Douglas fir stimulates nitrification in French forest soils.

ABSTRACT: Douglas fir trees presumable stimulate nitrification in the soil. We studied in 21 French Douglas fir forests if and how nitrification is modulated by soil properties, past land use and current forest management. Soil (0-10 cm depth) was collected and initial concentrations of N-NH₄⁺ and N-NO₃^-, potential net nitrogen mineralization (PNM) and net nitrification (PNN) rates and microbial biomass were measured. At 11 of the 21 sites, annual nitrate fluxes in the soil were measured using anion exchange resin bags. Soils contained between 2.3 to 29.4 mg N-NO₃^- kg soil^-1. About 86% (±14%) of mineral N was nitrate. The proportion of nitrate increased to almost 100% during incubation. PNN varied from 0.10 mg N kg soil

SUBMITTER: Zeller B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6650478 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature