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Changes in nitrogen transformation in forest soil representing the climate gradient of the Japanese archipelago

  • Special Feature: Original article
  • Soil nitrogen dynamics of forest ecosystems under environmental changes
  • Published:
Journal of Forest Research

Abstract

Net nitrogen transformation was investigated under different climate conditions by soil transplantation and in situ incubation of forest surface soils using the resin-core method. Selected conditions were considered to reflect those of the natural climate gradient in the Japanese archipelago. Study sites were established in natural forests in northern Hokkaido (Uryu), northern Kanto (Kusaki), central Kinki (Kamigamo), and southern Kyushu (Takakuma), representing the northernmost to the southernmost island regions of Japan. Field experiments comparing soils incubated at “native” and “transplanted” sites were conducted from June 2008 to May 2009. Net production, accumulation, and leaching of soil ammonium (NH4 +) and nitrate (NO3 −) were measured at each of the sites during the growing season (June–October), the dormant season (November–May), and throughout the year. Net nitrate production was highest in Kusaki soil, especially during the growing season, whereas net ammonium production was highest in Uryu soil, the coldest site, especially during the dormant season. Net nitrate production increased significantly in soils transplanted to a warmer climate during the growing season. However, net ammonium production increased in soils transplanted to colder climates during the dormant season. These findings indicate that, with the exception of the infertile soil samples from Kamigamo, the range of natural climates in Japan has a significant effect on nitrogen availability in surface soil. In addition, the original characteristics of the nitrogen cycle of the surface soil from each native site were retained, even when marked changes in soil temperature (approximately 8°C) occurred after transplantation.

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Acknowledgments

This study was conducted as a part of the ReSIN (Regional and comparative Soil Incubation study on Nitrogen dynamics in forest ecosystems) project funded by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (19380078 and 2248016). The Uryu and Kusaki study sites were part of the Japan Long-Term Ecological Research network (JaLTER). We thank the technical staff of Uryu Experimental Forest of Hokkaido University, Field Museum Kusaki of Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Kamigamo Experimental Forest of Kyoto University, and Takamuma Experimental Forest of Kagoshima University for their support with field incubation experiments and logistics. We would also thank Yuko Hasegawa for her support with chemical analysis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Field Science Center for Northern Biosphere, Hokkaido University, 250 Tokuda, Nayoro, Hokkaido, 096-0071, Japan

    Hideaki Shibata & Karibu Fukuzawa

  2. Graduate School of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 3-5-8 Saiwai-cho, Fuchu, Tokyo, 183-8509, Japan

    Rieko Urakawa, Hiroto Toda & Keisuke Koba

  3. Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute, 1 Matsunosato, Tsukuba, 305-8687, Japan

    Yoshiyuki Inagaki

  4. Faculty of Agriculture, Kagoshima University, 1-21-35 Korimoto, Kagoshima, 890-0065, Japan

    Ryunosuke Tateno & Ayaka Yamasaki

  5. Field Science Education and Research Center, Kyoto University, Sakyo, Kyoto, 606-8502, Japan

    Asami Nakanishi

  6. Kita-9, Nishi-9, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido, 060-0809, Japan

    Hideaki Shibata

Authors
  1. Hideaki Shibata
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  2. Rieko Urakawa
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  3. Hiroto Toda
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  4. Yoshiyuki Inagaki
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  5. Ryunosuke Tateno
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  6. Keisuke Koba
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  7. Asami Nakanishi
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  8. Karibu Fukuzawa
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  9. Ayaka Yamasaki
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Correspondence to Hideaki Shibata.

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Shibata, H., Urakawa, R., Toda, H. et al. Changes in nitrogen transformation in forest soil representing the climate gradient of the Japanese archipelago. J For Res 16, 374–385 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10310-011-0288-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10310-011-0288-z

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