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.     

Application of (15NH4)2SO4 to study N dynamics in hoop pine plantation and adjacent native forest of subtropical Australia: the effects of injection depth and litter addition

Purpose

Hoop pine (Araucaria cunninghamii) is a nitrogen (N)-demanding native Australian softwood plantation species. Litter quality and its effects on soil mineral N and ¹⁵N transformations have not been well studied in the hoop pine plantation and adjacent native forest. The present study was conducted to determine the impact of ¹⁵N injection depth and litter additions on the dynamics and fate of mineral ¹⁵N and also to compare the difference in litter quality, ¹⁵N dynamics, and fate between the hoop pine plantation (HP) and the adjacent native forest (NF).

Materials and methods

The experiments were done in the Yarraman State Forest (26°52′ S, 151°51′ E), southeastern Queensland. Materials of litter addition were prepared on the basis of ten random samples of litters taken from the NF and HP sites using a 1?×?1-m quadrat. Litter additions were defined as: SL represented the average condition of forest floor in the forest ecosystems and DL represented the double average amount of litters in the forest ecosystem. Experiment 1 covered 2 forest types (NF and HP)?×?3 litter rates (nil litter, SL, and DL)?×?3 ¹⁵N injection depths (0, 2.5, and 5.0 cm). Experiment 2 included 2 forest types (NF and HP)?×?2 litter rates (nil litter and SL)?×?3 injection depths (0, 2.5, and 5.0 cm) of distilled water. The in situ core incubation method was used with an incubation period of 28 days. The isotope ratio of mineral N or/and total N (soil and litter) were analyzed using an isotope ratio mass spectrometer with a Eurovector elemental analyzer (Isoprime-EuroEA 3000).

Results

Total N and δ ¹⁵N were significantly higher, and C/N ratios and δ ¹³C were significantly lower in the NF litters than in the HP litters. The NF litters had significantly lower total ¹⁵N and total ¹⁵N recovery than the HP litters after ¹⁵N addition. Litter addition had no significant effect on mineral ¹⁵N transformations and δ ¹⁵N in the NF soil, but decreased ¹⁵NO ₃ ^? –N, mineral ¹⁵N, and δ ¹⁵N and increased immobilized ¹⁵N in the HP soil. The depth of added ¹⁵NH ₄ ⁺ significantly altered total ¹⁵N, δ ¹⁵N, and total ¹⁵N recovery in the litters, whereas it did not influence ¹⁵NH ₄ ⁺ –N, ¹⁵NO ₃ ^? –N, mineral ¹⁵N, or immobilized ¹⁵N in soils in the two forest ecosystems.

Discussion

The NF litters had significantly higher δ ¹⁵N than the HP litters, indicating that the NF soil had a higher rate of nitrification than the HP soil. Higher litter quality in the NF was an important driving force for N cycling to promote strong N dynamics in the NF soil over the HP soil. The HP litters had significantly higher total ¹⁵N than the NF litters after ¹⁵N addition, implying that soil mineral N was relatively deficient in the HP in comparison with the NF. Litters decreased nitrification and increased immobilization in the HP soil, showing forest litters resulted in more N immobilization to prevent the loss of substantial quantities of NO ₃ ^? through leaching or denitrification. The depth of ¹⁵N injection did not significantly alter concentrations of ¹⁵NH ₄ ⁺ –N, ¹⁵NO ₃ ^? –N, mineral ¹⁵N, and immobilized ¹⁵N in the NF and HP soils, suggesting that the depth of ¹⁵N injection had no significant influence on the evaluation of soil N transformations.

Conclusions

The NF litters had significantly higher total N and δ ¹⁵N and lower C/N ratios and δ ¹³C than the HP litters. Mineral N was relatively insufficient in the HP soil relative to the NF soil. The HP litters facilitated more N immobilization in the soil to reduce the loss of substantial quantities of NO ₃ ^? through leaching or denitrification. The depth of ¹⁵N added did not significantly alter concentrations of ¹⁵NH ₄ ⁺ –N, ¹⁵NO ₃ ^? –N, mineral ¹⁵N, and immobilized ¹⁵N in the NF and HP soils. The application of ¹⁵N solution by uniform sprinkling onto the soil surface can be used to study in situ field N (including mineral ¹⁵N) transformations in the 10-cm depth soils of both forest ecosystems.     

