mineralization in the 10-30 cm depth, which may increase N availability, thereby allowing for continued stimulation of plant productivity by elevated CO₂. Our findings suggest that soil texture and climate may explain the differential response of soil carbon among various long-term, field-based CO₂ studies. Increased mineralization of stable soil organic carbon by a CO₂-induced priming effect may diminish the terrestrial carbon sink globally.     

Atmospheric CO2 enrichment and nutrient additions to planted soil increase mineralisation of soil organic matter, but do not alter microbial utilisation of plant- and soil C-sources

Plants link atmospheric and soil carbon pools through CO₂ fixation, carbon translocation, respiration and rhizodeposition. Within soil, microbial communities both mediate carbon-sequestration and return to the atmosphere through respiration. The balance of microbial use of plant-derived and soil organic matter (SOM) carbon sources and the influence of plant-derived inputs on microbial activity are key determinants of soil carbon-balance, but are difficult to quantify. In this study we applied continuous ¹³C-labelling to soil-grown Lolium perenne, imposing atmospheric CO₂ concentrations and nutrient additions as experimental treatments. The relative use of plant- and SOM-carbon by microbial communities was quantified by compound-specific ¹³C-analysis of phospholipid fatty acids (PLFAs). An isotopic mass-balance approach was applied to partition the substrate sources to soil respiration (i.e. plant- and SOM-derived), allowing direct quantification of SOM-mineralisation. Increased CO₂ concentration and nutrient amendment each increased plant growth and rhizodeposition, but did not greatly alter microbial substrate use in soil. However, the increased root growth and rhizosphere volume with elevated CO₂ and nutrient amendment resulted in increased rates of SOM-mineralisation per experimental unit. As rhizosphere microbial communities utilise both plant- and SOM C-sources, the results demonstrate that plant-induced priming of SOM-mineralisation can be driven by factors increasing plant growth. That the balance of microbial C-use was not affected on a specific basis may suggest that the treatments did not affect soil C-balance in this study.     

Effects of elevated CO2 and O3 on soil respiration under ponderosa pine

Soil respiration represents the integrated response of plant roots and soil organisms to environmental conditions and the availability of C in the soil. A multi-year study was conducted in outdoor sun-lit controlled-environment chambers containing a reconstructed ponderosa pine/soil-litter system. The study used a 2×2 factorial design with two levels of CO₂ and two levels of O₃ and three replicates of each treatment. The objectives of our study were to assess the effects of long-term exposure to elevated CO₂ and O₃, singly and in combination, on soil respiration, fine root growth and soil organisms. Fine root growth and soil organisms were included in the study as indicators of the autotrophic and heterotrophic components of soil respiration. The study evaluated three hypotheses: (1) elevated CO₂ will increase C assimilation and allocation belowground increasing soil respiration; (2) elevated O₃ will decrease C assimilation and allocation belowground decreasing soil respiration and (3) as elevated CO₂ and O₃ have opposing effects on C assimilation and allocation, elevated CO₂ will eliminate or reduce the negative effects of elevated O₃ on soil respiration. A mixed-model covariance analysis was used to remove the influences of soil temperature, soil moisture and days from planting when testing for the effects of CO₂ and O₃ on soil respiration. The covariance analysis showed that elevated CO₂ significantly reduced the soil respiration while elevated O₃ had no significant effect. Despite the lack of a direct CO₂ stimulation of soil respiration, there were significant interactions between CO₂ and soil temperature, soil moisture and days from planting indicating that elevated CO₂ altered soil respiration indirectly. In elevated CO₂, soil respiration was more sensitive to soil temperature changes and less sensitive to soil moisture changes than in ambient CO₂. Soil respiration increased more with days from planting in elevated than in ambient CO₂. Elevated CO₂ had no effect on fine root biomass but increased abundance of culturable bacteria and fungi suggesting that these increases were associated with increased C allocation belowground. Elevated CO₂ had no significant effect on microarthropod and nematode abundance. Elevated O₃ had no significant effects on any parameter except it reduced the sensitivity of soil respiration to changes in temperature.     

Temporal and spatial dynamics of soil solution C and N concentrations during Lolium perenne L. sward establishment and the effects of elevated CO2 and N additions

There is now clear evidence for a prolonged increase in atmospheric CO₂ concentrations and enrichment of the biosphere with N. Understanding the fate of C in the plant-soil system under different CO₂ and N regimes is therefore of considerable importance in predicting the environmental effects of climate change and in predicting the sustainability of ecosystems. Swards of Lolium perenne were grown from seed in a Eutric Cambisol at either ambient (ca. 350 μmol mol⁻¹) or elevated (700 μmol mol⁻¹) atmospheric pCO₂ and subjected to two inorganic N fertilizer regimes (no added N and 70 kg N ha⁻¹ month⁻¹). After germination, soil solution concentrations of dissolved organic C (DOC), dissolved inorganic N (DIN), dissolved organic N (DON), phenolics and H⁺ were measured at five depths down the soil profile over 3 months. The exploration of soil layers down the soil profile by roots caused transient increases in soil solution DOC, DON and phenolic concentrations, which then subsequently returned to lower quasi-stable concentrations. In general, the addition of N tended to increase DOC and DON concentrations while exposure to elevated pCO₂ had the opposite effect. These treatment effects, however, gradually diminished over the duration of the experiment from the top of the soil profile downwards. The ambient pCO₂ plus added N regime was the only treatment to maintain a notable difference in soil solution solute concentration, relative to other treatments. This effect on soil solution chemistry appeared to be largely indirect resulting from increased plant growth and a decrease in soil moisture content. Our results show that although plant growth responses to elevated pCO₂ are critically dependent upon N availability, the organic chemistry of the soil solution is relatively insensitive to changes in plant growth once the plants have become established.     

Rice root-derived carbon input and its effect on decomposition of old soil carbon pool under elevated CO2

Rice (Oryza sativa) was grown in sunlit, semi-closed growth chambers (4×3×2 m, L×W×H) at 650 μl l⁻¹ CO₂ (elevated CO₂) to determine: (1) rice root-derived carbon (C) input into the soil under elevated CO₂ in one growing season, and (2) the effect of the newly input C on decomposition of the more recalcitrant native soil organic C. The initial δ¹³C value of the experimental soil was −25.8‰, which was 6‰ less depleted in ¹³C than the plants grown under elevated CO₂. Significant changes in δ¹³C of the soil organic C were detected after one growing season. The amount of new soil C input was estimated to be 0.9 t ha⁻¹ (or 2.1%) at 30 kg N ha⁻¹ and 1.8 t ha⁻¹ (4.1%) at 90 kg N ha⁻¹. Changes in soil δ¹³C suggested that the surface 5 cm of soil received more C input from plants than soils below. Laboratory incubation (25 °C) of soils from different horizons indicated that increased availability of the labile plant-derived C in the soil reduced decomposition of the native soil organic C. Provided the retardant effect of the new C on old soil organic C holds in the field in the longer-term, paddy soils will likely sequester more C from the atmosphere if more plant C enters the soil under elevated atmospheric CO₂.     

A new technique to measure soil CO2 efflux at constant CO2 concentration

A new principle for measuring soil CO₂ efflux at constant ambient concentration is introduced. The measuring principle relies on the continuous absorption of CO₂ within the system to achieve a constant CO₂ concentration inside the soil chamber at ambient level, thus balancing the amount of CO₂ entering the soil chamber by diffusion from the soil. We report results that show reliable soil CO₂ efflux measurements with the new system. The novel measuring principle does not disturb the natural gradient of CO₂ within the soil, while allowing for continuous capture of the CO₂ released from the soil. It therefore holds great potential for application in simultaneous measurements of soil CO₂ efflux and its δ¹³C, since both variables show sensitivity to a distortion of the soil CO₂ profile commonly found in conventional chamber techniques.     

