Abstract
Nitrogen transformations in the soil, and the resulting changes in carbon and nitrogen compounds in soil percolate water, were studied in two stands of Norway spruce (Picea abies L.). Over the last 30 years the stands were repeatedly limed (total 6000 kg ha−1), fertilized with nitrogen (total about 900 kg ha−1), or both treatments together. Both aerobic incubations of soil samples in the laboratory, and intact soil core incubations in the field showed that in control plots ammonification widely predominated over nitrification. In both experiments nitrogen addition increased the formation of mineral-N. In one experiment separate lime and nitrogen treatments increased nitrification, in the other, only lime and nitrogen addition together had this effect. In one experiment immobilization of nitrogen to soil microbial biomass was lower in soil only treated with nitrogen. Soil percolate water was collected by means of lysimeters placed under the humus layer and 10 cm below in the mineral soil. Total N, NH4-N and NO3-N were measured, and dissolved organic nitrogen was fractioned according to molecular weight. NO3-N concentrations in percolate water, collected under the humus layer, were higher in plots treated with N-fertilizer, especially when lime was also added. The treatments had no effect on the N concentrations in mineral soil. A considerable proportion of nitrogen was leached in organic form.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Aarnio T and Martikainen P 1992 Nitrification in forest soil after refertilization with urea or urea and dicyandiamide. Soil Biol. Biochem. 24, 951–954.
Binkley D and Hart S C 1989 The components of nitrogen availability assessments in forest soils. Adv. Soil Sci. 10, 57–112.
Cajander A K 1949 Forest types and their significance. Acta For. Fenn. 56, 1–71.
Cortina J and Romana J 1992 Nutrient transfer from forest floor to mineral soil in a Pinus radiata D.Don stand. In Responses of Forest Ecosystems to Environmental Changes. Eds. ATeller, PMathy and J N RJeffers. pp 767–768, Elsevier Applied Science, London, New York.
DeBoer W, Hundscheid M J P, Schotman J M T, Troelstra J R and Laanbroek H J 1993. In situ net N transformations in pine, fir, and oak stands of different ages on acid sandy soil, 3 years after liming. Biol. Fertil. Soils 15, 120–126.
Kreutzer K, Reiter H, Schierl R and Göttlein A 1989 Effects of acid irrigation and liming in a Norway spruce stand (Picea abies [L.] Karst.). Water Air Soil Pollut. 48, 111–125.
Kukkola M and Saramäki J 1983 Growth responce in repeatedly fertilized pine and spruce stands on mineral soils. Commun. Inst. For. Fenn. 114, 1–55.
Mälkönen E, Derome J and Kukkola M 1990 Effects of nitrogen inputs on forest ecosystems, estimation based on long-term fertilization experiments. In Acidification in Finland. Eds. PKauppi, PAnttila and KKenttämies. pp 325–347. Springer-Verlag, Berlin, Heidelberg.
Marschner B and Wilczynski A W 1991 The effect of liming on quantity and chemical composition of soil organic matter in a pine forest in Berlin, Germany. Plant and Soil 137, 229–236.
Marschner B, Stahr K and Renger M 1989 Potential hazards of lime application in a damaged pine forest ecosystem in Berlin, Germany. Water Air Soil Pollut. 48, 45–57.
Marschner B, Renger M and Stahr K 1991 Effects of lime and fertilizer application on soil solution composition in an acid sandy forest soil. Z. Planzenemaehr. Bodenkd. 154, 343–348.
Martikainen P J 1984 Nitrification in two coniferous forest soils after different fertilization treatments. Soil Biol. Biochem. 16, 577–582.
Martikainen P J, Aarnio T, Taavitsainen V-M, Päivinen L and Salonen K 1989 Mineralization of carbon and nitrogen in soil samples taken from three fertilized pine stands: Long-term effects. Plant and Soil 114, 99–106.
Martikainen P J, Lehtonen M, Lan K, DeBoer W and Ferm A 1993 Nitrification and nitrous oxide production potentials in aerobic soil samples from the soil profile of a Finnish coniferous site receiving high ammonium deposition. FEMS Microbiol. Ecol. 13, 113–122.
Matzner E, Khanna P K, Meiwes K J and Ulrich B 1983 Effects of fertilization on the fluxes of chemical elements through different forest ecosystems. Plant and Soil 74, 343–358.
Nohrstedt H-Ö 1992 Soil water chemistry as affected by liming and N fertilization at two Swedish coniferous forest sites. Scand. J. For. Res. 7, 143–153.
Nohrstedt H-Ö, Arnebrant K, Bååth E and Söderström B 1989 Changes in carbon content, respiration rate, ATP content, and microbial biomass in nitrogen-fertilized pine forest soils in Sweden. Can. J. For. Res. 19, 323–328.
Raison R J, Connell M J and Khanna P K 1987 Methodology for studying fluxes of soil mineral-N in situ. Soil Biol. Biochem. 19, 521–530.
Rosen K and Lundmark-Thelin A 1987 Increased nitrogen leaching under piles of slash — a consequence of modern forest harvesting techniques. Scand. J. For. Res. 2, 21–29.
Smolander A and Mälkönen E 1994 Microbial biomass C and N in limed soil of Norway spruce stands. Soil Biol. Biochem. 26, 503–509.
Smolander A, Kurka A, Kitunen V and Mälkönen E 1994 Microbial biomass C and N, and respiratory activity in soil of repeatedly limed, and N- and P-fertilized Norway spruce stands. Soil Biol. Biochem. 26, 957–962.
Söderström B, Bååth E and Lundgren B 1983 Decrease in soil microbial activity and biomasses owing to nitrogen amendments. Can. J. Microbiol. 29, 1500–1506.
Stevens P A and Wannop C P 1987 Dissolved organic nitrogen and nitrate in an acid forest soil. Plant and Soil 102, 137–139.
Tietema A, Duysings J J H M, Verstraten J M and Westerveld J W 1990 Estimation of actual nitrification rates in an acid forest soil. In Nutrient Cycling in Terrestrial Ecosystems. Field Method, Application and Interpretation. Eds. A FHarrison, PIneson and O WHeal. pp 190–197. Elsevier Applied Science, London and New York.
Tietema A, Warmerdam B, Lenting E and Riemer L 1992 Abiotic factors regulating nitrogen transformations in the organic layer of acid forest soils: Moisture and pH. Plant and Soil 147, 69–78.
Tietema A, Riemer L, Verstraten J M, van deerMaas M P, vanWijk A J and vanVoorthuyzen I 1994 Nitrogen cycling in acid forest soils subject to increased atmospheric nitrogen input. For. Ecol. Manage. 57, 29–44.
Vitousek P M, Gosh J R, Grier C C, Melillo J M and Reiners W A 1982 A comparative analysis of potential nitrification and nitrate mobility in forest ecosystems. Ecol. Monogr. 52, 155–177.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Smolander, A., Kitunen, V., Priha, O. et al. Nitrogen transformations in limed and nitrogen fertilized soil in Norway spruce stands. Plant Soil 172, 107–115 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00020864
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00020864