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High Nitrate Retention during Winter in Soils of the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest

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Abstract

Stream export of nitrogen (N) as nitrate (NO −3 ; the most mobile form of N) from forest ecosystems is thought to be controlled largely by plant uptake of inorganic N, such that reduced demand for plant N during the non-growing season and following disturbances results in increased stream NO −3 export. The roles of microbes and soils in ecosystem N retention are less clear, but are the dominant controls on N export when plant uptake is low. We used a mass balance approach to investigate soil N retention during winter (December through March) at the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest by comparing NO −3 inputs (atmospheric deposition), internal production (soil microbial nitrification), and stream output. We focused on months when plant N uptake is nearly zero and the potential for N export is high. Although winter months accounted for only 10–15% of annual net nitrification, soil NO −3 production (0.8–1.0 g N m−2 winter−1) was much greater than stream export (0.03–0.19 N m−2 winter−1). Soil NO −3 retention in two consecutive winters was high (96% of combined NO −3 deposition and soil production; year 1) even following severe plant disturbance caused by an ice-storm (84%; year 2) We show that soil NO −3 retention is surprisingly high even when N demand by plants is low. Our study highlights the need to better understand mechanisms of N retention during the non-growing season to predict how ecosystems will respond to high inputs of atmospheric N, disturbance, and climate change.

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Acknowledgments

We thank D. Buso for assistance with data analysis. This paper was improved by the comments of A. Nordin and two anonymous reviewers. Funding for this analysis was provided by The A.W Mellon Foundation and NSF grants to Likens and Groffman. This paper is a contribution to the Hubbard Brook Ecosystem Study and the Program of the Institute of Ecosystem Studies. This publication does not necessarily reflect the view of any sponsoring agency.

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  1. Institute of Ecosystem Studies, 65 Sharon Turnpike, Millbrook, New York, 12545, USA

    Kristin E. Judd, Gene E. Likens & Peter M. Groffman

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  1. Kristin E. Judd
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  2. Gene E. Likens
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Correspondence to Kristin E. Judd.

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Judd, K.E., Likens, G.E. & Groffman, P.M. High Nitrate Retention during Winter in Soils of the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest. Ecosystems 10, 217–225 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10021-007-9027-x

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