Nitrate reduction coupled with microbial oxidation of sulfide in river sediment

Purpose

Nitrate (NO ₃ ^? ) is often considered to be removed mainly through microbial respiratory denitrification coupled with carbon oxidation. Alternatively, NO ₃ ^? may be reduced by chemolithoautotrophic bacteria using sulfide as an electron donor. The aim of this study was to quantify the NO ₃ ^? reduction process with sulfide oxidation under different NO ₃ ^? input concentrations in river sediment.

Materials and methods

Under NO ₃ ^? input concentrations of 0.2 to 30?mM, flow-through reactors filled with river sediment from the Pearl River, China, were used to measure the processes of potential NO ₃ ^? reduction and sulfate (SO ₄ ^2? ) production. Molecular biology analyses were conducted to study the microbial mechanisms involved.

Results and discussion

Simultaneous NO₃ ^? removal and SO₄ ^2? production were observed with the different NO ₃ ^? concentrations in the sediment samples collected at different depths. Potentially, NO ₃ ^? removal reached 72 to 91?% and SO ₄ ^2? production rates ranged from 0.196 to 0.903?mM?h^?1. The potential NO ₃ ^? removal rates were linearly correlated to the NO ₃ ^? input concentrations. While the SO ₄ ^2? production process became stable, the NO ₃ ^? reduction process was still a first-order reaction within the range of NO ₃ ^? input concentrations. With low NO ₃ ^? input concentrations, the NO ₃ ^? removal was mainly through the pathway of dissimilatory NO ₃ ^? reduction to NH ₄ ⁺ , while with higher NO ₃ ^? concentrations the NO ₃ ^? removal was through the denitrification pathway.

Conclusions

While most of NO ₃ ^? in the sediment was reduced by denitrifying heterotrophs, sulfide-driven NO ₃ ^? reduction accounted for up to 26?% of the total NO ₃ ^? removal under lower NO ₃ ^? concentrations. The vertical distributions of NO ₃ ^? reduction and SO ₄ ^2? production processes were different because of the variable bacterial communities with depth.     

Effects of nitrogen dioxide on selected soil processes

Nitrogen dioxide gas was rapidly absorbed by soil. After a 15 min incubation at 25°C, soil at a moisture content of 16% absorbed 99% of the NO₂ introduced into the gas-phase volume of a closed system. The presence of microorganisms hatl no influence on the rate of absorption of the gas by soil. The absorption of NO₂ by sandy clay loam soil was not an oxygen- or temperature-dependent process nor did it depend upon the moisture content of the soil. These physical factors acquired significance only in determining the initial rate of absorption of the gas and the rate at which NO₂ diffused through the soil. Exposure of soil to NO₂ resulted in substantial increases in the levels of NO _inf2 ^sup? N in the soil. Chemical oxidation of the NO _inf2 ^sup? N resulted in an increase in NO _inf3 ^sup? N levels. During a 14-day incubation, NO _inf2 ^sup? N concentrations in sterile soil exposed to an atmosphere containing 100 μg ml^?1 of NO₂ decreased from 190 μg g^?1 of soil to 105 μg g^?1 with an accompanying increase in NO _inf3 ^sup? N from 2 μg g^? ₁ to 63 μg g^?1 of soil. Nitrogen dioxide severely inhibited the growth of both aerobic and anaerobic asymbiotic N₂-fixing bacteria in soil. After a 48 h incubation at 25°C, soil aggregates exposed to an atmosphere containing 100 μg ml^?1 of NO₂ contained 88% and 98% fewer aerobic and anaerobic N₂-fixing bacteria, respectively. C₂H₂-reduction measurements showed that nitrogenase synthesis and activity in artificial soil aggregates amended with 2% glucose were inhibited by 20% and 48%, respectively, when exposed to atmospheric concentrations of 35 and 3.5 μg ml^?1 of NO₂, respectively.     

Fate of 15N-Labeled Potassium Nitrate in Different Citrus-Cultivated Soils: Influence of Spring and Summer Application

The fate of ¹⁵N-labeled potassium nitrate (8.5% ¹⁵N excess) was determined in 3-year-old Valencia orange trees grown in 1-m³ containers filled with different textured soils (sandy and loamy). The trees were fertilized either in spring (24 March) or summer (24 July). Spring fertilized trees gave higher fruit yields in sandy than in loamy soils, which exceeded summer fertilized trees in both cases. Summer fertilized trees had greater leaf biomass than spring fertilized trees. Fibrous root weight was 1.9-fold higher in sandy than in loamy soil. At the end of the cycle, tree N recovery from spring application was 45.7% for sandy and 37.7% for loamy soil; from summer fertilization, N recovery was 58.9% and 51.5% for sandy and loamy soils, respectively. The ¹⁵N recovered in the inorganic soil fraction (0?C90?cm) was higher for loamy (1.3%) than for sandy soil (0.4%). Fertilizer N immobilized in the organic matter was lower in sandy (2.5%) than in loamy soil (6.0%). Potential nitrate leaching from fertilizer (¹⁵NO ₃ ^? ?CN in the 90?C110-cm soil layer plus ¹⁵NO ₃ ^? ?CN in drainage water) was 34.8% higher in sandy than in loamy soil. The low N levels in sandy soil resulted from both higher NO ₃ ^? ?CN leaching losses and higher N uptake of plants grown in the former. The great root mass and higher soil temperatures could account for raised plant N uptake in sandy soil and in summer, respectively.     

