Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Response of nitrogen mineralization dynamics and biochemical properties to litter amendments to soils of a poplar plantation

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Journal of Forestry Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Understanding the impact of plant litters on soil nitrogen (N) dynamics could facilitate development of management strategies that promote plantation ecosystem function. Our objective was to evaluate the effects of different litter types on N mineralization and availability, microbial biomass, and activities of l-asparaginase and o-diphenol oxidase (o-DPO) in soils of a poplar (Populus deltoides) plantation through 24 weeks of incubation experiments. The tested litters included foliage (F), branch (B), or root (R) of poplar trees, and understory vegetation (U) or a mixture of F, B, and U (M). Litter amendments led to rapid N immobilization during the first 4 weeks of incubation, while net N mineralization was detected in all tested soils from 6 to 24 weeks of incubation, with zero-order reaction rate constants (k) ranging from 7.7 to 9.6 mg N released kg−1 soil wk−1. Moreover, litter addition led to increased microbial biomass carbon (C) 49–128% and increased MBC:MBN ratio by 5–92%, strengthened activities of l-asparaginase and o-DPO by 14–74%; Up to about 37 kg N ha−1 net increase in mineralized N in litter added soils during 24 weeks of incubation suggests that adequate poplar and understory litter management could lead to reduced inputs while facilitate sustainable and economic viable plantation production.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Barzegar AR, Yousefi A, Daryashenas A (2002) The effect of addition of different amounts and types of organic materials on soil physical properties and yield of wheat. Plant Soil 247:295–301

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Berthelot A, Ranger J, Gelhaye D (2000) Nutrient uptake and immobilization in a short-rotation coppice stand of hybrid poplars in north-west France. For Ecol Manag 128:167–179

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Calderón FJ, McCarty GW, Reeves JB III (2005) Analysis of manure and soil nitrogen mineralization during incubation. Biol Fertil Soils 41:328–336

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cayuela ML, Sinicco T, Mondini C (2009) Mineralization dynamics and biochemical properties during initial decomposition of plant and animal residues in soil. Appl Soil Ecol 41:118–127

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen Q, Fang SZ, Tian Y (2012) Effects of the decomposition of poplar and alder mixed leaf litters on soil microbial biomass. Chin J Appl Ecol 23:2121–2128 (in Chinese)

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Deng SP, Moore JM, Tabatabai MA (2000) Characterization of active nitrogen pools in soils under different cropping systems. Biol Fertil Soils 32:302–309

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dong B, Cao YF, Wei HD (2011) Nutrient return of litterfall in a Populus tremuloides plantation. Ecol Sci 30:257–261 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Frankenberger WT, Tabatabai MA (1991) l-Asparaginase activity of soils. Biol Fertil Soils 11:6–12

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ge XM, Tian Y, Tang LZ (2015) Nutrient distribution indicated whole-tree harvesting as a possible factor restricting the sustainable productivity of a poplar plantation system in China. PLoS ONE 10:e0125303. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0125303

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Handa IT, Aerts R, Berendse F, Berg MP, Bruder A, Butenschoen O, Chauvet E, Gessner MO, Jabiol J, Makkonen M, McKie BG, Malmqvist B, Peeters ETHM, Scheu S, Schmid B, van Ruijven J, Vos VCA, Hättenschwiler S (2014) Consequences of biodiversity loss for litter decomposition across biomes. Nature 509:218–221

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • He YT, Xu XL, Kusffer C, Zhang XZ, Shi PL (2014) Leaf litter of a dominant cushion plant shifts nitrogen mineralization to immobilization at high but not low temperature in an alpine meadow. Plant Soil 383:415–426

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Henriksen TM, Breland TA (1999) Nitrogen availability effects on carbon mineralization, fungal and bacterial growth, and enzyme activities during decomposition of wheat straw in soil. Soil Biol Biochem 31:1121–1134

