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Carbon allocation in Larrea tridentata plant-soil systems as affected by elevated soil moisture and N availability

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Abstract

Background and Aims

Global change will likely express itself in southwestern United States arid lands through changes in amounts and timing of precipitation in response to elevated CO2 concentrations. In addition, increased nitrogen (N) deposition may occur due to increased urban development. This study addressed the effects of water and N availability on C allocation in arid land soil-plant systems.

Methods

Columns filled with Mojave Desert topsoil containing Larrea tridentata seedlings with two treatment levels each of N and soil moisture were labeled by exposure to 13C-enriched CO2.

Results

Increased soil moisture increased plant biomass, total 13C uptake, 13C levels in leaves, soil organic matter, and soil respiration, decreased relative C allocation to stems but increased allocation to soil organic matter. Increased soil N availability increased N uptake but decreased C allocation to soil respiration presumably due to decreased substrate supply for microbes. There was no detectable label in carbonate C, suggesting that this pool does not significantly contribute to ecosystem C fluxes.

Conclusions

Our study indicates that increased water availability causes increased C uptake with increased C allocation to soil organic matter in Larrea tridentata-dominated communities while increased N deposition will have a minimal impact on C sequestration.

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Acknowledgments

This study was funded through a grant from the National Science Foundation (DEB-0212714). We acknowledge the help of D. Girard, A. Young, B. Coulombe, B. Reed and S. Uselman for technical assistance throughout the study, and R. Kreidberg for editorial assistance with the manuscript. We gratefully acknowledge constructive comments provided by two reviewers and the editor.

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Author notes

  1. Paul S. J. Verburg

    Present address: Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Science, University of Nevada, Reno, 1664 North Virginia Street, Reno, NV, 89557, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Earth and Ecosystem Sciences, Desert Research Institute, 2215 Raggio Parkway, Reno, NV, 89512, USA

    Paul S. J. Verburg, Sheila E. Kapitzke, Bryan A. Stevenson & Marion Bisiaux

  2. Landcare Research, Private Bag 3127, Hamilton, 3240, New Zealand

    Bryan A. Stevenson

  3. Association Nationale pour l’Étude de la Neige et des Avalanches, 15 rue Ernest Calvat, 38000, Grenoble, France

    Marion Bisiaux

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  1. Paul S. J. Verburg
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Correspondence to Paul S. J. Verburg.

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Verburg, P.S.J., Kapitzke, S.E., Stevenson, B.A. et al. Carbon allocation in Larrea tridentata plant-soil systems as affected by elevated soil moisture and N availability. Plant Soil 378, 227–238 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-013-2017-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-013-2017-1

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