Soil δ15N Values Research Articles

Anthropogenic nitrogen accumulation potential of Okinawa mangroves in Japan

The extent of the stable nitrogen (N) isotope ratio (δ15N) of mangrove leaves reflects the anthropogenic N accumulation potential of mangroves. Therefore, the present study was designed to investigate the N accumulation potential of Okinawa mangroves in Japan using three ecological indicators from four mangrove watersheds. The dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) concentration in mangrove creeks, the leaf δ15N and the soil δ15N are considered immediate indicators, short-term indicators, and long-term indicators, respectively. The four mangrove watersheds are classified into two groups, human-affected and forested mangroves, based on the relative land use ratio (%) of the watersheds. The observed values of the ecological indicators were subsequently compared between two groups of watersheds to determine the relative ecosystem conditions. The results showed that both the leaf δ15N (0 to 9 ‰) and the soil δ15N (1.5 to 8.0 ‰) values are significantly greater in human-affected mangroves than in forested mangroves. The DIN of creek water samples does not indicate an immediate risk of excess N input from human perturbation in mangroves. However, the significant relationships among the indicators reflect the anthropogenic N accumulation potential of mangroves in Okinawa, Japan. These findings are highly important, especially for policymakers, environmentalists, and related stakeholders, for initiating conservation and management practices for mangroves. Controlled, limited, and/or restricted human perturbation; proper management of municipal wastes; and planned use of agrochemicals upon necessity may help reduce anthropogenic N inputs in mangrove ecosystems in Okinawa.

Aridity threshold for alpine soil nitrogen isotope signature and ecosystem nitrogen cycling.

Determination of tipping points in nitrogen (N) isotope (δ15N) natural abundance, especially soil δ15N, with increasing aridity, is critical for estimating N-cycling dynamics and N limitation in terrestrial ecosystems. However, whether there are linear or nonlinear responses of soil δ15N to increases in aridity and if these responses correspond well with soil N cycling remains largely unknown. In this study, we investigated soil δ15N and soil N-cycling characteristics in both topsoil and subsoil layers along a drought gradient across a 3000-km transect of drylands on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. We found that the effect of increasing aridity on soil δ15N values shifted from negative to positive with thresholds at aridity index (AI) = 0.27 and 0.29 for the topsoil and subsoil, respectively, although soil N pools and N transformation rates linearly decreased with increasing aridity in both soil layers. Furthermore, we identified markedly different correlations between soil δ15N and soil N-cycling traits above and below the AI thresholds (0.27 and 0.29 for topsoil and subsoil, respectively). Specifically, in wetter regions, soil δ15N positively correlated with most soil N-cycling traits, suggesting that high soil δ15N may result from the "openness" of soil N cycling. Conversely, in drier regions, soil δ15N showed insignificant relationships with soil N-cycling traits and correlated well with factors, such as soil-available phosphorus and foliage δ15N, demonstrating that pathways other than typical soil N cycling may dominate soil δ15N under drier conditions. Overall, these results highlight that different ecosystem N-cycling processes may drive soil δ15N along the aridity gradient, broadening our understanding of N cycling as indicated by soil δ15N under changing drought regimes. The aridity threshold of soil δ15N should be considered in terrestrial N-cycling models when incorporating 15N isotope signals to predict N cycling and availability under climatic dryness.

Land use changes and edaphic properties control contents and isotopic compositions of soil organic carbon and nitrogen in wetlands