Adverse Effects of Ammonia on Nitrification Process: the Case of Chinese Shallow Freshwater Lakes

Nitrification is a process in which ammonia is oxidized to nitrite (NO ₂ ^? ) that is further oxidized to nitrate (NO ₃ ^? ). The relations between these two steps and ambient ammonia concentrations were studied in surface water of Chinese shallow lakes with different trophic status. For the oxidations of both ammonia and NO ₂ ^? , more eutrophic lakes generally showed significantly higher potential and actual rates, which was linked with excessive ammonia concentrations. Additionally, both potential and actual rates for ammonia oxidation were higher than those for NO ₂ ^? oxidation in the more eutrophic lakes, while in the lakes with lower trophic status, both potential and actual rates for ammonia oxidation were almost equivalent to those for NO ₂ ^? oxidation. This can be explained by the excessive unionized ammonia (NH₃) concentration that inhibits nitrite-oxidizing bacteria in the more eutrophic lakes. The laboratory experiment with different ammonia concentrations, using the surface water in a eutrophic lake, showed that ammonia oxidation rates were proportional to the ammonia concentrations, but NO ₂ ^? oxidation rates did not increase in parallel. Furthermore, NO ₂ ^? oxidation was less associated with particles in natural water of the studied lakes. Without effective protection, it would be selectively inhibited by the excessive ammonia in hypereutrophic lakes, resulting in NO ₂ ^? accumulation. Shortly, the increased concentrations of ammonia cause a misbalance between the NO ₂ ^? -producing and the NO ₂ ^? -consuming processes, thereby exacerbating the lake eutrophication.     

Nitrogen Leaching of Two Forest Ecosystems in a Karst Watershed

Karst watersheds are a major source of drinking water in the European Alps. These watersheds exhibit quick response times and low residence times, which might make karst aquifers more vulnerable to elevated nitrogen (N) deposition than non-karst watersheds. We summarize 13 years of monitoring NO ₃ ^? , NH ₄ ⁺ , and total N in two forest ecosystems, a Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) forest on Cambisols/Stagnosols (IP I) and a mixed beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) spruce forest on Leptosols (IP II). N fluxes are calculated by multiplying concentrations, measured in biweekly intervals, with hydrological fluxes predicted from a hydrological model. The total N deposition in the throughfall amounts to 26.8 and 21.1 kg/ha/year in IP I and IP II, respectively, which is high compared to depositions found in other European forest ecosystems. While the shallow Leptosols at IP II accumulated on average 9.2 kg/ha/year of N between 1999 and 2006, the N budgets of the Cambisols/Stagnosols at IP I were equaled over the study period but show high inter-annual variation. Between 1999 and 2006, on average, 9 kg/ha/year of DON and 20 kg/ha/year of DIN were output with seepage water of IP I but only 4.5 kg/ha/year of DON and 7.7 kg/ha/year of DIN at IP II. Despite high DIN leaching, neither IP I nor IP II showed further signs of N saturation in their organic layer C/N ratios, N mineralization, or leaf N content. The N budget over all years was dominated by a few extreme output events. Nitrate leaching rates at both forest ecosystems correlated the most with years of above average snow accumulation (but only for IP I this correlation is statistically significant). Both snow melt and total annual precipitation were most important drivers of DON leaching. IP I and IP II showed comparable temporal patterns of both concentrations and flux rates but exhibited differences in magnitudes: DON, NO ₃ ^? , and NH ₄ ⁺ inputs peak in spring, NH ₄ ⁺ showed an additional peak in autumn; the bulk of the annual NO ₃ ^? and DON output occurred in spring; DON, NO ₃ ^? , and NH ₄ ⁺ output rates during winter months were low. The high DIN leaching at IP I was related to snow cover effects on N mineralization and soil hydrology. From the year 2004 onwards, disproportional NO ₃ ^? leaching occurred at both plots. This was possibly caused by the exceptionally dry year 2003 and a small-scale bark beetle infestation (at IP I), in addition to snow cover effects. This study shows that both forest ecosystems at Zöbelboden are still N limited. N leaching pulses, particularly during spring, dictate not only annual but also the long-term N budgets. The overall magnitude of N leaching to the karst aquifer differs substantially between forest and soil types, which are found in close proximity in the karstified areas of the Northern Limestone Alps in Austria.     