Short and long-term effects of elevated CO2 on Lolium perenne rhizodeposition and its consequences on soil organic matter turnover and plant N yield

It is still unclear whether elevated CO₂ increases plant root exudation and consequently affects the soil microbial biomass. The effects of elevated CO₂ on the fate of the C and nitrogen (N) contained in old soil organic matter pools is also unclear. In this study the short and long-term effects of elevated CO₂ on C and N pools and fluxes were assessed by growing isolated plants of ryegrass (Lolium perenne) in glasshouses at elevated and ambient atmospheric CO₂ and using soil from the New Zealand FACE site that had >4 years exposure to CO₂ enrichment. Using ¹⁴CO₂ pulse labelling, the effects of elevated CO₂ on C allocation within the plant-soil system were studied. Under elevated CO₂ more root derived C was found in the soil and in the microbial biomass 48 h after labelling. The increased availability of substrate significantly stimulated soil microbial growth and acted as priming effect, enhancing native soil organic matter decomposition regardless of the mineral N supply. Despite indications of faster N cycling in soil under elevated CO₂, N availability to plants stayed unchanged. Soil previously exposed to elevated CO₂ exhibited a higher N cycling rate but again there was no effect on plant N uptake. With respect to the difficulties of extrapolating glasshouse experiment results to the field, we concluded that the accumulation of coarse organic matter observed in the field under elevated CO₂ was probably not created by an imbalance between C and N but was likely to be due to more complex phenomena involving soil mesofauna and/or other nutrients limitations.     

Seasonality of soil biological properties in a poplar plantation growing under elevated atmospheric CO2

Microorganisms are the regulators of decomposition processes occurring in soil, they also constitute a labile fraction of potentially available N. Microbial mineralization and nutrient cycling could be affected through altered plant inputs at elevated CO_2. An understanding of microbial biomass and microbial activity in response to belowground processes induced by elevated CO₂ is thus crucial in order to predict the long-term response of ecosystems to climatic changes. Microbial biomass, microbial respiration, inorganic N, extractable P and six enzymatic activities related to C, N, P and S cycling (β-glucosidase, cellulase, chitinase, protease, acid phosphatase and arylsulphatase) were investigated in soils of a poplar plantation exposed to elevated CO_2. Clones of Populus alba, Populus nigra and Populus x euramericana were grown in six 314 m² plots treated either with atmospheric (control) or enriched (550 μmol mol⁻¹ CO₂) CO₂ concentration with FACE technology (free-air CO₂ enrichment). Chemical and biochemical parameters were monitored throughout a year in soil samples collected at five sampling dates starting from Autumn 2000 to Autumn 2001.

The aim of the present work was: (1) to determine if CO₂ enrichment induces modifications to soil microbial pool size and metabolism, (2) to test how the seasonal fluctuations of soil biochemical properties and CO₂ level interact, (3) to evaluate if microbial nutrient acquisition activity is changed under elevated CO₂.

CO₂ enrichment significantly affected soil nutrient content and three enzyme activities: acid phosphatase, chitinase and arylsulphatase, indicators of nutrient acquisition activity. Microbial biomass increased by a 16% under elevated CO₂. All soil biochemical properties were significantly affected by the temporal variability and the interaction between time and CO₂ level significantly influenced β-glucosidase activity and microbial respiration. Data on arylsulphatase and chitinase activity suggest a possible shift of microbial population in favour of fungi induced by the FACE treatment.     

Nitrogen fertiliser rate affects the frequency of nitrate-dissimilating Pseudomonas spp. in the rhizosphere of Lolium perenne grown under elevated pCO2 (Swiss FACE)

The effect of elevated pCO₂ (60 Pa) on the frequency of nitrate-dissimilating Pseudomonas (NDP) was investigated in the rhizosphere of fertilised Lolium perenne swards in the Swiss Free Air Carbon dioxide Enrichment (FACE) experiment. Numbers of cultivable root-associated Pseudomonas were greater under elevated (60 Pa) than under ambient (36 Pa) pCO₂ in both high and low N-fertilised swards. For both pCO₂ conditions, the NDP frequency decreased with closer root proximity to L. perenne roots in low fertilised swards. Anyway, in high N swards the NDP frequency was similar in root and soil fractions. Thus, N availability may be a major factor influencing NDP populations under elevated pCO₂, most likely due to increased competition for N between plant and nitrate-dissimilating bacteria.     