Land use change in wetlands leads to significant losses of soil organic matter (SOM). Stable carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) isotopes offer insights into changes in C3/C4 vegetation, SOM sources, and decomposition processes. Yet, predicting the spatial–temporal dynamics of SOM contents and isotopes under land use changes remains challenging. This study delves into the effects of land use changes on soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN), δ13C and δ15N values, and soil physico-chemical properties and lignin phenols. Our results highlight the significance of soil water content (SWC) in determining the outcomes of land use changes. The conversion of wetland to cropland, forestland and construction land, led to notable reductions in SOC contents (8.71–56.33 %), and TN contents (7.87–37.12 %). Wetland conversion resulted in an enrichment of 13C and 15N abundance, with wetlands exhibiting the lowest δ13C (−25.57 to –22.89 ‰) and δ15N (2.66 to 6.67 ‰) values. A significant correlation occurred between δ13C and δ15N values in wetlands, but underwent considerable changes after wetland conversion. Key parameters, including bulk density (BD), C:N, the acid-to-aldehyde of vanillyl ((Ad/Al)v), lignin content (Λ8), and total phosphorus (TP), were identified as influencing factors for both SOC and TN contents. When evaluating δ13C values, the most influential factors included silt, C:N, SOC, sand, and BD. These indicate the importance of soil chemical group (from 41 % to 21 %) in elucidating δ13C values declined, while lignin group’s (from 9 % to 28 %) importance increased from topsoil to subsoil. The acid-to-aldehyde of syringyl ((Ad/Al)s), Λ8, C:N, BD and the cinnamyl-to-vanillyl ratio (C/V) were identified as the primary factors influencing δ15N values, with chemical group accounting for 36 % and lignin group for 48 % in topsoil, while physical group dominated 42 % in subsoil. Our findings underscore the shifts in SOM sources and distinct mechanisms of degradation/preservation of SOM following land use changes.

Karst rocky desertification restoration increases soil inorganic N supply to reduce plant N limitation

Nitrogen (N) limitation of plant growth following vegetation restoration is widespread in global terrestrial ecosystems, especially in karst rocky desertification areas. However, neither the temporal changes in plant N limitation during the restoration of those areas nor the mechanisms underlying N availability are well understood. In this study, several indicators reflecting soil N availability, N transformation rates, and plant communities were investigated in four areas in southwest China differing in their grade of rocky desertification. Our results showed that plant growth was severely N limited in the intense rocky desertification areas. The plant community-level foliar N content, 15N values, and N:P ratio increased significantly as the rocky desertification grade decreased, indicating a decrease in plant N limitation. This was attributed to increased soil N availability, evidenced by the higher soil δ15N values as well as total N and inorganic N contents along the rocky desertification grade. With the decreasing rocky desertification grade, the rates of organic N conversion to ammonium (NH4+) and nitrate (NO3–), the adsorption of NH4+ on cation-exchange sites, and the release of adsorbed NH4+ increased significantly, which could enhance soil inorganic N supply capacity and accelerate NH4+ turnover to increase N availability. Noticeably, the sharp decrease in the rate of NH4+ oxidation to NO3– with the decrease in the rocky desertification grade led to a shift in inorganic N from NO3–-dominated to NH4+-dominated. The increased contents of soil organic matter, calcium, iron-aluminum oxides, and sand, the proportion of aggregates > 2 mm, as well as the greater abundances of fungi and bacteria were the primary drivers of the N transformation rates along the rocky desertification grade. Overall, our study highlights the importance of N cycling in controlling N availability and thus in determining plant N limitation in karst rocky desertification areas. The results of the study provide a scientific basis for the ecological restoration of rocky desertification in karst ecosystems.

Soil carbon and nitrogen accumulation during long-term natural vegetation restoration following agricultural abandonment in Qingling Mountains

Agricultural land abandonment has been proposed as a strategy for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, increasing soil carbon (C) sequestration, and enhancing soil nitrogen (N) levels in degraded ecosystems. However, the dynamic patterns of soil C and N pools and fractions following long-term agricultural abandonment are not well understood. In this study, we investigated the dynamics of soil organic C (SOC), recalcitrant organic C (RC), total N (TN), and recalcitrant organic N (RN) in 0–40 cm soils along a natural vegetation restoration gradient (i.e., croplands→grasslands→shrublands→forests) following agricultural abandonment in China's Qinling Mountains. Our results showed that the concentrations of SOC, RC, TN, and RN increased significantly along with vegetation restoration, but the SOC and TN stocks only increased in the 0–10 and 0–20 cm layers, respectively. The highest growth rates of new SOC (28.96 g m−2 yr−1) and new RC (9.87 g m−2 yr−1) were observed in shrublands, followed by the grasslands (new SOC, 14.80 g m−2 yr−1; new RC, 5.02 g m−2 yr−1) and forests (new SOC, 9.06 g m−2 yr−1; new RC, 3.74 g m−2 yr−1). The δ15N values of litter, fine root, and soil decreased significantly with stand age, indicating that the N cycling in abandoned ecosystems gradually became less open than that of croplands during vegetation restoration processes. The ratios of RN/TN decreased significantly with stand age across all soil layers, while the ratios of RC/SOC at 0–40 cm soils did not change with stand age and the differences among croplands, grasslands, shrublands, and forests were not significant. Our study reveals that soil C and N stocks only accumulate in topsoils during ∼110 years of natural vegetation restoration and the recalcitrancy indices of soil C and N displayed different dynamic patterns, and also indicates that agricultural abandonment is an effective approach to increasing soil C and N stocks and mitigating the negative effects of agriculture on soil C and N pools.

