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Initial effects of forestry operations on N2O and vegetation dynamics in a boreal peatland buffer

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Abstract

Peatland buffer zones with sedimentation ponds are established with the intention of capturing solids and nutrients liberated in drained forestry catchments. As noted in earlier fertilization experiments, added nitrogen (N) immediately increases nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions in such buffers, and we expected the same to happen after disturbances in the catchment caused by clear-cutting, soil preparation, and ditch cleaning. We measured N2O fluxes, water table dynamics, and vegetation cover from a wetland one year before and two years after the clear-cut and buffer establishment. The low pre-harvest emissions did not increase, but N2O emissions from the sedimentation pond exceeded those from humic lakes with a high N load. In the soil profile, N2O concentrations were high, indicating a potential to produce N2O in the buffer. In one sub-site the soil N2O concentration was below the atmospheric level, which was in accordance with the high concentrations of carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4). The change in vegetation along the overland flow paths could be explained by a shift in the species thriving in wet conditions but not in those requiring higher nutrient levels. In spite of the apparent potential of soil to produce N2O, the fluxes to the atmosphere remained low. Transformation of N2O to unobserved N2 may explain some of the low N emissions, together with the low concentrations entering the buffer.

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Acknowledgements

We warmly thank senior laboratory technicians Anita Pussinen, Seija Repo, Marja Noponen and Julia Keronen, research technicians Urho Kettunen, Markku Tiainen and Matti Naakka and many trainees and research assistants of Finnish Forest Research Institute in Joensuu Research Unit and Nurmes office. Our thanks are also due to Dr. Sirpa Piirainen for commenting the manuscript, Dr. Harri Koivusalo for his valuable comments on hydrological questions, research secretary Leena Karvinen for drawing the map and Seppo M. Heikkinen of Metsähallitus for the data on the clear-cut area and for organizing the snow plough services to the study site every winter. Rosemary Mackenzie (M.A.) revised the English language of the article. The work was funded by the Maj and Tor Nessling Foundation, the Niemi-Foundation, the Finnish Forest Research Institute and the Academy of Finland (project 214545).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Biosciences, University of Joensuu, P.O. Box 111, 80101, Joensuu, Finland

    Päivi Saari & Sanna Saarnio

  2. Department of Biological and Environmental Science, University of Jyväskylä, P.O. Box 35, FIN-40014, Jyväskylä, Finland

    Veli Saari

  3. Finnish Forest Research Institute, Joensuu Research Unit, P.O. Box 68, 80101, Joensuu, Finland

    Jaakko Heinonen & Jukka Alm

Authors
  1. Päivi Saari
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  2. Sanna Saarnio
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  3. Veli Saari
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  4. Jaakko Heinonen
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  5. Jukka Alm
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Correspondence to Päivi Saari.

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Responsible Editor: Klaus Butterbach-Bahl.

Appendix 1. List of species

Appendix 1. List of species

Ground layer:

Andromeda polifolia

Betula nana

Betula pubescens

Calluna vulgaris

Carex canescens

Carex globularis

Carex limosa

Carex magellanica

Carex pauciflora

Carex rostrata

Chamaedaphne calyculata

Deschampsia flexuosa

Drosera rotundifolia

Dryopteris carthusiana

Empetrum nigrum

Epilobium angustifolium

Eriophorum vaginatum

Linnaea borealis

Luzula pilosa

Lycopodium annotinum

Maianthemum bifolium

Melampyrum pratense

Picea abies

Pinus sylvestris

Rubus chamaemorus

Salix phylicifolia

Scheuchzeria palustris

Sorbus aucuparia

Trientalis europaea

Vaccinium microcarpum

Vaccinium myrtillys

Vaccinium oxycoccos

Vaccinium uliginosum

Vaccinium vitis-idaea

Bottom layer:

Aulacomnium palustre

Brachythecium sp.

Straminergon stramineum

Cetraria islandica

Cladina arbuscula

Digranum majus

Digranum polysetum

Dicranum scoparium

Hepaticae sp.

Hylocomium splendens

Pleurozium schreberi

Ptilium crista-castrensis

Pohlia nutans

Polytrichum commune

Polytrichum strictum

Sphagnum angustifolium

Sphagnum capillifolium

Sphagnum fuscum

Sphagnum girgensohnii

Sphagnum magellanicum

Sphagnum riparium

Sphagnum russowii

Sphagnum squarrosum

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Saari, P., Saarnio, S., Saari, V. et al. Initial effects of forestry operations on N2O and vegetation dynamics in a boreal peatland buffer. Plant Soil 330, 149–162 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-009-0188-6

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