Long term CO2 enrichment stimulates N-mineralisation and enzyme activities in calcareous grassland

Elevated concentration of atmospheric carbon dioxide will affect carbon cycling in terrestrial ecosystems. Possible effects include increased carbon input into the soil through the rhizosphere, altered nutrient concentrations of plant litter and altered soil moisture. Consequently, the ongoing rise in atmospheric carbon dioxide might indirectly influence soil biota, decomposition and nutrient transformations.N-mineralisation and activities of the enzymes invertase, xylanase, urease, protease, arylsulfatase, and alkaline phosphatase were investigated in spring and summer in calcareous grassland, which had been exposed to ambient and elevated CO₂ concentrations (365 and 600 μl l⁻¹) for six growing seasons.In spring, N-mineralisation increased significantly by 30% at elevated CO₂, while there was no significant difference between treatments in summer (+3%). The response of soil enzymes to CO₂ enrichment was also more pronounced in spring, when alkaline phosphatase and urease activities were increased most strongly by 32 and 21%. In summer, differences of activities between CO₂ treatments were greatest in the case of urease and protease (+21 and +17% at elevated CO₂).The stimulation of N-mineralisation and enzyme activities at elevated CO₂ was probably caused by higher soil moisture and/or increased root biomass. We conclude that elevated CO₂ will enhance below-ground C- and N-cycling in grasslands.     

Gross fluxes of nitrogen in grassland soil exposed to elevated atmospheric pCO2 for seven years

Plant response to increasing atmospheric CO₂ partial pressure (pCO₂) depends on several factors, one of which is mineral nitrogen availability facilitated by the mineralisation of organic N. Gross rates of N mineralisation were examined in grassland soils exposed to ambient (36 Pa) and elevated (60 Pa) atmospheric pCO₂ for 7 years in the Swiss Free Air Carbon dioxide Enrichment experiment. It was hypothesized that increased below-ground translocation of photoassimilates at elevated pCO₂ would lead to an increase in immobilisation of N due to an excess supply of energy to the roots and rhizosphere. Intact soil cores were sampled from Lolium perenne and Trifolium repens swards in May and September, 2000. The rates of gross N mineralisation (m) and NH₄⁺ consumption (c) were determined using ¹⁵N isotopic dilution during a 51-h period of incubation. The rates of N immobilisation were estimated either as the difference between m and the net N mineralisation rate or as the amount of ¹⁵N released from the microbial biomass after chloroform fumigation. Soil samples from both swards showed that the rates of gross N mineralisation and NH₄⁺ consumption did not change significantly under elevated pCO₂. The lack of a significant effect of elevated pCO₂ on organic N turnover was consistent with the similar size of the microbial biomass and similar immobilisation of applied ¹⁵N in the microbial N pool under ambient and elevated pCO₂. Rates of m and c, and microbial ¹⁵N did not differ significantly between the two sward types although a weak (p<0.1) pCO₂ by sward interaction occurred. A significantly larger amount of NO₃⁻ was recovered at the end of the incubation in soil taken from T. repens swards compared to that from L. perenne swards. Eleven percent of the added ¹⁵N were recovered in the roots in the cores sampled under L. perenne, while only 5% were recovered in roots of T. repens. These results demonstrate that roots remained a considerable sink despite the shoots being cut at ground level prior to incubation and suggest that the calculation of N immobilisation from gross and net rates of mineralisation in soils with a high root biomass does not reflect the actual immobilisation of N in the microbial biomass. The results of this study did not support the initial hypothesis and indicate that below-ground turnover of N, as well as N availability, measured in short-term experiments are not strongly affected by long-term exposure to elevated pCO₂. It is suggested that differences in plant N demand, rather than major changes in soil N mineralisation/immobilisation, are the long-term driving factors for N dynamics in these grassland systems.     

