Composition of tree species can mediate spatial variability of C and N cycles in mixed beech forests

2017 ◽  
Vol 401 ◽  
pp. 55-64 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yahya Kooch ◽  
Mohammad Bayranvand
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Variability ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
Beech Forests ◽  
C And N

scholarly journals Decomposition in mixed beech forests in the south-western Alps under severe summer drought

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marion Jourdan ◽  
Stephan Hättenschwiler
Keyword(s):  
Tree Species ◽  
Abies Alba ◽  
Plant Litter ◽  
Summer Drought ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Beech Forests ◽  
N Loss ◽  
C And N ◽  
Litter Mixing ◽  
Drought Effects

ABSTRACTClimate and plant litter diversity are major determinants of carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) cycling rates during decomposition. Yet, how these processes will be modified with combined changes in climate and biodiversity is poorly understood. With a multisite field experiment, we studied the interactive effects of summer drought (using rainout shelters) and tree species mixing in beech forests in the French Alps. Forests included monospecific stands of Fagus sylvatica, Abies alba, and Quercus pubescens and two-species mixtures composed of beech and one of the other species. We hypothesized (1) negative effects of summer drought on C and N loss during decomposition and (2) mitigation of these negative effects in mixed tree species stands. Litter lost 35% of initial C, and 15% of N on average across all sites and litter types over 30 months of decomposition. Summer drought consistently, but weakly, reduced C loss but had no effect on N loss. Tree species mixing did not alter drought effects on decomposition but had non-additive effects on C and N loss, which were dominated by direct litter mixing rather than indirect tree canopy effects. Our data suggest relatively small drought effects on decomposition, possibly because process rates are generally slow during summer and because microsite variability exceeds that in response to rain exclusion. The dominant contribution of litter mixing to biodiversity effects supports the importance of microsite conditions for C and N dynamics during decomposition, which should be accounted for more explicitly in climate and biodiversity change predictions.

scholarly journals Spatially Related Sampling Uncertainty in the Assessment of Labile Soil Carbon and Nitrogen in an Irish Forest Plantation

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 2139
Author(s):  
Junliang Zou ◽  
Bruce Osborne
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Variability ◽  
Soil Carbon ◽  
Sampling Effort ◽  
Limited Information ◽  
Sampling Area ◽  
Soil C ◽  
Distribution Maps ◽  
Soil C And N ◽  
C And N ◽  
Highly Correlated

The importance of labile soil carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) in soil biogeochemical processes is now well recognized. However, the quantification of labile soil C and N in soils and the assessment of their contribution to ecosystem C and N budgets is often constrained by limited information on spatial variability. To address this, we examined spatial variability in dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and dissolved total nitrogen (DTN) in a Sitka spruce forest in central Ireland. The results showed moderate variations in the concentrations of DOC and DTN based on the mean, minimum, and maximum, as well as the coefficients of variation. Residual values of DOC and DTN were shown to have moderate spatial autocorrelations, and the nugget sill ratios were 0.09% and 0.10%, respectively. Distribution maps revealed that both DOC and DTN concentrations in the study area decreased from the southeast. The variability of both DOC and DTN increased as the sampling area expanded and could be well parameterized as a power function of the sampling area. The cokriging technique performed better than the ordinary kriging for predictions of DOC and DTN, which are highly correlated. This study provides a statistically based assessment of spatial variations in DOC and DTN and identifies the sampling effort required for their accurate quantification, leading to improved assessments of forest ecosystem C and N budgets.

scholarly journals Metagenomic reconstruction of nitrogen and carbon cycling pathways in forest soil: Influence by different hardwood tree species

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charlene N. Kelly ◽  
Geoffrey W. Schwaner ◽  
Jonathan R. Cumming ◽  
Timothy P. Driscoll
Keyword(s):  
Tree Species ◽  
Plant Litter ◽  
American Chestnut ◽  
Soil Microbiome ◽  
Red Oak ◽  
Black Cherry ◽  
Soil Microbial ◽  
Below Ground ◽  
C And N ◽  
Hardwood Tree

