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Soil C and N dynamics within a precipitation gradient in Mediterranean eucalypt plantations

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Abstract

Soil C and N dynamics were evaluated in five eucalypt plantations within a precipitation gradient (500–2,000 mm) in Portugal. Soil physical and chemical properties, total and labile (particulate organic matter, hydrolyzable, hot water soluble and microbial) soil C and N pools, and C and N mineralization were measured to characterize the C and N dynamics and their controlling factors within this gradient. Contents of total and labile soil organic C and N were positively correlated with the mean annual precipitation. A similar relationship was observed for net N mineralization (anaerobic and long-term aerobic incubation), gross N mineralization (15N isotope dilution technique) and C mineralization. In contrast, rates of C and N mineralization (per unit of C and N) were higher in the driest sites due to their higher proportion of particulate organic matter C. Net and gross N mineralization were strongly correlated and showed similar controlling factors (mean annual precipitation, total and labile C and N and extractable P contents), suggesting that net N mineralization during long-term aerobic incubation reflects gross N transformations. Although, gross NO3–N production and gross NO3–N immobilization were observed in all sites, net nitrification in the drier sites was not observed in the first weeks of the study. Our results suggest that, under Mediterranean conditions, mean annual precipitation is the major factor determining the C and N dynamics in soils with Eucalyptus plantations.

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Acknowledgements

The CELBI Pulp Company is acknowledged for allowing the use of its eucalyptus plantations, and Clara Araújo for her assistance in plot selection. Laboratory staff of the Departamento de Ciências do Ambiente (Instituto Superior de Agronomia) is acknowledged for their technical assistance for analytical work and Paulo Marques and Luis Hilário for their help in field work. The authors also thank Marta Carneiro for floristic survey and Prof. Ana Carla Madeira for English style improvement.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Instituto Superior de Agronomia, Universidade Técnica de Lisboa, Tapada da Ajuda, 1349-017, Lisboa, Portugal

    María Xesús Gómez-Rey & Manuel Madeira

  2. Instituto de Investigaciones Agrobiológicas de Galicia, CSIC, Apartado 122, Santiago de Compostela, 15780, España

    Serafin Jesus Gonzalez-Prieto

  3. Dpto. Edafologia, Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, 5001-911, Vila Real, Portugal

    João Coutinho

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  1. María Xesús Gómez-Rey
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  2. Manuel Madeira
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  4. João Coutinho
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Correspondence to María Xesús Gómez-Rey.

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Gómez-Rey, M.X., Madeira, M., Gonzalez-Prieto, S.J. et al. Soil C and N dynamics within a precipitation gradient in Mediterranean eucalypt plantations. Plant Soil 336, 157–171 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-010-0456-5

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