Elevated CO2 concentration and nitrogen fertilisation effects on N2O and CH4 fluxes and biomass production of Phleum pratense on farmed peat soil

The effects of elevated CO₂ supply on N₂O and CH₄ fluxes and biomass production of Phleum pratense were studied in a greenhouse experiment. Three sets of 12 farmed peat soil mesocosms (10 cm dia, 47 cm long) sown with P. pratense and equally distributed in four thermo-controlled greenhouses were fertilised with a commercial fertiliser in order to add 2, 6 or 10 g N m⁻². In two of the greenhouses, CO₂ concentration was kept at atmospheric concentration (360 μmol mol⁻¹) and in the other two at doubled concentration (720 μmol mol⁻¹). Soil temperature was kept at 15 °C and air temperature at 20 °C. Natural lighting was supported by artificial light and deionized water was used to regulate soil moisture. Forage was harvested and the plants fertilised three times during the basic experiment, followed by an extra fertilisations and harvests. At the end of the experiment CH₄ production and CH₄ oxidation potentials were determined; roots were collected and the biomass was determined. From the three first harvests the amount of total N in the aboveground biomass was determined. N₂O and CH₄ exchange was monitored using a closed chamber technique and a gas chromatograph. The highest N₂O fluxes (on average, 255 μg N₂O m⁻² h⁻¹ during period IV) occurred just after fertilisation at high water contents, and especially at the beginning of the growing season (on average, 490 μg N₂O m⁻² h⁻¹ during period I) when the competition of vegetation for N was low. CH₄ fluxes were negligible throughout the experiment, and for all treatments the production and oxidation potentials of CH₄ were inconsequential. Especially at the highest rates of fertilisation, the elevated supply of CO₂ increased above- and below-ground biomass production, but both at the highest and lowest rates of fertilisation, decreased the total amount of N in the aboveground dry biomass. N₂O fluxes tended to be higher under doubled CO₂ concentrations, indicating that increasing atmospheric CO₂ concentration may affect N and C dynamics in farmed peat soil.     

大气CO2浓度升高与氮肥互作对玉米光合特性及产量的影响

为阐明大气CO_2浓度升高和氮肥交互作用对C4作物玉米光合生理和产量的影响,本研究利用自由大气CO_2富集(FACE)平台,以玉米品种‘郑单958’为试验材料,在不同施氮量[常氮180kg(N)×hm~(-2)、低氮72kg(N)×hm-2]下比较大气CO_2浓度[(400±15)μmol×mol-1]和高CO_2浓度[(550±15)μmol×mol-1]对玉米生长的影响。结果表明:1)大气CO_2浓度升高使玉米苗期叶片叶绿素浓度显著(P=0.025)增加9.5%,抽雄期净光合速率显著(P=0.009)增加9.0%;低氮和常氮下,高CO_2浓度使玉米各主要生育期胞间CO_2浓度分别显著增加34.8%～48.5%和40.0%～49.4%,气孔导度在大口期和抽雄期分别显著下降21.6%(P=0.015)和22.1%(P=0.010),玉米叶片水分利用效率在大口期、抽雄期和灌浆期分别显著增加12.9%(P=0.002)、 9.8%(P=0.019)和18.8%(P=0.001);高CO_2浓度使玉米非光化学淬灭呈降低趋势、PSII有效光化学量子产量有增加趋势;相同氮水平下,高CO_2浓度对玉米产量没有显著影响。2)高CO_2浓度和合理施氮交互作用对玉米功能叶叶绿素含量、净光合速率、PSⅡ有效光化学量子产量增加有一定的促进作用,如在大口期和抽雄期,常氮+高CO_2浓度处理叶绿素含量比低氮+大气CO_2浓度处理增加17.3%和10.7%,高CO_2浓度和合理施氮量交互作用有增加玉米产量的潜力,合理增加施氮量促进了CO_2肥效的发挥。在未来大气CO_2浓度升高条件下合理施氮对C4作物玉米生长发育有促进作用。     