Wheat straw and its biochar have contrasting effects on inorganic N retention and N2O production in a cultivated Black Chernozem

A laboratory incubation experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of direct incorporation of either wheat straw or its biochar into a cultivated Chernozem on gross N transformations calculated by the ¹⁵N pool dilution technique and nitrous oxide (N₂O) production rates. Incorporation of wheat straw stimulated gross NH ₄ ⁺ (ammonium) and NO ₃ ^? (nitrate) immobilization rates by 302 and 95.2?%, respectively, suppressed gross nitrification rates by 32.2?%, and increased N₂O production by 37.7?%. In contrast, the addition of a biochar produced from the wheat straw did not influence any of the above N cycling processes. Therefore, application of biochar could be a possible management strategy for long-term C sequestration (through soil storage of stable C contained in the biochar) in soils without increasing N₂O production rates, but could not effectively immobilize NO ₃ ^? in the soil.     

Simultaneous Removal of H2S, NH3, and Ethyl Mercaptan in Biotrickling Filters Packed with Poplar Wood and Polyurethane Foam: Impact of pH During Startup and Crossed Effects Evaluation

The present work discusses the startup and operation of different biotrickling filters during the simultaneous removal of NH₃, H₂S, and ethyl mercaptan (EM) for odor control, focusing on (a) the impact of pH control in the stability of the nitrification processes during reactor startup and (b) the crossed effects among selected pollutants and their by-products. Two biotrickling filters were packed with poplar wood chips (R1 and R2A), while a third reactor was packed with polyurethane foam (R2B). R2A and R2B presented a pH control system, whereas R1 did not. Loads of 2?C10?g N?CNH₃ m^?3?h^?1, 5?C16?g S?CH₂S m^?3?h^?1, and 1?C6?g EM m^?3?h^?1 were supplied to the bioreactors. The presence of a pH control loop in R2A and R2B proved to be crucial to avoid long startup periods and bioreactors malfunctioning due to biological activity inhibition. In addition, the impact of the presence of different concentrations of a series of N species (NH ₄ ⁺ , NO ₂ ^? , and NO ₃ ^? ) and S species (SO ₄ ^2? and S^2?) on the performance of the two biotrickling filters was studied by increasing their load to the reactors. Sulfide oxidation proved to be the most resilient process, since it was not affected in any of the experiments, while nitrification and EM removal were severely affected. In particular, the latter was affected by SO ₄ ^2? and NO ₂ ^? , while nitrification was significantly affected by NH ₄ ⁺ . The biotrickling filter packed with polyurethane foam was more sensitive to crossed effects than the biotrickling filter packed with poplar wood chips.     

Influence of the nitrification inhibitor DMPP on the community composition of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria at microsites with increasing distance from the fertilizer zone

The effect of the nitrification inhibitor 3,4-dimethylpyrazole phosphate (DMPP) on N transformations and composition of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) communities was investigated at the centimeter scale in a microcosm experiment under laboratory conditions. After 28 days, samples were collected from soil treated with urea or urea and DMPP at increasing distance from the fertilizer zone; this distance ranged from 0 to 5 cm in both horizontal and vertical directions. The results showed that DMPP application significantly increased soil pH and NH ₄ ⁺ -N and mineral N (NH ₄ ⁺ -N, NO ₃ ^? -N, and NO ₂ ^? -N) concentrations but decreased (NO ₃ ^? + NO ₂ ^? )-N concentration, and such effect was decreased by increasing the distance from the fertilizer zone. Fingerprint profiles of denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis showed that the number of bands decreased by increasing the distance from the fertilizer zone due to decreasing NH ₄ ⁺ -N concentrations in the urea treatment. Compared to urea applied alone, DMPP application increased NH ₄ ⁺ -N concentrations and decreased AOB diversity from 0 to 3 cm but promoted diversity from 3 to 5 cm distance from the fertilizer zone. A phylogenetic analysis showed that AOB communities were dominated by Nitrosospira cluster 3. Therefore, the nitrification inhibitor DMPP modified the composition of AOB communities by increasing the distance from the fertilizer zone and this probably was related to the changes in soil pH and inorganic N concentration.     