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hossain MZ, Sugiyama SI (2011) Influences of plant litter diversity on decomposition, nutrient mineralization and soil microbial community structure. Grassl Sci 57:72–80

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Joergensen R, Brookes PC (1990) Ninhydrin-reactive nitrogen measurements of microbial biomass in 0.5M soil K2SO4 extracts. Biol Fertil Soils 22:1023–1027

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kabba BS, Aulakh MS (2004) Climate conditions and crop-residue quality differentially affect N, P, and S mineralization in soils with contrasting P status. J Plant Nutr Soil Sci 167:596–601

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kaur T, Brar BS, Dhillon NS (2008) Soil organic matter dynamics as affected by long-term use of organic and inorganic fertilizers under maize–wheat cropping system. Nutr Cycl Agroecosyst 81:59–69

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kooijman AM, Martinez-Hernandez GB (2009) Effects of litter quality and parent material on organic matter characteristics and N-dynamics in Luxembourg beech and hornbeam forests. For Ecol Manag 257:1732–1739

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kotroczó Z, Veres Z, Fekete I, Krakomperger Z, Tóth JA, Lajtha K, Tóthmérész B (2014) Soil enzyme activity in response to long-term organic matter manipulation. Soil Biol Biochem 70:237–243

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lodhiyal LS, Singh RP, Singh SP (1994) Productivity and nutrient cycling in poplar stands in central Himalaya, India. Can J For Res 24:1129–1199

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lu RK (1999) Methods of soil agriculture chemical analysis. China Agriculture Science and Technique Press, Beijing, p 107 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Meirsonne L, Schrijver AD, Vos BD (2007) Nutrient cycling in a poplar plantation (Populus trichocarpa × Populus deltoides ‘Beaupré’) on former agricultural land in northern Belgium. Can J For Res 37:141–155

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mondini C, Cayuela ML, Sinicco T, Sánchez-Monedero MA, Bertolone E, Bardi L (2008) Soil application of meat and bone meal. Short-term effects on mineralization dynamics and soil biochemical and microbiological properties. Soil Biol Biochem 40:462–474

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Moreno-Cornejo J, Zornoza R, Faz A (2014) Carbon and nitrogen mineralization during decomposition of crop residues in a calcareous soil. Geoderma 230–231:58–63

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Myrold DD (2005) Transformations of nitrogen. In: Sylvia DM, Fuhrmann JJ, Hartel PG, Zuberer DA (eds) Principles and applications of soil microbiology, 2nd edn. Pearson Prentice Hall, Inc., New Jersey, pp 333–372

    Google Scholar 

  • Perucci P, Casucci C, Dumontet S (2000) An improved method to evaluate the o-diphenol oxidase activity of soil. Soil Biol Biochem 32:1927–1933

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Potthast K, Hamer U, Makeschin F (2010) Impact of litter quality on mineralization processes in managed and abandoned pasture soils in Southern Ecuador. Soil Bio Biochem 42:56–64

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Probert ME, Delve RJ, Kimani SK, Dimes JP (2005) Modelling nitrogen mineralization from manures: representing quality aspects by varying C:N ratio of sub-pools. Soil Biol Biochem 37:279–287

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Puttaso A, Vityakon P, Saenjan P, Trelo-ges V, Cadisch G (2011) Relationship between residue quality, decomposition patterns, and soil organic matter accumulation in a tropical sandy soil after 13 years. Nutr Cycl Agroecosyst 89:159–174

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rinnan R, Michelsen A, Bååth E, Jonasson S (2007) Mineralization and carbon turnover in subarctic heath soil as affected by warming and additional litter. Soil Biol Biochem 39:3014–3023

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Song YY, Song CC, Tao BX, Wang JY, Zhu XY, Wang XW (2014) Short-term responses of soil enzyme activities and carbon mineralization to added nitrogen and litter in a freshwater marsh of Northeast China. Eur J Soil Biol 61:72–79