Effect of elevated CO2 on soil N dynamics in a temperate grassland soil

The response of terrestrial ecosystems to elevated atmospheric CO₂ is related to the availability of other nutrients and in particular to nitrogen (N). Here we present results on soil N transformation dynamics from a N-limited temperate grassland that had been under Free Air CO₂ Enrichment (FACE) for six years. A ¹⁵N labelling laboratory study (i.e. in absence of plant N uptake) was carried out to identify the effect of elevated CO₂ on gross soil N transformations. The simultaneous gross N transformation rates in the soil were analyzed with a ¹⁵N tracing model which considered mineralization of two soil organic matter (SOM) pools, included nitrification from NH₄⁺ and from organic-N to NO₃⁻ and analysed the rate of dissimilatory NO₃⁻ reduction to NH₄⁺ (DNRA). Results indicate that the mineralization of labile organic-N became more important under elevated CO₂. At the same time the gross rate of NH₄⁺ immobilization increased by 20%, while NH₄⁺ oxidation to NO₃⁻ was reduced by 25% under elevated CO₂. The NO₃⁻ dynamics under elevated CO₂ were characterized by a 52% increase in NO₃⁻ immobilization and a 141% increase in the DNRA rate, while NO₃⁻ production via heterotrophic nitrification was reduced to almost zero. The increased turnover of the NH₄⁺ pool, combined with the increased DNRA rate provided an indication that the available N in the grassland soil may gradually shift towards NH₄⁺ under elevated CO₂. The advantage of such a shift is that NH₄⁺ is less prone to N losses, which may increase the N retention and N use efficiency in the grassland ecosystem under elevated CO₂.     

Changes in forest soil organic matter pools after a decade of elevated CO2 and O3

The impact of rising atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂) may be mitigated, in part, by enhanced rates of net primary production and greater C storage in plant biomass and soil organic matter (SOM). However, C sequestration in forest soils may be offset by other environmental changes such as increasing tropospheric ozone (O₃) or vary based on species-specific growth responses to elevated CO₂. To understand how projected increases in atmospheric CO₂ and O₃ alter SOM formation, we used physical fractionation to characterize soil C and N at the Rhinelander Free Air CO₂-O₃ Enrichment (FACE) experiment. Tracer amounts of ¹⁵NH₄⁺ were applied to the forest floor of Populus tremuloides, P. tremuloides-Betula papyrifera and P. tremuloides-Acer saccharum communities exposed to factorial CO₂ and O₃ treatments. The ¹⁵N tracer and strongly depleted ¹³C-CO₂ were traced into SOM fractions over four years. Over time, C and N increased in coarse particulate organic matter (cPOM) and decreased in mineral-associated organic matter (MAOM) under elevated CO₂ relative to ambient CO₂. As main effects, neither CO₂ nor O₃ significantly altered ¹⁵N recovery in SOM. Elevated CO₂ significantly increased new C in all SOM fractions, and significantly decreased old C in fine POM (fPOM) and MAOM over the duration of our study. Overall, our observations indicate that elevated CO₂ has altered SOM cycling at this site to favor C and N accumulation in less stable pools, with more rapid turnover. Elevated O₃ had the opposite effect, significantly reducing cPOM N by 15% and significantly increasing the C:N ratio by 7%. Our results demonstrate that CO₂ can enhance SOM turnover, potentially limiting long-term C sequestration in terrestrial ecosystems; plant community composition is an important determinant of the magnitude of this response.     

Elevated CO2 differentially alters belowground plant and soil microbial community structure in reed canary grass-invaded experimental wetlands

Several recent studies have indicated that an enriched atmosphere of carbon dioxide (CO₂) could exacerbate the intensity of plant invasions within natural ecosystems, but little is known of how rising CO₂ impacts the belowground characteristics of these invaded systems. In this study, we examined the effects of elevated CO₂ and nitrogen (N) inputs on plant and soil microbial community characteristics of plant communities invaded by reed canary grass, Phalaris arundinacea L. We grew the invasive grass under two levels of invasion: the invader was either dominant (high invasion) at >90% plant cover or sub-dominant (low invasion) at <50% plant cover. Experimental wetland communities were grown for four months in greenhouses that received either 600 or 365 μl l⁻¹ (ambient) CO₂. Within each of three replicate rooms per CO₂ treatment, the plant communities were grown under high (30 mg l⁻¹) or low (5 mg l⁻¹) N. In contrast to what is often predicted under N limitation, we found that elevated CO₂ increased native graminoid biomass at low N, but not at high N. The aboveground biomass of reed canary grass did not respond to elevated CO₂, despite it being a fast-growing C3 species. Although elevated CO₂ had no impact on the plant biomass of heavily invaded communities, the relative abundance of several soil microbial indicators increased. In contrast, the moderately invaded plant communities displayed increased total root biomass under elevated CO_2, while little impact occurred on the relative abundance of soil microbial indicators. Principal components analysis indicated that overall soil microbial community structure was distinct by CO₂ level for the varying N and invasion treatments. This study demonstrates that even when elevated CO₂ does not have visible effects on aboveground plant biomass, it can have large impacts belowground.     

