Hasselquist, Niles
- Department of Forest Ecology and Management, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
Abstract
Little is known about the effects of nitrogen (N) additions on soil respiration (Rs) in tropical and subtropical forests. We therefore conducted an N-fertilization experiment in a subtropical evergreen forest in eastern China to better understand the short-term response of Rs to increased N availability. N additions stimulated Rs compared to control plots, yet the magnitude of the increase depended on the amount of N added, with Rs being greater in the low-N treatment (50 kg N ha(-1) yr(-1)) than the high-N treatment (100 kg N ha(-1) yr(-1)). Differences in Rs among treatments correlated with changes in fine root biomass, suggesting increases in Rs reflect those in autotrophic respiration. Our findings challenge the dogma that N fertilization often reduces soil respiration and highlights the need to better understand the effects of low N additions, so as to reliably predict how projected climate change scenarios may affect the cycling of soil carbon (C) in tropical and subtropical forests. (C) 2014 Published by Elsevier Ltd.
Keywords
Autotrophic respiration; Nitrogen fertilization; Soil CO2 efflux; Subtropical forest; Soil carbon
Published in
Soil Biology and Biochemistry
2014, volume: 76, pages: 297-300
Publisher: PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD
SLU Authors
Palmroth, Sari
- Duke University
Global goals (SDG)
UKÄ Subject classification
Forest Science
Publication identifier
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2014.04.020
Permanent link to this page (URI)
https://res.slu.se/id/publ/60414