Dietary habits of pastoralists on the Tibetan plateau are influenced by remoteness and economic status

In general, dietary habits of pastoralists are livestock-derived, but are also influenced by external food sources under globalization. We hypothesized that dietary habits of pastoralists would be influenced by their remoteness, and that changes from the traditional diet would result in deviations in the local ecological chain. To test this hypothesis, we determined the δ13C and δ15N values of soil, plants, and hair of animals and pastoralists (n = 885). The δ13C value in human hair reflects the proportions of protein originating from C3 and C4 plants; whereas, the δ15N value reflects the proportions of protein derived from plants and animals, with higher values indicating a greater consumption of meat. The isotopic signatures enabled us to estimate the variation in dietary habits of pastoralists across a socio-economic gradient of easily accessible to remote areas on the Tibetan plateau, and to determine the trophic transfer of the isotopes along an ecological chain. The trophic magnification factor (TMF) evaluated the trophic transfer of δ15N in the soil-plants-animals-pastoralists ecological chain. The high δ15N values in soil and plants were not recovered in animals and pastoralists in easily accessible and developed areas, indicating the use of external feed and food resources, and that they deviated from the ecological chain. The mean δ13C (−22.0 ‰) and δ15N values (6.9 ‰) of pastoralists indicated diets consisting mainly of local C3 plants and animal products. However, pastoralists in remote areas relied more on meat protein and on the local ecological chain than pastoralists in easily accessible areas, as their δ15N values and trophic magnification factor of δ15N in the ecological chain were greater. In addition to remoteness, per capita GDP influenced dietary changes in pastoralists, with richer pastoralists consuming more external food. We concluded that dietary changes of pastoralists in the easily accessible areas were due to external food resources and alterations in the local ecological chain of animals and plant-based foods available to the pastoralists.

Characteristics of annual NH3 emissions from a conventional vegetable field under various nitrogen management strategies

High N-fertilizer applications to conventional vegetable production systems are associated with substantial emissions of NH3, a key substance that triggers haze pollution and ecosystem eutrophication and thus, causing considerable damage to human and ecosystem health. While N fertilization effects on NH3 volatilization from cereal crops have been relatively well studied, little is known about the magnitude and yield-scaled emissions of NH3 from vegetable systems. Here we report on a 2-year field study investigating the effect of various types and rates of fertilizer application on NH3 emissions and crop yields for a pepper-lettuce-cabbage rotation system in southwest China. Our results show that both NH3 emissions and direct emission factors of applied N varied largely across seasons over the 2-year period, highlighting the importance of measurements spanning entire cropping years. Across all treatments varying from solely applying urea fertilizers to only using organic manures, annual NH3 emissions ranged from 0.64 to 92.4 kg N ha−1 yr−1 (or 0.07–6.84 g N kg−1 dry matter), equivalent to 0.05–5.99% of the applied N. At annual scale, NH3 emissions correlated positively with soil δ15N values, indicating that soil δ15N may be used as an indicator for NH3 losses. NH3 emissions from treatments fertilized partially or fully with manure were significantly lower compared with the urea fertilized treatment, while vegetable yields remained unaffected. Moreover, full substitution of urea by manure as compared to the partial substitution further reduced the yield-scaled annual NH3 emissions by 79.0–92.4%. Across all vegetable seasons, there is a significant negative relationship between yield-scaled NH3 emissions and crop N use efficiency. Overall, our results suggest that substituting urea by manure and reducing total N inputs by 30–50% allows to reduce NH3 emissions without jeopardizing yields. Such a change in management provides a feasible option to achieve environmental sustainability and food security in conventional vegetable systems.

Does biochar contribute to close nutrient cycles of tree plantations on degraded Ultisols in the Ecuadorian Amazonia?

