Dynamics of soil water extractable organic carbon and inorganic nitrogen and their environmental controls in mountain forest and meadow ecosystems in China

Abstract

We investigated the differences among two types of forest (pine and oak forests) and a meadow in soil water extractable organic carbon (WEOC), ammonium (NH4+) and nitrate (NO3−) concentrations in the Qinling Mountains, China. Our results showed that soil WEOC, NH4+ and NO3− concentrations were higher in the meadow than in the forests, and they were higher in the pine forest than in the oak forest. The soil surface temperature and soil water content were positively correlated with WEOC and inorganic nitrogen concentrations (P < 0.01). In addition, there was a significantly negative correlation between soil WEOC concentration and pH (P < 0.01). Moreover, soil WEOC concentration was positively correlated with the inorganic nitrogen concentration (P < 0.01). Generally, soil WEOC concentration decreased in the forests, and increased in the meadow under warming condition. The effects of warming on soil WEOC and dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) concentrations varied with time. We elucidated that warming had a significant influence on soil WEOC concentration in the pine forest, whereas soil DIN concentration was affected significantly by warming only in the meadow. Our findings indicate that soil WEOC and DIN show different responses to warming in the mountain forest and meadow ecosystems. This study could provide useful insights for the prediction of soil carbon and nitrogen cycling and their responses to climate change in the complex mountain ecosystem.