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The impacts of excessive nitrogen additions on enzyme activities and nutrient leaching in two contrasting forest soils

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Abstract

Nitrogen (N) deposition has increased dramatically worldwide, which may affect forest soils in various ways. In this study, we conducted a short-term manipulation experiment of N addition on two types of forest soils (urban and rural soils) found in Korea. N addition significantly decreased phenol oxidase activities in urban soil samples; however, it did not affect those in rural soils. Furthermore, N addition did not change β-glucosidase and N-acetylglucosaminidase activities, except for β-glucosidase activities in the O layer of rural soils. Changes in microbial biomass and general activity (dehydrogenase activity) were not induced by N addition, except for dehydrogenase in the A layer of urban soils. Although N addition did not change the extractable soil nutrients, organic matter, and water contents significantly, it enhanced nutrient leaching and resulted in lower pH leachate. These results suggest that excessive N addition to forest soils may induce nutrient leaching in the long-term. Overall results of our study also suggest that N addition may induce retardation of organic matter decomposition in soils; however, such a response may depend on the intensity of previous exposure to N deposition.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Soil and Water Science, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA

    Haryun Kim

  2. School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul, 120-740, Republic of Korea

    Hojeong Kang

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  1. Haryun Kim
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Kim, H., Kang, H. The impacts of excessive nitrogen additions on enzyme activities and nutrient leaching in two contrasting forest soils. J Microbiol. 49, 369–375 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12275-011-0421-x

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