AbstractThe use of biochar is expected to improve soil fertility and close nutrient cycles in degraded strongly weathered tropical soils. We, therefore, hypothesized that biochar amendment to tree plantations (a) increases nutrient fluxes with litterfall alone and with mineral fertilizer plus lime and (b) reduces N losses reflected by lower δ15N values of litterfall and soils than in unamended controls. We grew the native leguminous Schizolobium parahyba var. amazonicum (Ducke) Barneby and the exotic Gmelina arborea Roxb at two sites. We used a replicated full factorial split–split plot design of amendment of mineral fertilizer plus lime, 3 and 6 t ha−1 biochar, and a control. We collected litterfall biweekly (2012–2013) and topsoil samples (0–0.25 m) in 2009 before tree planting, in 2011 and 2013. Fertilizer plus lime increased the mean annual concentrations of P, Ca and Zn in litterfall but decreased that of Mn. At the same time, fertilizer plus lime increased the annual fluxes of nutrients, Na and Al with litterfall. During the dry season, biochar decreased the N concentration in litterfall and the K flux with litterfall. During the rainy season, biochar increased the concentrations of Ca and Zn in litterfall and their fluxes with litterfall. Biochar did not influence the δ15N values of soil and litterfall after 51 months of tree growth. Fertilizer plus lime decreased the δ15N values of soil, because of the lower δ15N value of the used urea (−0.30‰) than the soil (4.5‰–7.8‰). Moreover, fertilizer plus lime increased the δ15N values of litterfall, possibly because of enhanced 14N leaching from the N‐rich canopies. The amendment of up to 6 t ha−1 biochar did not contribute to close nutrient cycles.

Climatic controls on stable carbon and nitrogen isotope compositions of temperate grasslands in northern China

The natural abundances of stable carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) isotopes (δ13C and δ15N) are extensively used to indicate the C and N biogeochemical cycles at large spatial scales. However, the spatial patterns of δ13C and δ15N in plant-soil systems of grasslands in northern China and their main driving factors across regional climatic gradient are still not well understood. We measured plant and soil δ13C and δ15N compositions as well as their associated environmental factors across 2000 km climatic gradient (-0.2 to 9 °C; 152 to 502 mm) in grasslands of northern China. The soil δ13C and δ15N values in surface were lower than those in bottom for temperate typical steppe but had no significant differences for temperate meadow steppe and temperate desert steppe. Soil δ13C values declined with increasing soil organic carbon (SOC) but increased as mean annual temperature (MAT). These changes were attributed to the microbial decomposition rate. The δ15N values in soil and plant were negatively correlated with MAT and mean annual precipitation (MAP), which were mainly related to the low soil organic matter mineralization rate and the shift of dominant species from C4 to C3. Our results indicate the spatial patterns and different influencing factors on δ13C and δ15N values along the climatic gradient in grasslands of northern China. The findings will provide scientific references for future research on the C and N biogeochemical cycles of temperate grasslands.

Response of Afromontane soil organic carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus to in situ experimental warming along an elevational gradient

Tropical montane forests store large amounts of carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) in soil. These soil C, N, and P pools are vulnerable to increased losses due to the increasing local temperatures. To gain better insight into the effects of climate warming on biogeochemistry in montane forests in Africa, we established study plots along a natural climate gradient in Uganda between 1,250 and 3,000 m in the Rwenzori Mountains. We studied soil C, N, and P contents as well as 13C and 15N isotopic compositions and leaf nutrient contents. Further, we simulated climate warming by 0.9°C–2.8°C for 2 years by conducting in situ soil mesocosms translocation downslope. The results revealed that, along the elevational gradient, soil organic C increased six-fold from 2.6 ± 1.0% at 1,250–1,300 m to 16.0 ± 1.9% at 2,700–3,000 m, with a linear increase of 0.94% per 100 m of elevation increase. Similarly, soil total N increased five-fold, from 0.3 ± 0.1% to 1.3 ± 0.1%, with a linear increase of 0.07% per 100 m of elevation increase. Further, soil bio-available P increased three-fold, from 9.6 ± 5.2 mg kg−1 to 29.5 ± 3.0 mg kg−1, with a linear increase of 1.4 mg kg−1 per 100 m of elevation increase. Soil δ15N decreased linearly by 0.39‰ per 100 m of elevation increase, ranging from 8.9 ± 0.2‰ to 2.9 ± 0.7‰ at 1,250–1,300 m and 2,700–3,000 m, respectively. The accumulation of soil organic C and total N with elevation is due to slow microbial activity under lower temperature. Indeed, the soil δ15N indicated a more closed N cycling with increasing elevation. However, despite the increasing trend in soil C and nutrient status with elevation, leaf N and P contents decreased linearly with elevation. This is likely due to the impairment of nutrient uptake under low temperature and low pH. In addition, following 2 years of in situ soil warming, we found that the soil δ13C and δ15N values relatively increased. Generally, the results imply that warming triggered accelerated transformation processes of accrued soil organic matter.