AbstractThe soil microbiome plays an essential role in processing and storage of nitrogen (N) and carbon (C), and is influenced by vegetation above-ground through imparted differences in chemistry, structure, mass of plant litter, root physiology, and dominant mycorrhizal associations. We used shotgun metagenomic sequencing and bioinformatic analysis to quantify the abundance and distribution of gene families involved in soil microbial N and C cycling beneath three deciduous hardwood tree species: ectomycorrhizal (ECM)-associated Quercus rubra (red oak), ECM-associated Castanea dentata (American chestnut), and arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM)-associated Prunus serotina (black cherry). Chestnut exhibited the most distinct soil microbiome of the three species, both functionally and taxonomically, with a general suppression of functional genes in the nitrification, denitrification, and nitrate reduction pathways. These changes were related to low inorganic N availability in chestnut stands as soil was modified by poor, low-N litter quality relative to red oak and black cherry soils.IMPORTANCEPrevious studies have used field biogeochemical process rates, isotopic tracing, and targeted gene abundance measurements to study the influence of tree species on ecosystem N and C dynamics. However, these approaches do not enable a comprehensive systems-level understanding of the relationship between microbial diversity and metabolism of N and C below-ground. We analyzed microbial metagenomes from soils beneath red oak, American chestnut, and black cherry stands and showed that tree species can mediate the abundance of key microbial genes involved in N and (to a lesser extent) C metabolism pathways in soil. Our results highlight the genetic framework underlying tree species’ control over soil microbial communities, and below-ground C and N metabolism, and may enable land managers to select tree species to maximize C and N storage in soils.

scholarly journals Modeling the effects of tree species and incubation temperature on soil's extracellular enzyme activity in 78-year-old tree plantations

2017 ◽  
Vol 14 (23) ◽  
pp. 5393-5402 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaoqi Zhou ◽  
Shen S. J. Wang ◽  
Chengrong Chen
Keyword(s):  
Tree Species ◽  
Incubation Temperature ◽  
N Cycling ◽  
Residual Soil ◽  
Coniferous Tree ◽  
Soil C ◽  
Hoop Pine ◽  
Soil C And N ◽  
C And N ◽  
Coniferous Tree Species

Abstract. Forest plantations have been widely used as an effective measure for increasing soil carbon (C), and nitrogen (N) stocks and soil enzyme activities play a key role in soil C and N losses during decomposition of soil organic matter. However, few studies have been carried out to elucidate the mechanisms behind the differences in soil C and N cycling by different tree species in response to climate warming. Here, we measured the responses of soil's extracellular enzyme activity (EEA) to a gradient of temperatures using incubation methods in 78-year-old forest plantations with different tree species. Based on a soil enzyme kinetics model, we established a new statistical model to investigate the effects of temperature and tree species on soil EEA. In addition, we established a tree species–enzyme–C∕N model to investigate how temperature and tree species influence soil C∕N contents over time without considering plant C inputs. These extracellular enzymes included C acquisition enzymes (β-glucosidase, BG), N acquisition enzymes (N-acetylglucosaminidase, NAG; leucine aminopeptidase, LAP) and phosphorus acquisition enzymes (acid phosphatases). The results showed that incubation temperature and tree species significantly influenced all soil EEA and Eucalyptus had 1.01–2.86 times higher soil EEA than coniferous tree species. Modeling showed that Eucalyptus had larger soil C losses but had 0.99–2.38 times longer soil C residence time than the coniferous tree species over time. The differences in the residual soil C and N contents between Eucalyptus and coniferous tree species, as well as between slash pine (Pinus elliottii Engelm. var. elliottii) and hoop pine (Araucaria cunninghamii Ait.), increase with time. On the other hand, the modeling results help explain why exotic slash pine can grow faster, as it has 1.22–1.38 times longer residual soil N residence time for LAP, which mediate soil N cycling in the long term, than native coniferous tree species like hoop pine and kauri pine (Agathis robusta C. Moore). Our results will be helpful for understanding the mechanisms of soil C and N cycling by different tree species, which will have implications for forest management.

scholarly journals Modeling the effects of tree species and temperature on soil's extracellular enzyme activity in 78-year-old tree plantations

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaoqi Zhou ◽  
Shen S. J. Wang ◽  
Chengrong Chen
Keyword(s):  
Tree Species ◽  
Soil Enzyme ◽  
Residual Soil ◽  
Coniferous Tree ◽  
Soil C ◽  
Hoop Pine ◽  
Soil C And N ◽  
C And N ◽  
Coniferous Tree Species ◽  
Over Time

Abstract. Forest plantations have been widely used as an effective measure for increasing soil carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) stocks and soil enzyme activities play a key role in soil C and N losses during decomposition of soil organic matter. However, few studies have been carried out to elucidate the mechanisms for the differences in soil C and N cycling by different tree species in response to climate warming. Here, we measured the responses of soil's extracellular enzyme activity (EEA) to a gradient of temperatures using incubation methods in 78-year-old forest plantations with different tree species. Based on a soil enzyme kinetics model, we established a new statistical model to investigate the effects of temperature and tree species on soil EEA. In addition, we established a soil–enzyme–C/N model to investigate how temperature and tree species influence soil C/N contents over time without considering plant C inputs. These extracellular enzymes included C acquisition enzymes (β-glucosidase, BG), N acquisition enzymes (N-acetylglucosaminidase, NAG; leucine aminopeptidase, LAP) and phosphorus acquisition enzymes (acid phosphatases). The results showed that temperature and tree species significantly influenced all soil EEA and Eucalyptus had higher soil EEA than coniferous tree species. Modeling showed that Eucalyptus had larger soil C losses but had longer soil C residence time than the coniferous tree species over time. The differences in the residual soil C and N contents between Eucalyptus and coniferous tree species, as well as between slash pine (Pinus elliottii Engelm. var. elliottii) and hoop pine (Araucaria cunninghamii Ait), become larger and larger over time. On the other hand, the modeling results help explain why exotic slash pine can grow faster, as it has longer residual soil N residence time than native coniferous tree species like hoop pine and kauri pine (Agathis robusta C. Moore). Our results will be helpful for understanding the mechanisms of soil C and N cycling by different tree species, which will have implications for forest management.

scholarly journals Long-Term Effects of Forest Plantation Species on Chemical Soil Properties in Southern Rwanda

Soil Systems ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 59
Author(s):  
Peter Rwibasira ◽  
Francois Xavier Naramabuye ◽  
Donat Nsabimana ◽  
Monique Carnol
Keyword(s):  
Soil Properties ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
Native Species ◽  
Water Soluble ◽  
Hot Water ◽  
Eucalyptus Species ◽  
Long Term Effects ◽  
Soil Functioning ◽  
C And N

Understanding the long-term effects of tree species on soil properties is crucial for the development of forest restoration policies in relation to the choice of species that meet both environmental and local livelihood needs. This study was performed in the Arboretum of Ruhande, Southern Rwanda, where monocultures of 148 deciduous and 56 conifer species have been established in 0.25 ha replicated plots from 1933 onwards. We investigated the effects of six exotic and two native tree species planted in monoculture plots and native species mixed within one self-regenerated plot on soil properties in two layers (0–5 cm and 5–10 cm depth). We measured general soil properties (pH, SOM, exchangeable base cations) and water-soluble C and N as a proxy for soil functioning. Changes in soil properties were observed in the upper soil layer for all tree species. Planting Eucalyptus species caused soil acidification, whereas soil exchangeable cations and pH were higher under native species (Entandrophragma excelsum and Polyschias fulva) and mixed native species. The effects of tree species were more pronounced for hot water-extractable C and N than for other soil properties. Their analyses could be used for detecting changes in soil functioning linked to vegetation types.