Foliar Nitrogen Uptake from Wet Deposition and the Relation with Leaf Wettability and Water Storage Capacity

This study assessed the foliar uptake of ¹⁵N-labelled nitrogen (N) originating from wet deposition along with leaf surface conditions, measured by wettability and water storage capacity. Foliar ¹⁵N uptake was measured on saplings of silver birch, European beech, pedunculate oak and Scots pine and the effect of nitrogen form (NH ₄ ⁺ or NO ₃ ^? ), NH ₄ ⁺ to NO ₃ ^? ratio and leaf phenology on this N uptake was assessed. Next to this, leaf wettability and water storage capacity were determined for each tree species and phenological stage, and the relationship with ¹⁵NH ₄ ⁺ and ¹⁵NO ₃ ^? uptake was examined. Uptake rates were on average five times higher (p?<?0.05) for NH ₄ ⁺ than for NO ₃ ^? and four times higher for deciduous species than for Scots pine. Developing leaves showed lower uptake than fully developed and senescent leaves, but this effect was tree species dependent. The applied NH ₄ ⁺ to NO ₃ ^? ratio did only affect the amount of N uptake by senescent leaves. The negative correlation between measured leaf contact angles and foliar N uptake demonstrates that the observed effects of tree species and phenological stage are related to differences in leaf wettability and not to water storage capacity.     

Analysis of Decadal Time Series in Wet N Concentrations at Five Rural Sites in NE Spain

Nitrogen emissions have grown in Spain during the last 15 years. As precipitation scavenges gases and aerosols from the atmosphere, an effect on rainwater concentrations can be expected. However, time-series studies on wet N concentrations in the Iberian Peninsula are very scarce. This paper aims to fill this gap by analysing weekly rainfall N concentrations at a set of rural sites in Catalonia (NE Spain) from 1995/1996 to 2007 and a forest site monitored from 1983 to 2007. The sites encompass a range of rural environments and climate conditions, from the inland pre-Pyrenees (Sort) to the Mediterranean coast (Begur) and from north (Sort and Begur) to central (Palautordera and La Castanya) and south Catalonia (La Senia). We found a 1-year cycle for concentrations of NH ₄ ⁺ and NO ₃ ^? whereby higher values were reached at the end of spring–early summer, except at the easternmost coastal site of Begur. Weekly NH ₄ ⁺ concentrations decreased with time at all sites (except at La Senia) whilst NO ₃ ^? concentrations increased at all sites during the same period. Rainfall SO ₄ ^2? concentrations decreased with time at all sites. The opposite trends in NO ₃ ^? and SO ₄ ^2? concentrations determined a shift in the relative acid contribution of those anions during the 12–13-year period. To interpret the increasing trend, mean annual NO ₃ ^? concentrations were regressed against NO₂ Spanish emissions and to some indicators of local anthropogenic activity. The increase at Sort and Palautordera showed good correlation with local anthropogenic indicators. Wet inorganic N deposition ranged between 4.2 and 6.7 kg ha^?1 year^?1. When including estimates of dry deposition, total annual deposition rose up to 10–20 kg ha^?1 year^?1, values that have been found to initiate adverse effects on Mediterranean-type forest ecosystems.     

Deposition of air pollutants in a wind-exposed forest edge

The atmospheric deposition of air pollutants at a forest edge was studied by means of monitoring canopy throughfall at the edge and at five different parallel lines in the forest behind the edge. The investigation was carried out at a pine forest on the Swedish west coast. Throughfall and bulk deposition samples were analyzed for volume, SO ₄ ^2? , NO ₃ ^? , Cl^?, NH ₄ ⁺ , Na⁺, K⁺, Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺, and for pH. The results show that the throughfall flow at the edge was increased substantially for most ions. The ratios in throughfall flows between the edge and the line 50 m into the forest were for SO ₄ ^2? , 1.5, NO ₃ ^? 2.9, NH ₄ ⁺ 2.7, and Na⁺ 3.1. Since this effect is not only valid for forest edges but also for hillsides, hilltops, and edges between stands of different age, etc., there might be substantial areas which get much larger total deposition than the normally considered closed forest.     