Precipitation is the key determinant of topsoil δ15N values in southern Patagonia's semiarid rangelands

AbstractNitrogen (N) cycling in rangeland soils could potentially be controlled by water supply, stocking rates, or a range of other variables, such as ecosystem N stocks. To gauge the relative importance and elucidate possible interactions among these factors, we measured many abiotic variables to identify first‐order controls of δ15N for Patagonia's rangeland soils under contrasting historical grazing intensities. The results showed that δ15N values declined as water availability increased. The effects of precipitation and stocking rate on soil δ15N values were additive, and the effect of precipitation far outweighed the effects of grazing pressure. The soil N stock was a weak predictive variable for modeling variation in δ15N of the soil. Earlier assumptions about an inflection point for N cycling and δ15N values related to aridity were not confirmed. We conclude that variation in water availability drives variation in δ15N values irrespective of grazing intensity. We also conclude that meaningful interpretation of δ15N in soil will require a better mechanistic understanding of the interactions between water and N in the vadose zone than we currently possess.

Incorporation of marine organic matter by terrestrial detrital food webs: abiotic vs. biotic vectors

Marine organic matter can potentially enter terrestrial ecosystems via abiotic or biotic vectors. The former is facilitated by e.g. waves, tides, winds, etc.; the latter – by the activity of organisms, e.g. seabird migration. However, differences in its assimilation rate in detrital food webs at different distance from water remain generally unexplored. To fill this gap, we compared the consumption of marine organics by terrestrial invertebrates within coastal ecosystems of the Black sea using stable isotope analyses of carbon and nitrogen. We focused on relatively inland (100 m from the coast) forested areas with the recently established overwintering colonies of the great cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) and control ecosystems isolated from any marine organic matter input. Guano and cormorant food leftover input led to the significant increase of δ15N values of soil, litter and all trophic groups of soil invertebrates. However, δ13C values changed to a smaller extent. The importance of marine resources (in a form of guano) as a carbon source for soil arthropods was relatively low: approximately 15% of their diet. In contrast, coastal soil invertebrates were significantly enriched with 13C compared to control and cormorant-influenced ecosystems as they were greatly dependent on the seaweed and other marine resources (on average 45% of coastal invertebrate diet). We conclude that marine resources delivered by an abiotic vector may form the basis of the soil food web diets in a 15 m zone from the water edge. Alternatively, the biotic transfer further inland (forest on a cliff 100 m away from the water edge) with e.g. nitrogen-rich seabird guano or food remains may geographically extend proliferation of marine nutrients into terrestrial ecosystems. As far as we know, our results are among the first to demonstrate the spatial zoning of mechanisms securing bottom-up subsidy of biogenic elements to soil ecosystems having originated from the sea.

Anthropogenic and climatic shaping of soil nitrogen properties across urban-rural-natural forests in the Beijing metropolitan region

