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Linking Carbon Saturation Concepts to Nitrogen Saturation and Retention

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Abstract

Recent advances in soil C saturation concepts have increased our understanding of soil C storage and mineralization without explicit links to N retention and saturation theories. Here, we exploit soil texture and organic matter (OM) gradients in a Maryland, USA hardwood forest to test hypotheses that link soil organic C saturation with soil 15N retention and nitrification. At our site, mineral-associated OM (MAOM) N concentrations in the silt + clay particle fraction (g MAOM-N g silt + clay−1) were negatively correlated with the fraction of NH4-N transferred to MAOM during a 3-day in situ incubation (R = −0.85), but positively correlated with potential net nitrification (R = 0.76). Moreover, the fraction of NH4-N transferred to MAOM was negatively correlated with potential net nitrification (R = −0.76). Due to physico-chemical stabilization mechanisms, MAOM is considered to be resistant to mineralization. Carbon saturation theory suggests that the proportion of new C inputs that can be stabilized in MAOM decreases in proportion to the amount of C already present in the fraction; C inputs not stabilized in MAOM are susceptible to rapid mineralization. We demonstrate that NH4-N stabilization in MAOM is similar to C stabilization in MAOM and associated with nitrification, thereby extending soil C saturation theory to mineral N and linking it with N retention and saturation theories. These data and concepts complement N saturation models that emphasize vegetation type, N input levels, and microbial turnover. Incorporating the OM retention capacity of fine mineral particles into N saturation theory can improve predictions of N saturation rates and resolve inconsistent relationships between soil organic matter, texture, N mineralization, and N retention.

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Acknowledgments

Discussions with David Lewis improved the design of this experiment. This project was funded by NSF (DEB Dissertation Improvement Grant-090999) and NOAA (National Estuarine Research Reserve) to MJC. JPK was funded by NSF DEB 0816668. MJC was funded by USDA (National Needs 2005-38420-15774) to HL.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Agronomy, Iowa State University, 2101 Agronomy Hall, Ames, Iowa, 50011, USA

    Michael J. Castellano

  2. Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, 116 ASI Building, University Park, Pennsylvania, 16802, USA

    Michael J. Castellano, Jason P. Kaye & Henry Lin

  3. USDA-ARS PSWRMU, University Park, Pennsylvania, 16802, USA

    John P. Schmidt

Authors
  1. Michael J. Castellano
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  2. Jason P. Kaye
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  3. Henry Lin
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  4. John P. Schmidt
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Michael J. Castellano.

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Author Contributions

MJC and JPK analyzed the data and wrote the manuscript. MJC, JPK, HL, and JPS designed the study.

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Supplementary material 1 (DOC 157 kb)

10021_2011_9501_MOESM2_ESM.tif

Supplementary Figure A1 (a & b) There was no correlation between potential net ammonification and C/N ratio or sand content within or across soil horizons. (c) In contrast, potential nitrification was negatively correlated with C/N ratio within the A horizon only (R = -0.61; P = 0.0020) whereas (d) potential nitrification was positively correlated with sand content within the A horizon (R = 0.51; P = 0.0129) and B horizon (R = 0.52; P = 0.0389). Black triangles indicate A horizon samples; grey circles indicate B horizon samples. Lines indicate model fit (TIF 4265 kb)

10021_2011_9501_MOESM3_ESM.tif

Supplementary Figure A2 (a) Gross ammonification was not correlated with soil C/N ratio. (b) Gross ammonification was positively correlated with sand content (R = 0.54; P = 0.0296) in the B horizon only. (c) After log10 transformation for heteroscedasticity, gross nitrification was negatively correlated with C/N ratio in the A horizon only (R = -0.50; P = 0.0190). (d) After log10 transformation for heteroscedasticity, gross nitrification was positively correlated with sand content across both horizons (R = 0.46; P = 0.0036) and within the A horizon (R = 0.71; P = 0.0002). Black triangles indicate A horizon samples; grey circles indicate B horizon samples. Lines indicate model fit for analyses on untransformed data (TIF 4272 kb)

10021_2011_9501_MOESM4_ESM.tif

Supplementary Figure A3 Across both horizons, the absolute mass of the initial NH4-N pool that was transferred to insoluble organic matter or not recovered in insoluble organic matter during a 3 day in situ incubation per mass of dry soil (mg NH4-N kg-1 dry soil). Note: Different masses of NH4-N were applied to A and B soil horizons; see Methods. (a) NH4-N transferred to mineral-associated organic matter (MAOM) was negatively correlated with MAOM-N concentrations in the silt + clay fraction (y = 0.54 + 0.44e (-0.64x); R = 0.40; P = 0.0378). (a) NH4-N transferred to insoluble particulate organic matter (POM) was positively correlated with POM-N concentrations in the total soil (y = 0.26(1 - e (-2.93x)); R = 0.82, P < 0.0001). (c) NH4-N unrecovered in insoluble organic matter (POM or MAOM) positively correlated with MAOM-N concentrations in the silt + clay fraction y = 4.80(1 - e (-0.29x)); R = 0.76, P < 0.0001). Solid lines indicate model fits. Black triangles indicate A horizon samples and grey circles indicate B horizon samples. Lines indicate model fit (TIF 3346 kb)

10021_2011_9501_MOESM5_ESM.tif

Supplementary Figure A4 (a) Gross ammonification was negatively correlated with the mass NH4-N transferred to mineral-associated organic matter (MAOM) kg-1 MAOM-Nitrogen (MAOM-N); y = 1.96e (-0.59x); R = 0.41, P = 0.0080. (b) Gross nitrification was negatively correlated with the mass NH4-N transferred to MAOM kg-1 MAOM-C; y = 0.58e (-0.84x); R = 0.52, P = 0.0008. (c) Potential net ammonification was negatively correlated with the mass NH4-N transferred to MAOM kg-1 MAOM-C; y = 1.75(-0.81x); R = 0.57, P = 0.0002. (d) Potential net nitrification was negatively correlated with the mass NH4-N transferred to MAOM kg-1 MAOM-C; y = 1.83e (-1.03x); R = 0.81, P < 0.0001. Black triangles indicate A horizon samples; grey circles indicate B horizon samples. Lines indicate model fit (TIF 4931 kb)

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Castellano, M.J., Kaye, J.P., Lin, H. et al. Linking Carbon Saturation Concepts to Nitrogen Saturation and Retention. Ecosystems 15, 175–187 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10021-011-9501-3

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