Douglas fir stimulates nitrification in French forest soils

Abstract

Douglas fir trees presumable stimulate nitrification in the soil. We studied in 21 French Douglas fir forests if and how nitrification is modulated by soil properties, past land use and current forest management. Soil (0–10 cm depth) was collected and initial concentrations of N-NH4+ and N-NO3−, potential net nitrogen mineralization (PNM) and net nitrification (PNN) rates and microbial biomass were measured. At 11 of the 21 sites, annual nitrate fluxes in the soil were measured using anion exchange resin bags. Soils contained between 2.3 to 29.4 mg N-NO3− kg soil−1. About 86% (±14%) of mineral N was nitrate. The proportion of nitrate increased to almost 100% during incubation. PNN varied from 0.10 mg N kg soil−1 day−1 to 1.05 mg N kg soil−1 day−1 (21 sites). Neither the initial nitrate concentration nor PNN was related to soil chemistry (pH, % C, %N, P, CEC), microbial biomass, texture, past land use or thinning. In situ net nitrate accumulation (NNA) estimated with resins beds varied from 4 to 100 kg N-NO3− ha−1 yr−1 (11 sites). It was positively correlated with base saturation, clay content, ELLENBERG N, temperature and negatively with soil organic N, C/N ratio and precipitation.