Global urbanization has profoundly altered regional biogeochemical cycles across urban-rural-natural continuums. A better insight in the changes in soil nitrogen (N) properties across urban-rural-natural forests sheds lights on the impacts of urbanization on regional N cycles and ecological consequences. Based on a systematic survey in forest patches of twenty parks across the urban-rural-natural gradients in the Beijing metropolitan region, China, we analyzed the spatial variations of three soil N properties (i.e., total N, alkali-hydrolyzable N, and δ15N) and their potential drivers that are indicative for anthropogenic N sources (trunk road density for traffic N emissions; cropland share for agricultural N emissions), climate conditions (mean annual temperature, MAT; mean annual precipitation, MAP), forest conditions (forest coverage and the number of common tree species) and time for soil N accumulation since park establishment (park age). Soil total N concentration, alkali-hydrolyzable N concentration and δ15N values in the surface (0–10 cm) and subsurface layers (10–20 cm) all showed a decrease up to 40 km (i.e., the urban fertile island phenomenon) from the urban core and then an increase to values in peri-urban natural forests as high as those in urban forests. The spatial variations of the surface and subsurface soil total N concentrations and alkali-hydrolyzable N concentrations were, respectively, mainly and exclusively explained by park age, while trunk road density, MAP and MAT played a less important role in regulating the soil N variation in the surface layer. The spatial variations of the surface and subsurface soil δ15N values were respectively, mainly, and exclusively controlled by cropland share, while park age and MAP played a limited role in regulating the soil δ15N variation in the surface layer but not in the subsurface layer. Our findings reveal the way in which anthropogenic and climatic drivers shape soil N properties across the urban-rural-natural forests.

Draining the Landscape: How Do Nitrogen Concentrations in Riparian Groundwater and Stream Water Change Following Milldam Removal?

AbstractDam removals are on the increase across the US with Pennsylvania currently leading the nation. While most dam removals are driven by aquatic habitat and public safety considerations, we know little about how dam removals impact water quality and riparian zone processes. Dam removals decrease the stream base level, which results in dewatering of the riparian zone. We hypothesized that this dewatering of the riparian zone would increase nitrification and decrease denitrification, and thus result in nitrogen (N) leakage from riparian zones. This hypothesis was tested for a 1.5 m high milldam removal. Stream, soil water, and groundwater N concentrations were monitored over 2 years. Soil N concentrations and process rates and δ15N values were also determined. Denitrification rates and soil δ15N values in riparian sediments decreased supporting our hypothesis but no significant changes in nitrification were observed. While surficial soil water nitrate‐N concentrations were high (median 4.5 mg N L−1), riparian groundwater nitrate‐N values were low (median 0.09 mg N L−1), indicating that nitrate‐N leakage was minimal. We attribute the low groundwater nitrate‐N to denitrification losses at the lower, more dynamic, groundwater interface and/or dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium (DNRA). Stream water nitrate‐N concentrations were high (median 7.6 mg N L−1) and contrary to our dam‐removal hypothesis displayed a watershed‐wide decline that was attributed to regional hydrologic changes. This study provided important first insights on how dam removals could affect N cycle processes in riparian zones and its implications for water quality and watershed management.

Using stable nitrogen isotope to indicate soil nitrogen dynamics under agricultural soil erosion in the Mun River basin, Northeast Thailand

Soil erosion has threatened food security by decreasing the area of arable lands and disturbing soil nutrient cycling, especially nitrogen (N) cycling. However, there is still a challenge to indicate soil N dynamics by N stable isotope composition (δ15N) under an erodible environment. In the present study, the six soil sites from forest lands and agricultural lands were selected to collect soil samples in the Mun River basin, the largest agricultural region in Thailand. The contents of soil organic nitrogen (SON), C/N ratios, and δ15N values of SON in soil profiles were analyzed to identify soil N transformation processes under agricultural soil erosion. Moreover, the relationships of SON and δ15N with soil erodibility K factor were determined by linear regression analysis. Fine particles in the paddy land were largely lost under intensive soil erosion during a short-term abandonment (1 ~ 5 years). Agricultural soil erosion has reduced SON content by 3.8 ~ 4.9 times. The δ15N values of SON in the paddy soils ranged from –5‰ to 5‰, which was attributed to the application of manure and synthetic fertilizer and the δ15N fractionations in the alteration processes of the redox environment. In the abandoned paddy lands, δ15N values of SON in the soils above the illuvial horizon were 4‰ higher than those in the soils below the horizon. The results indicated the discrepant soil N processes at the two soil layers, i.e., soil N mineralization in the upper layer produces 15N-depleted inorganic N and leads to 15N enrichment in organic residues; the inorganic N was leached into the lower layer and re-assimilated by microbes, resulting in 15N-depleted SON. The results suggest that agricultural soil erosion significantly reduces soil N level. However, microbial re-assimilation of inorganic N in the deep soils can mitigate soil N loss.

