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Short-term effects of nitrogen deposition on soil respiration components in two alpine coniferous forests, southeastern Tibetan Plateau

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Abstract

Nitrogen (N) deposition to alpine forest ecosystems is increasing gradually, yet previous studies have seldom reported the effects of N inputs on soil CO2 flux in these ecosystems. Evaluating the effects of soil respiration on N addition is of great significance for understanding soil carbon (C) budgets along N gradients in forest ecosystems. In this study, four levels of N (0, 50, 100, 150 kg N ha−1 a−1) were added to soil in a Picea baifouriana and an Abies georgei natural forest on the Tibetan Plateau to investigate the effect of the N inputs on soil respiration. N addition stimulated total soil respiration (Rt) and its components including heterotrophic respiration (Rh) and autotrophic respiration (Ra); however, the promoted effects declined with an increase in N application in two coniferous forests. Soil respiration rate was a little greater in the spruce forest (1.05 μmol CO2 m−2 s−1) than that in the fir forest (0.97 μmol CO2 m−2 s−1). A repeated measures ANOVA indicated that N fertilization had significant effects on Rt and its components in the spruce forest and Rt in the fir forest, but had no obvious effect on Rh or Ra in the fir forest. Rt and its components had significant exponential relationships with soil temperature in both forests. N addition also increased temperature sensitivity (Q10) of Rt and its components in the two coniferous forests, but the promotion declined as N in put increased. Important, soil moisture had great effects on Rt and its components in the spruce forest (P < 0.05), but no obvious impacts were observed in the fir forest (P > 0.05). Following N fertilization, Ra was significantly and positively related to fine root biomass, while Rh was related to soil enzymatic activities in both forests. The mechanisms underlying the effect of simulated N deposition on soil respiration and its components in this study may help in forecasting C cycling in alpine forests under future levels of reactive N deposition.

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Acknowledgements

This research was supported by the Chinese Academy of Sciences Key Research Project for Frontier Science (QYZDJ-SSW-DQC006) and by the “Strategic Priority Research Program” of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (XDA01020304). We thank the Southeast Tibet Station for Alpine Environment, Observation and Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences for its great support. We are also very grateful to the anonymous reviewers for their valuable comments.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Land and Resource College, China West Normal University, Nanchong, 637002, Sichuan, People’s Republic of China

    Jian Wang

  2. Key Laboratory of Mountain Surface Processes and Ecological Regulation, Institute of Mountain Hazards and Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, #9, Block 4, Renminnanlu Road, Wuhou District, Chengdu, 610041, People’s Republic of China

    Genxu Wang, Xiaopeng Chen & Xiaoyan Song

  3. Department of Politics and Administration, China West Normal University, Nanchong, 637002, Sichuan, People’s Republic of China

    Yu Fu

  4. Graduate University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, People’s Republic of China

    Xiaopeng Chen & Xiaoyan Song

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  1. Jian Wang
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  2. Genxu Wang
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  3. Yu Fu
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  4. Xiaopeng Chen
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  5. Xiaoyan Song
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Correspondence to Genxu Wang.

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Project funding: This research was supported by the Chinese Academy of Sciences Key Research Project for Frontier Science (QYZDJ-SSW-DQC006) and by the “Strategic Priority Research Program” of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (XDA01020304).

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Corresponding editor: Chai Ruihai.

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Wang, J., Wang, G., Fu, Y. et al. Short-term effects of nitrogen deposition on soil respiration components in two alpine coniferous forests, southeastern Tibetan Plateau. J. For. Res. 30, 1029–1041 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11676-018-0678-6

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