Stream chemistry impacts of conifer harvesting in welsh catchments

Hydrochemical data have been collected for between 6 and 9 years from forest harvesting experiments in small catchments (>10 ha) at Plynlimon and Beddgelert, Wales, UK. Felling resulted in rapid increases in NO ₃ ^? and K⁺ concentrations at both sites. A maximum of 3.2 mg N L^?1 was observed at Plynlimon about one year after the start of felling. Concentrations declined to control stream values (0.5 mg N L^?1) after 5 years. At Beddgelert, NO ₃ ^? concentrations in the manipulated catchments remained above those in the unfelled control catchment for three years, before declining below control values. The NO ₃ ^? pulse was related to increased rates of mineralization and nitrification in the soil after felling. The initial increase in K⁺ concentration after felling at Plynlimon was followed by a slow decline, but concentrations were still above those in the control stream after 5 years. From 4 to 8 years after felling at Beddgelert, K⁺ concentrations fell below and then generally remained lower than control values. The NO ₃ ^? pulse after felling at Plynlimon sustained inorganic anion concentrations above those in the control stream for the first 18 months after felling. As the NO ₃ ^? pulse declined, inorganic anion concentrations decreased to below those in the control stream about 4 years after felling. At Beddgelert, the smaller increase in NO ₃ ^? concentrations had less of an effect on inorganic anion concentrations which decreased after felling relative to values in the control stream. The increase in NO ₃ ^? was associated with temporary streamwater acidification in the felled catchments due to the increased rates of nitrification and nitrate leaching. At Plynlimon, streamwater filterable Al concentrations declined after felling, but controls on Al behaviour are complex and not explained by simple equilibrium relationships with Al(OH)₃ or by variations in inorganic anion concentrations. At Beddgelert, felling had no effect on stream water filterable Al concentrations. Felling at Plynlimon led to a large reduction in streamwater Cl^?, Na⁺ and SO ₄ ^2? concentrations. At Beddgelert reductions in SO ₄ ^2? and ‘sea salt’ ion concentrations were less clear, reflecting the smaller proportions of the catchments which were harvested. Felling had no deleterious effects on water quality, apart from a temporary slight further decline in stream pH at Beddgelert. Increases in NO ₃ ^? concentrations were short-lived and concentrations were well below drinking water standards. Filterable Al concentrations were already higher than statutory standards, but were not increased or decreased through felling.     

Fluid Catalytic Cracking Unit Emissions and Their Impact

A constructed wetland composed of a pond- and a marsh-type wetland was employed to remove nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) from effluent of a secondary wastewater treatment plant in Korea. Nutrient concentrations in inflow water and outflow water were monitored around 50 times over a 1-year period. To simulate N and P dynamics in a pond- and a marsh-type wetland, mesocosm experiments were conducted. In the field monitoring, ammonium (NH ₄ ⁺ ) decreased from 4.6 to 1.7 mg L^?1, nitrate (NO ₃ ^? ) decreased from 6.8 to 5.3 mg L^?1, total N (TN) decreased from 14.6 to 10.1 mg L^?1, and total P (TP) decreased from 1.6 to 1.1 mg L^?1. Average removal efficiencies (loading basis) for NO ₃ ^? , NH ₄ ⁺ , TN, and TP were over 70%. Of the environmental variables we considered, water temperature exhibited significant positive correlations with removal rates for the nutrients except for NH ₄ ⁺ . Results from mesocosm experiments indicated that NH ₄ ⁺ was removed similarly in both pond- and marsh-type mesocosms within 1 day, but that NO ₃ ^? was removed more efficiently in marsh-type mesocosms, which required a longer retention time (2?C4 days). Phosphorus was significantly removed similarly in both pond- and marsh-type mesocosms within 1 day. Based on the results, we infer that wetland system composed of a pond- and a marsh-type wetland consecutively can enhance nutrient removal efficiency compared with mono-type wetland. The reason is that removal of NH ₄ ⁺ and P can be maximized in the pond while NO ₃ ^? requiring longer retention time can be removed through both pond and marsh. Overall results of this study suggest that a constructed wetland composed of a pond- and a marsh-type wetland is highly effective for the removal of N and P from effluents of a secondary wastewater treatment plant.     