scholarly journals Planting mixed forests of European beech and conifers: Variations in microbial responses with site conditions

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jing-Zhong Lu ◽  
Stefan Scheu
Keyword(s):  
Microbial Communities ◽  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
Soil Microorganisms ◽  
European Beech ◽  
Douglas Fir ◽  
Site Conditions ◽  
Forest Types ◽  
Beech Forests

AbstractTree - soil interactions depend on environmental context. Plantations of trees may impact soil microorganisms more strongly under unfavorable environmental conditions, compromising long-term ecosystem services. To contextually understand the effects of tree species composition on soil microorganisms, we quantified structural and functional responses of soil microorganisms to forest types across environmental gradients using substrate-induced respiration and phospholipid fatty acid analyses. Five forest types were studied including pure stands of native European beech (Fagus sylvatica), range expanding Norway spruce (Picea abies), and non-native Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii), as well as the two conifer - beech mixtures. We found that microbial functioning strongly depends on environmental conditions, in particular on soil nutrients. At nutrient-poor sites, both pure and mixed coniferous forests, but especially Douglas-fir forests, stressed soil microorganisms compared to beech forests. By contrast, microbial structure and functional indicators in beech forests varied little with site conditions, likely because beech provided high amounts of root-derived resources for microbial growth. The results indicate that, at nutrient-poor sites, long-term effects of planting exotic Douglas-fir on ecosystem functioning need further attention, but planting Douglas-fir at nutrient-rich sites may be of little concern from the perspective of microbial communities. Overall, the results point to the importance of root-derived resources in determining the structure and functioning of soil microbial communities, and document the sensitivity of soil microorganisms to planting tree species that may differ in the provisioning of these resources.

scholarly journals Variability in runoff fluxes of dissolved and particulate carbon and nitrogen from two watersheds of different tree species during intense storm events

2016 ◽  
Vol 13 (18) ◽  
pp. 5421-5432 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mi-Hee Lee ◽  
Jean-Lionel Payeur-Poirier ◽  
Ji-Hyung Park ◽  
Egbert Matzner
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
Storm Events ◽  
Flow Paths ◽  
Specific Flow ◽  
Near Surface ◽  
Carbon And Nitrogen ◽  
Intense Storm ◽  
N Fluxes ◽  
C And N

Abstract. Heavy storm events may increase the amount of organic matter in runoff from forested watersheds as well as the relation of dissolved to particulate organic matter. This study evaluated the effects of monsoon storm events on the runoff fluxes and on the composition of dissolved (< 0.45 µm) and particulate (0.7 µm to 1 mm) organic carbon and nitrogen (DOC, DON, POC, PON) in a mixed coniferous/deciduous (mixed watershed) and a deciduous forested watershed (deciduous watershed) in South Korea. During storm events, DOC concentrations in runoff increased with discharge, while DON concentrations remained almost constant. DOC, DON and NO3–N fluxes in runoff increased linearly with discharge pointing to changing flow paths from deeper to upper soil layers at high discharge, whereas nonlinear responses of POC and PON fluxes were observed likely due to the origin of particulate matter from the erosion of mineral soil along the stream benches. The integrated C and N fluxes in runoff over the 2-month study period were in the order of DOC > POC and NO3–N > DON > PON. The integrated DOC fluxes in runoff during the study period were much larger at the deciduous watershed (16 kg C ha−1) than at the mixed watershed (7 kg C ha−1), while the integrated NO3–N fluxes were higher at the mixed watershed (5.2 kg N ha−1) than at the deciduous watershed (2.9 kg N ha−1). The latter suggests a larger N uptake by deciduous trees. Integrated fluxes of POC and PON were similar at both watersheds. The composition of organic matter in soils and runoff indicates that the contribution of near-surface flow to runoff was larger at the deciduous than at the mixed watershed. Our results demonstrate different responses of particulate and dissolved C and N in runoff to storm events as a combined effect of tree species composition and watershed specific flow paths.

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