Record ID No. |
4729 |
Author(s) |
Ingeborg Callesen, Lars Ola Nilsson, Inger Kappel Schmidt, Lars Vesterdal, Per Ambus, Jesper Riis Christiansen, Peter Högberg, Per Gundersen , 2013 |
Affiliation |
Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management, University of Copenhagen, Rolighedsvej 23, 1958, Frederiksberg C, Denmark, Email: ica@skydebanen.net |
Title |
The natural abundance of 15N in litter and soil profiles under six temperate tree species: N cycling depends on tree species traits and site fertility |
Source. Vol.(no):Page |
Plant and Soil 368(1-2): 375-392p. |
Categories |
Ectomycorrhiza |
Subjects |
Biochemistry |
Sub-subjects |
Nitrogen metabolism |
Host |
Fagus sylvatica (European beech), Quercus robur (pedunculate oak), lime and Picea abies (Norway spruce) |
Organism |
Mycorrhizal fungi |
Country |
Denmark, Northern Europe |
Abstracts |
Aims: We investigated the influence of tree species on the natural 15N abundance in forest stands under elevated ambient N deposition.
Methods: We analysed δ15N in litter, the forest floor and three mineral soil horizons along with ecosystem N status variables at six sites planted three decades ago with five European broadleaved tree species and Norway spruce.
Results: Litter δ15N and 15N enrichment factor (δ15Nlitter–δ15Nsoil) were positively correlated with N status based on soil and litter N pools, nitrification, subsoil nitrate concentration and forest growth. Tree species differences were also significant for these N variables and for the litter δ15N and enrichment factor. Litter from ash and sycamore maple with high N status and low fungal mycelia activity was enriched in 15N (+0.9 delta units) relative to other tree species (European beech, pedunculate oak, lime and Norway spruce) even though the latter species leached more nitrate.
Conclusions: The δ15N pattern reflected tree species related traits affecting the N cycling as well as site fertility and former land use, and possibly differences in N leaching. The tree species δ15N patterns reflected fractionation caused by uptake of N through mycorrhiza rather than due to nitrate leaching or other N transformation processes. |