Effects of warming and increased precipitation on soil carbon mineralization in an Inner Mongolian grassland after 6?years of treatments

Understanding the responses of soil C mineralization to climate change is critical for evaluating soil C cycling in future climatic scenarios. Here, we took advantage of a multifactor experiment to investigate the individual and combined effects of experimental warming and increased precipitation on soil C mineralization and ¹³C and ¹⁵N natural abundances at two soil depths (0–10 and 10–20?cm) in a semiarid Inner Mongolian grassland since April 2005. For each soil sample, we calculated potentially mineralizable organic C (C ₀) from cumulative CO₂-C evolved as indicators for labile organic C. The experimental warming significantly decreased soil C mineralization and C ₀ at the 10–20-cm depth (P?<?0.05). Increased precipitation, however, significantly increased soil pH, NO ₃ ^? -N content, soil C mineralization, and C ₀ at the 0–10-cm depth and moisture and NO ₃ ^? -N content at the 10–20-cm depth (all P?<?0.05), while significantly decreased exchangeable NH ₄ ⁺ -N content and ¹³C natural abundances at the two depths (both P?<?0.05). There were significant warming and increased precipitation interactions on soil C mineralization and C ₀, indicating that multifactor interactions should be taken into account in future climatic scenarios. Significantly negative correlations were found between soil C mineralization, C ₀, and ¹³C natural abundances across the treatments (both P?<?0.05), implying more plant-derived C input into the soils under increased precipitation. Overall, our results showed that experimental warming and increased precipitation exerted different influences on soil C mineralization, which may have significant implications for C cycling in response to climate change in semiarid and arid regions.     

Nutrient Fluxes in Planted Norway Spruce Stands of Different Age in Southern Poland

The fluxes of N–NO ₃ ^? , N–NH ₄ ⁺ , S–SO ₄ ^2? , Na⁺, K⁺, Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ from bulk precipitation to throughfall, stemflow and soil water surface flows were studied during 1999–2003 in planted Norway spruce forest stands of different ages (11, 24, 91 and 116 years in 1999). Also, runoff from the corresponding Potok Dupniański Catchment in the Silesian Beskid Mts was studied. N deposition was above the critical load for coniferous trees. The interception increased with stand age as well as leaf area index and so did the leaching from the canopy of almost all the analysed elements, but especially S–SO ₄ ^2? , H⁺ and K⁺. The nutrient fluxes varied with age of the spruce stands. Throughfall showed a high amount of S and of the strong acids (S–SO ₄ ^2? and N–NO ₃ ^? ) deposited to the soil, especially in older spruce age classes. Decomposition of organic matter caused a rise in water acidity and an increase in the concentrations of all the analysed ions; the leaching of minerals, however, was low (under 1%). The horizontal soil water flow showed an increase in the amount of water and amount of ions and contributed to a further decrease of pH at the soil depth of 20 cm. Element concentrations and their amounts increased with water penetrating vertically and horizontally on the slopes. Considerable amounts of ions, especially S and alkaline cations, were carried beyond the reach of the root system and then left the catchment. In the long term, these mineral losses will adversely affect health and growth of the spruce stands, and the increased acidity with stand age will presumably have negative effects on the runoff water ecosystem.     

Biotic and abiotic processes controlling water chemistry during snowmelt at rabbit ears pass,Rocky Mountains,Colorado, U.S.A.

The chemical composition of snowmelt, groundwater, and streamwater was monitored during the spring of 1991 and 1992 in a 200-ha subalpine catchment on the western flank of the Rocky Mountains near Steamboat Springs, Colorado. Most of the snowmelt occurred during a one-month period annually that began in mid-May 1991 and mid-April 1992. The average water quality characteristics of individual sampling sites (meltwater, streamwater, and groundwater) were similar in 1991 and 1992. The major ions in meltwater were differentially eluted from the snowpack, and meltwater was dominated by Ca²⁺, SO ₄ ^2? , and NO ₃ ^? . Groundwater and streamwater were dominated by weathering products, including Ca²⁺, HCO ₃ ^? (measured as alkalinity), and SiO₂, and their concentrations decreased as snowmelt progressed. One well had extremely high NO ₃ ^? . concentrations, which were balanced by Ca²⁺ concentrations. For this well, hydrogen ion was hypothesized to be generated from nitrification in overlying soils, and subsequently exchanged with other cations, particularly Ca²⁺. Solute concentrations in streamwater also decreased as snowmelt progressed. Variations in groundwater levels and solute concentrations indicate that most of the meltwater traveled through the surficial materials. A mass balance for 1992 indicated that the watershed retained H⁺, NH ₄ ⁺ , NO ₃ ^? , SO ₄ ^2? and Cl^? and was the primary source of base cations and other weathering products. Proportionally more SO ₄ ^2? was deposited with the unusually high summer rainfall in 1992 compared to that released from snowmelt, whereas NO ₃ ^? was higher in snowmelt and Cl^? was the same. The sum of snowmelt and rainfall could account for greater than 90% of the H⁺ and NH ₄ ⁺ retained by the watershed and greater than 50% of the NO ₃ ^? .     