Land‐use legacies influence tree water‐use efficiency and nitrogen availability in recently established European forests

Abstract Forest regrowth following farmland (agriculture and pasture) abandonment has been positively associated with a number of processes including the regulation of hydrological cycling, the enhancement of soil functioning and an increase in forest productivity and carbon (C) sequestration. Although these changes in ecosystem functioning post‐farmland abandonment have been observed in multiple locations and studies, the ecophysiological basis underpinning these patterns remains unclear. Here, we examine whether increased forest expansion following pastureland abandonment is associated with greater water‐use efficiency (WUE) and legacies from previous land use in terms of nitrogen (N) availability. We thus explored differences in leaf traits and N availability between recently established (post‐1950) beech Fagus sylvatica (L.) forests on former pastureland and long‐established beech forests (pre‐1950). The investigated leaf traits were SLA, leaf N concentration (%N) and intrinsic WUE (iWUE, i.e. the ratio between photosynthesis and stomatal conductance); as well, leaf and soil stable N isotope composition (δ15N) and total %N were used to assess changes in N availability. Finally, we compared the correlation strength between the above‐mentioned parameters and those associated with tree productivity (wood density and basal area increment, BAI) and the richness of ectomycorrhizal fungi (ECM) in these two forest types. Recent forests had greater iWUE than long‐established forests, which was associated more with lower SLA than leaf %N. Leaf and soil δ15N were more robust proxies than %N for detecting differences in N availability. Less negative leaf and soil δ15N values in recent versus long‐established forests suggest, on the one hand, greater N availability, probably due to higher historical N input originating from animal excreta on these former pasturelands, and, on the other hand, an increase in N loss pathways. Our results point to greater correlations between leaf δ15N, tree iWUE and productivity in recent forests than in long‐established forests, thereby suggesting a close link between C and N cycles. Our findings also highlight different N dynamics between the two forest types, with recent forests showing ‘leaky’ N cycling wherever lower N retention by trees and associated ECM fungi occurs as a legacy of previous land use. A free Plain Language Summary can be found within the Supporting Information of this article.

Stable isotope signatures of soil nitrogen on an environmental–geomorphic gradient within the Congo Basin

Abstract. Nitrogen (N) availability can be highly variable in tropical forests on regional and local scales. While environmental gradients influence N cycling on a regional scale, topography is known to affect N availability on a local scale. We compared natural abundance of 15N isotopes of soil profiles in tropical lowland forest, tropical montane forest, and subtropical Miombo woodland within the Congo Basin as a proxy to assess ecosystem-level differences in N cycling. Soil δ15N profiles indicated that N cycling in the montane forest is relatively more closed and dominated by organic N turnover, whereas the lowland forest and Miombo woodland experienced a more open N cycle dominated by inorganic N. Furthermore, we examined the effect of slope gradient on soil δ15N within forest types to quantify local differences induced by topography. Our results show that slope gradient only affects the soil δ15N in the Miombo forest, which is prone to erosion due to a lower vegetation cover and intense rainfall at the onset of the wet season. Lowland forest, on the other hand, with a flat topography and protective vegetation cover, showed no influence of topography on soil δ15N in our study site. Despite the steep topography, slope angles do not affect soil δ15N in the montane forest, although stable isotope signatures exhibited higher variability within this ecosystem. A pan-tropical analysis of soil δ15N values (i.e., from our study and literature) reveals that soil δ15N in tropical forests is best explained by factors controlling erosion, namely mean annual precipitation, leaf area index, and slope gradient. Erosive forces vary immensely between different tropical forest ecosystems, and our results highlight the need for more spatial coverage of N cycling studies in tropical forests, to further elucidate the local impact of topography on N cycling in this biome.

Effects of livestock on nitrogen and carbon cycling in a savanna in Burkina Faso

The nitrogen and carbon cycles are fundamental ecosystem processes influenced by several factors including soil type and other abiotic factors, plant species, grazing and soil organisms. Herbivores profoundly influence the functioning of ecosystems and the recycling of nutrients in interaction with plants in natural ecosystems. This study focuses on the effects of livestock on carbon and nitrogen cycling in a grazed savanna in Burkina Faso. Dominant grass species (aerial and root parts) and soil samples were collected under grasses and bare soil patches in 48 plots (24 protected and 24 unprotected plots), 18 months after setting up herbivores exclosures. Soil and grass 13C and 15N were used as integrative indicators of carbon and nitrogen cycles. The results revealed no significant effect of livestock on soil total carbon and nitrogen and on soil δ13C and δ15N values. Moreover, grazing had no significant effect on grass carbon and δ13C, while it significantly increased grass total nitrogen and δ15N. Therefore, our hypothesis that grazing would increase soil 13C and 15N values and plant biomass was only verified for grass 15N. Grass δ15N results suggest that grazing improves the immediate availability of nitrogen but could also increase nitrogen losses.

