Long-term response of soil and stem wood properties to repeated nitrogen fertilization in a N-limited Scots pine stand

Abstract

Nitrogen is the nutrient mainly limiting forest growth on mineral soil sites in the boreal regions. The objective of this study was to find out the response of stem wood N to repeated fertilizations and to find out their long-lasting effects on soil organic matter composition, focusing on C and N cycling processes and concentrations of condensed tannins. The site was located in a relatively unfertile Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) stand in eastern Finland. The treatments were three levels of N fertilization (0, 150, 300 kg/ha) applied four times at 5-year intervals with the last addition 29 years ago. The N additions had not changed the pH of the humus layer but resulted in higher availability of N. The C-to-N ratio of organic matter decreased with increasing N addition. The treatment of 300 kg/ha increased the net N mineralization rate and the ratio of net N mineralization/microbial biomass N and decreased the amount of C in the microbial biomass and its C-to-N ratio and the concentration of condensed tannins. Net nitrification and extractable nitrate were negligible in all soils. In soil diffusive fluxes, NH4-, NO3- and amino acid-N were all detected by in situ microdialysis sampling; the results showed large variation but supported higher N availability in N fertilized soil. The N fertilization increased tree-ring widths and the effect lasted for about 10 years after the last fertilization event. Nitrogen content and the N isotopic ratio 15N/14N (δ15N) in tree-rings increased both after the first N addition in the treatment of 300 kg/ha. In conclusion, soil properties still indicated higher N availability in the N fertilized soil after three decades since the latest fertilization, but the response of tree diameter growth had faded out after a much shorter period.