Abstract
In acid forest soils nitrate (NO −3 ) from anthropogenic nitrogen deposition is retained at levels beyond what can be explained by known biological mechanisms. A number of researchers have hypothesized that abiotic NO −3 incorporation into soil organic matter might be responsible for this phenomenon, however studies have been limited to a few temperate forest sites. The goal of this study was to determine if abiotic NO −3 incorporation is important across a wide range of soil types. We collected 44 soils from a number of different ecosystem types in North and South America and measured the extent of abiotic NO −3 incorporation. Significant abiotic nitrate incorporation did not occur in any of the soils examined. We show that the apparent abiotic incorporation observed in previous studies is likely the result of iron interference with NO −3 measurements. Our results suggest that abiotic NO −3 incorporation is not a likely explanation for the high rates of NO −3 retention observed in some ecosystems.
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Abbreviations
- DNRA:
-
Dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonia
- DON:
-
Dissolved organic nitrogen
- EDTA:
-
Ethylenediamine tetracetic acid
- RPM:
-
Revolutions per minute
- SOM:
-
Soil organic matter
- UV:
-
Ultraviolet
- TDN:
-
Total dissolved nitrogen
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Acknowledgements
We thank the many individuals who donated their time and resources to help with soil collection, and scientists from the LTER research network who made their sites available. We also want to thank Shona R. Saxon and Robert B. Jackson for their valuable assistance on this project, Bryan Dail for his comments on an earlier draft of this manuscript, and our reviewers for their feedback and comments. This work was supported by a Kearney Foundation Fellowship to Colman, and an NSF Postdoctoral Fellowship to Fierer.
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Appendix A
Appendix A
Site information and physiochemical properties of the soils used in this study. MAT is mean annual temperature, MAP is mean annual precipitation. All longitudes are West and all latitudes are North with the exception of sites in Peru which are South. The vegetation type at each site was determined in a qualitative manner at the time of sample collection as being coniferous forest, deciduous/broadleaf forest, shrubland, or grassland. Soil organic carbon content was measured on a CE Elantech Model NC2100 elemental analyzer (ThermoQuest Italia, Milan, Italy) with combustion at 900°C, and values are reported in g C 100 g−1 soil. Soil pH was measured after shaking a soil/water (1:1 w/v) suspension for 30 min. Soil texture analyses were conducted at the Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources Analytical Laboratory, University of California Cooperative Extension (Davis, CA, USA) using particle size analysis of sand, silt and clay in soil suspension by hydrometer. Iron concentrations were determined for 0.5 M K2SO4 solutions from abiotic incorporation experiments as explained in the Materials and methods, and values are reported in mg Fe l−1.