Dynamics of Organic Matter of Soil Profiles with Different Vegetation Conditions from the Chinese Loess Plateau: δ13C and δ15N Approaches

To understand the biogeochemical processes associated with soil organic matter (SOM) decomposition, we analyzed the SOM contents, the δ13C and δ15N values of the dominant species foliage, litter and SOM from soil samples for five soil profiles with different vegetation conditions in the Loess Plateau, Northwestern China. Results showed that the amounts of soil organic carbon (SOC) and total nitrogen (TN) mainly concentrated on the surface soil and differentiated according to the vegetation conditions in the following order: broad-leaved forest > coniferous woodland > shrub forest > grassland > wasteland. SOC and TN contents decreased with depth and varied in the ranges of 1.1–31.2 g/kg and 0.3–3.7 g/kg, respectively. Compared with the other regions, the 13C and 15N were enriched and the δ13C and δ15N values of topsoil SOM respectively increased in the ranges of 0.5%o–3.2%o and 0.7%o–4.6%o during litter degradation to SOM on the surface soil, which was controlled by SOM turnover rates. This result indicates that the effect of isotopic fractionation was obvious during the transformation of SOM from plant debris to SOM in topsoil, which resulted in great increments of SOM δ13C and δ15N. Litter inputs lowered the surface soil δ13C and δ15N values while decomposition increased δ13C and δ15N values in deeper soil. Foliage and litter inputs averaged 1.0% and 1.3% δ15N and -28.3% and -27.0% δ13C, respectively. The five soil profiles with different vegetation conditions had similar characteristics in variations of SOM δ13C and δ15N and increased with depth, respectively. However, the patterns of δ13C in our sites were less pronounced than the patterns of δ15N primarily because the discrimination against 13C during organic matter decomposition is weaker than the discrimination against 15N. Except for the shrub profiles, significant correlations were found between the two stable isotopes, 15N and 13C. Combined with information on SOM contents, the variations of the isotopic values of SOM showed a mixing process of litter inputs between different soil profiles. Two controls of soil isotopic compositions were established: new litter inputs and overall isotopic fractionation during decomposition. In conclusion, the overall isotopic fractionation during decomposition left residual soil N and C enriched in 15N and 13C, explaining the high δ15N and δ13C values observed in deeper soil.

Spatial variability in foliar carbon and nitrogen isotope values on Tenerife reflects both climate and soils: Establishing a framework for future work

Tenerife Island is well-known for its biodiversity. It boasts the highest elevation in the Atlantic Ocean and its northern and southern slopes have varying moisture and temperature gradients. Consequently, there are multiple spatially discrete vegetation zones, or biomes, recognized on the island that roughly follow elevation. We investigated the extent to which climatic variables as well as soil nitrogen isotope values (δ15N) and weight %N influence spatial isotopic variability in C3 plants during the rainy season and assessed the degree to which foliar carbon isotope discrimination (Δleaf) and δ15N values are able to distinguish biomes. Mean Annual Precipitation explained 71% and 55% of the spatial variability in Δleaf and δ15N values, respectively. Overall, foliar δ15N values tracked those in soils, and soil %N was negatively correlated with both soil and foliar δ15N values. However, there was considerable variability among co-occurring species, as well as among sites within the same biome, which obscured trends among biomes. As a result, only a few biomes were isotopically distinct: Broad-leaved evergreen forest and sub-desert coastal scrub on the northern slope, and summit scrub and sub-desert coastal scrub on the southern slope. Further investigation into the influence of coastal orientation, topography, plant physiology, soil characteristics, as well as seasonal and inter-annual climate variability on foliar isotope values would be fruitful. Nevertheless, these results provide baseline information for researchers seeking to interpret diet and mobility of animals and people, as well as environmental changes over time on Tenerife and other Macaronesian volcanic islands.