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Warming has a larger and more persistent effect than elevated CO2 on growing season soil nitrogen availability in a species-rich grassland

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Abstract

Background and aims

The terrestrial biosphere’s ability to capture carbon is dependent upon soil nitrogen (N) availability, which might reduce as CO2 increases, but global warming has the potential to offset CO2 effects. Here we examine the interactive impact of elevated CO2 (eCO2) and warming on soil N availability and transformations in a low-fertility native grassland in Tasmania, Australia.

Methods

Using ion exchange membranes, we examined soil nitrogen availability during the growing season from 2004 to 2010 in the TasFACE experiment. We also estimated soil N transformation rates using laboratory incubations.

Results

Soil N availability varied strongly over time but was more than doubled by experimental warming of 2°C, an impact that was consistent from the fifth year of the experiment to its conclusion. Elevated CO2 reduced soil N availability by ~28%, although this varied strongly over time. Treatment effects on potential N mineralisation also varied strongly from year to year but tended to be reduced by eCO2 and increased by warming.

Conclusions

These results suggest that warming should increase soil N availability more strongly than it is suppressed by eCO2 in low fertility grasslands such as this, stimulating terrestrial carbon sinks by preventing eCO2-induced nitrogen limitation of primary productivity.

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Acknowledgements

This research was funded through the Australian Research Council’s Discovery Projects grant scheme. Amity Williams and Jasmine Janes assisted with data collection and Phil Theobald helped with N determinations. We thank the Australian Department of Defence for access to the Pontville Small Arms Range complex. The authors confirm no conflict of interests.

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  1. Yui Osanai

    Present address: School of Environmental and Rural Science, University of New England, Armidale, NSW, Australia

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Biological Sciences, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 55, Hobart, TAS, 7001, Australia

    Mark J. Hovenden & Yui Osanai

  2. Land & Environmental Management, AgResearch, Palmerston North, New Zealand

    Paul C. D. Newton

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  1. Mark J. Hovenden
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Correspondence to Mark J. Hovenden.

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Hovenden, M.J., Newton, P.C.D. & Osanai, Y. Warming has a larger and more persistent effect than elevated CO2 on growing season soil nitrogen availability in a species-rich grassland. Plant Soil 421, 417–428 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-017-3474-8

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