Soil ID No. | Location | Latitude | Longitude | Elevation (m) | Dominant plant species | MAT (°C) | MAP (mm) | % Organic C | Texture class | pH | Iron |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Badlands National Park, SD, USA | 43.75 | 102.38 | 1000 | Grassland | 6.6 | 450 | 3.1 | Silt loam | 7.53 | 0.0 |
2 | Cedar Mountain, AZ, USA | 36.05 | 111.77 | 2003 | Shrubland | 10.3 | 400 | 2.15 | Silt loam | 8.02 | 0.0 |
3 | Calhoun Experimental Forest, SC, USA | 34.62 | 81.67 | 150 | Grassland | 15.9 | 1250 | 1.71 | Sandy loam | 5.03 | 0.0 |
4 | Great Basin Experimental Range, UT, USA | 39.33 | 111.45 | 3750 | Grassland | 2 | 400 | 2.82 | Clay loam | 6.84 | 0.0 |
5 | Konza Prarie LTER, KS, USA | 39.10 | 96.60 | 100 | Grassland | 12.5 | 835 | 4.62 | Silt loam | 6.5 | 0.0 |
6 | Mojave Desert, CA, USA | 34.90 | 115.63 | 970 | Shrubland | 21 | 150 | 0.08 | Sandy loam | 8.83 | 0.0 |
7 | USDA Grassland Research Center, Riesel, TX, USA | 31.47 | 96.87 | 50 | Shrubland | 18.1 | 840 | 3.94 | Silty clay loam | 7.92 | 0.0 |
8 | Hawaii, HI, USA | 20.08 | 155.70 | 200 | Grassland | 22.8 | 250 | 1.14 | Loam | 6.45 | 0.9 |
9 | Hawaii, HI, USA | 20.08 | 155.70 | 700 | Grassland | 22.8 | 750 | 15.88 | Sandy loam | 6.32 | 1.0 |
10 | Institute for Ecosystem Studies, NY, USA | 41.80 | 73.75 | 75 | Grassland | 8.6 | 1200 | 4.07 | Sandy loam | 5.52 | 1.0 |
11 | Duke Forest, NC, USA | 35.97 | 79.08 | 150 | Deciduous/broadleaf forest | 14.6 | 1100 | 1.7 | Loamy sand | 5.05 | 1.0 |
12 | Sequoia National Park, CA, USA | 36.50 | 118.70 | 650 | Shrubland | 12.7 | 650 | 1.68 | Sandy loam | 6.25 | 1.0 |
13 | Toolik Lake LTER, AK, USA | 68.63 | 149.58 | 894 | Shrubland | −9.3 | 400 | 15.83 | Silt loam | 6.47 | 1.0 |
14 | Sevilleta LTER, NM, USA | 34.33 | 106.73 | 1480 | Grassland | 13.5 | 210 | 0.23 | Loamy sand | 8.44 | 1.0 |
15 | Itasca State Park, MN, USA | 47.18 | 95.17 | 550 | Coniferous forest | 3 | 750 | 3.91 | Loamy sand | 5.42 | 1.0 |
16 | Santa Barbara, CA, USA | 34.47 | 119.80 | 500 | Shrubland | 15 | 550 | 2.65 | Loam | 7.92 | 1.0 |
17 | Eastern Sierra Nevada Mts., CA, USA | 36.45 | 118.17 | 3000 | Shrubland | 3.6 | 600 | 1.66 | Loamy sand | 5.74 | 1.0 |
18 | HJ Andrews LTER, OR, USA | 44.22 | 122.15 | 700 | Deciduous/broadleaf forest | 9.4 | 2000 | 7.61 | Sandy loam | 5.36 | 2.8 |
19 | Institute for Ecosystem Studies, NY, USA | 41.80 | 73.75 | 75 | Grassland | 8.6 | 1200 | 2.7 | Sandy loam | 5.27 | 3.7 |
20 | Hawaii, HI, USA | 20.08 | 155.70 | 1000 | Grassland | 22.8 | 1000 | 18.24 | Loamy sand | 6.53 | 4.5 |
21 | Calhoun Experimental Forest, SC, USA | 34.62 | 81.67 | 150 | Coniferous forest | 15.9 | 1250 | 1.21 | Loamy sand | 4.89 | 4.7 |
22 | Eastern Sierra Nevada Mts., CA, USA | 36.45 | 118.17 | 3000 | Coniferous forest | 3.6 | 600 | 4.25 | Loamy sand | 4.95 | 6.0 |