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Stevenson BA, Hunter DWF, Rhodes PL (2014) Temporal and seasonal change in microbial community structure of an undisturbed, disturbed, and carbon-amended pasture soil. Soil Biol Biochem 75:175–185

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tabatabai MA (1994) Soil enzymes. In: Weaver RW, Angle JS, Bottomley PS (eds) Methods of soil analysis, part 2—microbiological and biochemical properties. Soil Science Society of America, Inc., Wisconsin, pp 775–826

    Google Scholar 

  • Tarafdar JC, Meena SC, Kathju S (2001) Influence of straw size on activity and biomass of soil microorganisms during decomposition. Eur J Soil Biol 37:157–160

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Vance ED, Brookes PC, Jenkinson DS (1987) An extracted method for measuring soil microbial C. Soil Biol Biochem 19:703–707

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wan M, Tian DL, Fan W (2009) Amount, composition and seasonal dynamics of litterfall in poplar-crop agroforestry ecosystems in Henan Eastern Plain. Acta Ecol Sin 29:2507–2513 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang QK, Wang SL, He TX, Liu L, Wu JP (2014) Response of organic carbon mineralization and microbial community to leaf litter and nutrient additions in subtropical forest soils. Soil Biol Biochem 71:13–20

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Xiong YM, Zeng H, Xia HP, Guo DL (2014) Interactions between leaf litter and soil organic matter on carbon and nitrogen mineralization in six forest litter-soil systems. Plant Soil 379:217–229

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yamaguchi M, Hwang PM, Campbell JD (1970) Latent o-diphenol oxidase in mushrooms (Agaricus biporus). Can J Biochem 28:198–202

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yang K, Zhu JJ, Yan QL, Zhang JX (2012) Soil enzyme activities as potential indicators of soluble organic nitrogen pools in forest ecosystems of Northeast China. Ann For Sci 69:795–803

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang WD, Wang SL (2012) Effects of NH4 + and NO -3 on litter and soil organic carbon decomposition in a Chinese fir plantation forest in South China. Soil Biol Biochem 47:116–122

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang DH, Zhai MP, Lin P, Jia LM (2004) The litter decomposition rate of mixed forest of poplar and black locust. Chin J Eco Agric 12:24–26 (in Chinese)

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhong ZK, Gao ZH (2003) Impacts of litter of populus and metasequoia on soil microbial biomass. Sci Silv Sin 39:153–157 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We thank anonymous reviewers for their constructive comments on the manuscript. This study was funded by the International Science and Technology Cooperation Program of China (No. 2011DFA30490), the National Basic Research Program of China (973 Program) (No. 2012CB416904), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 31170566 and 31370618), and the Priority Academic Program Development of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions (PAPD).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Silviculture, College of Forestry, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210037, People’s Republic of China

    Xiaomin Ge, Ling Zhu, Yong Li, Zhiyuan Jia, Ye Tian & Luozhong Tang

  2. Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, 74078, USA

    Xiaomin Ge & Shiping Deng

  3. Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210037, People’s Republic of China

    Ye Tian & Luozhong Tang

Authors
  1. Xiaomin Ge
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Shiping Deng
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Ling Zhu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Yong Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Zhiyuan Jia
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Ye Tian
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Luozhong Tang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Luozhong Tang.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Project funding: This study was funded by the International Science and Technology Cooperation Program of China (No. 2011DFA30490), the National Basic Research Program of China (973 Program) (No. 2012CB416904), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 31170566 and 31370618), and the Priority Academic Program Development of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions (PAPD).

The online version is available at http://www.springerlink.com

Corresponding editor: Chai Ruihai.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Ge, X., Deng, S., Zhu, L. et al. Response of nitrogen mineralization dynamics and biochemical properties to litter amendments to soils of a poplar plantation. J. For. Res. 29, 915–924 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11676-017-0523-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11676-017-0523-3

Keywords

Search

Navigation