Spatial and Temporal Variation in Soil Nitrous Oxide Emissions from a Rehabilitated and Undisturbed Riparian Forest.

Abstract

Riparian zones enhance water quality and provide wildlife habitat, but high nutrient input in agricultural landscapes causes nitrous oxide (NO) emissions, potentially negating their benefits of C sequestration. The objectives of this study were to quantify spatiotemporal NO emissions in a rehabilitated and undisturbed natural riparian forest. We also determined soil and vegetation characteristics, and their role in driving spatiotemporal NO emissions. Mean NO-N emissions were not significantly ( < 0.05) different between rehabilitated (7.62 μg m h) and undisturbed (5.93 μg m h) riparian forests. The greatest ( < 0.05) NO-N emissions in both riparian forests were observed during the summer. Soil moisture, temperature, and N were significantly correlated to NO-N emissions. Our results show that soil and vegetation characteristics varied between the two riparian forests, but differences in NO-N emissions were negligible. We also found that NO emissions were influenced by soil characteristics and seasonality, rather than vegetation characteristics or spatial position.