23 | Bonanza Creek LTER, AK, USA | 64.80 | 148.25 | 300 | Coniferous forest | −2.9 | 260 | 3.73 | Silt loam | 5.36 | 10.0 |
24 | Bonanza Creek LTER, AK, USA | 64.80 | 148.25 | 300 | Coniferous forest | −2.9 | 260 | 3.03 | Silt loam | 5.12 | 10.0 |
25 | Sequoia National Park, CA, USA | 36.62 | 118.63 | 3215 | Grassland | 3.6 | 750 | 8.1 | Loamy sand | 5.13 | 14.3 |
26 | Luquillo LTER, Puerto Rico | 18.30 | 65.83 | 400 | Deciduous/broadleaf forest | 21.5 | 3500 | 4.11 | Silty clay loam | 5.03 | 17.8 |
27 | Bonanza Creek LTER, AK, USA | 64.80 | 148.25 | 300 | Coniferous forest | −2.9 | 260 | 3.03 | Silt loam | 5.16 | 21.0 |
28 | Manu National Park, Peru | 13.02 | 71.58 | 3250 | Deciduous/broadleaf forest | 10 | 2100 | 14.9 | Loam | 3.5 | 23.5 |
29 | Bear Brook Watershed, ME, USA | 44.87 | 68.10 | 400 | Deciduous/broadleaf forest | 6.1 | 1200 | 5.22 | Sandy loam | 4.6 | 33.2 |
30 | Manu National Park, Peru | 13.08 | 71.58 | 3250 | Deciduous/broadleaf forest | 10 | 2100 | 13.4 | Loam | 4.1 | 35.4 |
31 | Luquillo LTER, Puerto Rico | 18.30 | 65.83 | 700 | Deciduous/broadleaf forest | 20.5 | 4500 | 6.41 | Sandy loam | 4.67 | 37.1 |
32 | Luquillo LTER, Puerto Rico | 18.30 | 65.83 | 1000 | Deciduous/broadleaf forest | 19.3 | 5000 | 13.95 | Silt loam | 4.89 | 44.1 |
33 | Hawaii, HI, USA | 20.08 | 155.70 | 1500 | Grassland | 22.8 | 1500 | 10.82 | Loam | 4.92 | 46.4 |
34 | Mary’s Peak, OR, USA | 49.47 | 123.53 | 1300 | Grassland | 8.8 | 2200 | 10.7 | Sandy loam | 4.56 | 49.2 |
35 | Manu National Park, Peru | 12.65 | 71.23 | 440 | Deciduous/broadleaf forest | 25 | 4000 | 3.3 | Clay | 4.1 | 62.1 |
36 | Manu National Park, Peru | 12.63 | 71.27 | 860 | Deciduous/broadleaf forest | 23 | 5000 | 9.4 | Clay loam | 3.6 | 78.0 |
37 | Mary’s Peak, OR, USA | 49.47 | 123.53 | 1300 | Coniferous forest | 8.8 | 2200 | 9.87 | Sandy loam | 4.38 | 91.2 |
38 | Catskills, NY, USA | 42.16 | 74.26 | 800 | Deciduous/broadleaf forest | 5.3 | 1300 | 2.56 | Loam | 3.92 | 93.3 |
39 | Toolik Lake LTER, AK, USA | 68.63 | 149.58 | 894 | Grassland | −9.3 | 400 | 7.02 | Loam | 4.58 | 94.0 |
40 | Harvard Forest LTER, MA, USA | 42.50 | 72.17 | 300 | Coniferous forest | 7 | 1100 | 9.55 | Sandy loam | 3.98 | 97.6 |
41 | Toolik Lake LTER, AK, USA | 68.63 | 149.58 | 894 | Shrubland | −9.3 | 400 | 5.39 | Loam | 4.23 | 101.6 |
42 | Bear Brook Watershed, ME, USA | 44.87 | 68.10 | 400 | Coniferous forest | 6.1 | 1200 | 12.84 | Sandy loam | 4.25 | 103.2 |
43 | Catskills, NY, USA | 41.93 | 74.35 | 800 | Deciduous/broadleaf forest | 5.3 | 1300 | 4.06 | Sandy loam | 3.63 | 106.2 |
44 | Catskills, NY, USA | 42.12 | 74.10 | 800 | Coniferous forest | 5.3 | 1300 | 4.33 | Silt loam | 3.56 | 216.0 |
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Colman, B.P., Fierer, N. & Schimel, J.P. Abiotic nitrate incorporation in soil: is it real?. Biogeochemistry 84, 161–169 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10533-007-9111-5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10533-007-9111-5