Abiotic controls on nitrogen fixation and respiration in selected woody debris from the Pacific Northwest, U.S.A.

Abstract

We estimated the effects of temperature, moisture, and oxygen concentration on nitrogen fixation and respiration in woody debris and used this information to model seasonal variation in these processes. We measured acetylene reduction and CO2 evolution of wood samples to determine the relative effect of these abiotic factors on nitrogen fixation and respiration. The interactions of these abiotic factors were examined in a model to test whether temperature alone can be used as a predictor of seasonal changes in nitrogen fixation and respiration rates in woody debris. Nitrogen fixation rates were optimum near 30ºC, whereas respiration rates were optimum over a broader range, from 30°C to 50°C. Nitrogen fixation and respiration rates were greatest above 175% and 100% wood moisture content, respectively, with little activity below 50%. Nitrogen fixation was optimum at 2% O2, with activity much reduced above and below this concentration. Respiration was optimal when O2 exceeded 1%. In our simulations, annual nitrogen fixation and respiration rates were 7.8 and 1.7 times greater, respectively, when only temperature limitation was included than when moisture and oxygen limitations were also included. Therefore, seasonal interactions of abiotic factors need to be considered when estimating annual nitrogen fixation and respiration rates.