Rhizodeposition-induced decomposition increases N availability to wild and cultivated wheat genotypes under elevated CO2

Elevated CO₂ may increase nutrient availability in the rhizosphere by stimulating N release from recalcitrant soil organic matter (SOM) pools through enhanced rhizodeposition. We aimed to elucidate how CO₂-induced increases in rhizodeposition affect N release from recalcitrant SOM, and how wild versus cultivated genotypes of wheat mediated differential responses in soil N cycling under elevated CO₂. To quantify root-derived soil carbon (C) input and release of N from stable SOM pools, plants were grown for 1 month in microcosms, exposed to ¹³C labeling at ambient (392 μmol mol⁻¹) and elevated (792 μmol mol⁻¹) CO₂ concentrations, in soil containing ¹⁵N predominantly incorporated into recalcitrant SOM pools. Decomposition of stable soil C increased by 43%, root-derived soil C increased by 59%, and microbial-¹³C was enhanced by 50% under elevated compared to ambient CO₂. Concurrently, plant ¹⁵N uptake increased (+7%) under elevated CO₂ while ¹⁵N contents in the microbial biomass and mineral N pool decreased. Wild genotypes allocated more C to their roots, while cultivated genotypes allocated more C to their shoots under ambient and elevated CO₂. This led to increased stable C decomposition, but not to increased N acquisition for the wild genotypes. Data suggest that increased rhizodeposition under elevated CO₂ can stimulate mineralization of N from recalcitrant SOM pools and that contrasting C allocation patterns cannot fully explain plant mediated differential responses in soil N cycling to elevated CO₂.     

不同水分条件下CO2浓度升高对冬小麦碳氮转运的影响

CO2浓度升高对作物的影响日益受到重视,水分是作物生长的必要条件之一。冬小麦是我国的主要粮食作物之一,阐明高CO2浓度和水分条件互作对冬小麦碳氮转运的影响,对客观认识气候变化背景下作物的水分管理及肥料施用具有实际指导意义。本研究利用开放式CO2富集系统(FACE)平台,以冬麦品种‘中麦175’为试验材料,采用盆栽试验方法,研究了不同CO2浓度[正常浓度(391±40)μmol·mol?1和高浓度(550±60)μmol·mol?1]及水分条件(湿润条件和干旱条件,即75%和55%田间土壤最大持水量)的冬小麦花前碳氮积累及花后碳氮转运的规律特征。结果表明:湿润条件下,与正常CO2浓度相比,高CO2浓度促进冬小麦地上部干物质及碳氮积累,开花期增幅分别为18.1%、16.5%、14.9%,成熟期增幅分别为6.6%、1.3%、4.5%,并提高碳氮转运能力及对籽粒贡献率,转运量、转运率及对籽粒贡献率的增幅碳素依次为39.3%、20.0%、30.0%,氮素依次为19.1%、3.8%、10.8%。干旱条件下,与正常CO2浓度相比,高CO2浓度对地上部碳氮积累有一定的促进作用,开花期和成熟期碳积累量分别增加3.0%和10.7%,氮积累量分别增加0和15.8%;但高CO2浓度阻碍了碳氮的转运,转运量、转运率降幅碳素分别为10.2%、12.8%,氮素分别为7.2%、7.1%;碳氮对籽粒贡献率则变化不同,碳降低14.4%,而氮升高31.3%。干旱及高CO2浓度互作与湿润条件正常CO2浓度处理相比,冬小麦碳素转运对籽粒贡献率降低更明显,地上部碳素转运量、转运率及对籽粒贡献率降幅分别为36.2%、16.9%、22.3%,但提高了氮素转运对籽粒贡献率,氮素转运量及转运率分别降低35.7%、15.2%,对籽粒贡献率增加7.0%。综合而言,高CO2浓度可促进冬小麦碳氮积累及其在花后向籽粒的转运,水分不足可能成为主要的物质转运障碍因子,限制CO2促进作用发挥。