Production and consumption of N2O during denitrification in subtropical soils of China

Purpose

Nitrous oxide (N₂O) production and reduction rates are dependent on the interactions with each other and it is therefore important to evaluate them within the context of simultaneously operating N₂O emission and reduction. The objective of this study was to quantify the simultaneously occurring N₂O emission and reduction across a range of subtropical soils in China, to gain a mechanistic understanding of potential N₂O dynamics under the denitrification condition and their important drivers, and to evaluate the potential role of the subtropical soils as either sources or sinks of N₂O through denitrification.

Materials and methods

Soils (45, from a range of different land uses and soil parent materials) were collected from the subtropical region of Jiangxi Province, China, and tested for their potential capacity for N₂O emission and N₂O reduction to N₂ during denitrification. N₂O emission and reduction were determined in a closed system under N₂ headspace after the soils were treated with 200?mg?kg^?1 NO ₃ ^? -N and incubation at 30?°C for 28?days. The soil physical and chemical properties, the temporal variations in headspace N₂O concentration, and NO ₃ ^? -N and NH ₄ ⁺ -N concentrations in the soil slurry were measured.

Results and discussion

Variations in N₂O concentration (N) over incubation time (t) were consistent with an equation in which average R ²?=?0.84?±?0.11 (p?<?0.05): $ N = A \times \left( {1 - \exp \left( { - {k_1} \times t} \right)} \right) - B \times \exp \left( {{k_2} \times t} \right) $ , where A is the total N₂O emission during the incubation, B is a constant, and k ₁ and k ₂ are the N₂O emission constant and reduction constants, respectively. The results of the simulation showed that k ₁ was greater than k ₂. The reduced amount of NO ₃ ^? -N in the first 7?days of incubation and the N₂O emission rate (the percentage of A value relative to the amount of NO ₃ ^? -N reduced during the 28-day incubation, R _n) were able to explain 82.9?% (p?<?0.01) of the variation in total N₂O emission (A) during the incubation for the soil samples studied, indicating that the total amount of N₂O emitted was determined predominately by denitrification capacity. Soil organic carbon content and soil nitrogen mineralization are the key factors that determine differences in the amounts of reduced NO ₃ ^? -N among the soil samples. The R _n value decreased with increasing k ₂ (p?<?0.01), indicating that soils with higher N₂O reduction capacity under these incubation conditions would emit less N₂O per unit of denitrified NO ₃ ^? -N than the other soils. Results are valuable in the evaluation of net N₂O emissions in the subtropical soils and the global N budget.

Conclusions

In a closed, anaerobic system, variations in N₂O concentration in the headspace over the incubation time were found to be compatible with a nonlinear equation. Soil organic carbon and the amount of NH ₄ ⁺ -N mineralized from the organic N during the first 7?days of incubation are the key factors that determine differences in the N₂O emission constant (k ₁), the N₂O reduction constant (k ₂), the total N₂O emission during the incubation (A) and the N₂O emission rate (R _n).     

Influence of Catchment Characteristics and Flood Type on Relationship Between Streamwater Chemistry and Streamflow: Case Study from Carpathian Foothills in Poland

The study aimed to determine the influence of catchment characteristics and flood type on the relationship between streamflow and a number of chemical characteristics of streamwater. These were specific electrical conductivity (SC), pH, the concentrations of main ions (Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, HCO ₃ ^? , SO ₄ ^2? , and Cl^?), and nutrients (NH ₄ ⁺ , NO ₂ ^? , NO ₃ ^? , and PO ₄ ^3? ). These relationships were studied in three small catchments with different geological structure and land use. Several flood types were distinguished based on the factors that initiate flooding and specific conditions during events. Geological factors led to a lower SC and main ion concentrations at a given specific runoff in catchments built of resistant sandstone versus those built of less resistant sediments. A lower concentration of nutrients was detected in the semi-natural woodland catchment versus agricultural and mixed-use catchments, which are strongly impacted by human activity. The strongest correlation between streamflow and the chemical characteristics of water was found in the woodland catchment. Different types of floods were characterized by different ion concentrations. In the woodland catchment, higher SC and higher concentrations of most main ions were noted during storm-induced floods than during floods induced by prolonged rainfall. The opposite was true for the agricultural and mixed-use catchments. During snowmelt floods, SC, NO ₃ ^? , and most main ion concentrations were higher when the soil was unfrozen in the agricultural and mixed-use catchments versus when the soil was frozen. In the case of the remaining nutrients, lower concentrations of NH ₄ ⁺ were detected during rain-induced floods than during snowmelt floods. The opposite was true of PO ₄ ^3? .