[Seasonal Effect of Simulated Nitrogen Deposition on Soil Respiration and Soil Enzyme Activity in Masson Pine Forest in Mt. Jinyun, Chongqing, China].

Abstract

Soil enzymes involved in the conversion of soil carbon and nitrogen, meanwhile the availability of soil carbon and nitrogen is the base of soil enzymes, yet atmospheric N deposition influences the release of soil CO2 by reduce the activities of soil enzyme. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of different nitrogen deposition on soil respiration and soil enzymes, and explore the relationship among soil respiration, soil temperature, soil moisture and soil enzymes in the Masson pine forest. The results might provide a reference for further study on the effects of nitrogen deposition on pine forest ecosystem. From May 2014 to July 2015, three nitrogen application treatments and a control treatment were set up: low nitrogen [N5, 20 g·(m2·a)-1], moderate nitrogen [N10, 40 g·(m2·a)-1], high nitrogen [N15, 60 g·(m2·a)-1] and control treatment [N0, 0 g·(m2·a)-1) in the Masson pine forest. We measured soil respiration, soil temperature, and soil moisture simultaneously by using the Automated Soil CO2 Exchange Station (ACE, UK). The results showed that: 1 Soil enzymes and soil respiration had obvious seasonal variation, soil respiration of N0, N5, N10 and N15 was the highest in Summer, followed by the Spring and Autumn, and the lowest in Winter, and no consistent change rule was found in soil enzymes. 2 Generally, nitrogen deposition suppressed soil respiration and soil enzymes, and these inhibitory effects were strengthened with increasing levels of nitrogen deposition. The only exception in which nitrogen deposition enhanced soil respiration was in the Masson pine forest in Winter, In Spring, Summer and Autumn, nitrogen deposition suppressed soil enzymes, while there was difference among Ure, Ive, CAT and ACP in Winter. 3 stepwise regression showed that in control treatment and low nitrogen treatment, T, Ure and Ive made great contributions to the Rs, and Rs rapidly increased with the increase of T, Ure and Ive. In middle nitrogen treatment, T, Ure and CAT made great contributions to the Rs, and Rs increased with the increase of T, Ure and CAT. In high nitrogen treatment, Rs decreased with the increase of Ure, yet Rs increased with the increase of CAT and W.