Dissolved Organic N Concentrations Research Articles

Seasonal soil-plant nitrogen dynamics of a cordgrass salt marsh in response to coastal embankments in Eastern China

The effects of coastal embankments on nitrogen (N) cycling in the Spartina alterniflora salt marsh have been extensively reported. However, it remains unclear effects of the embankment on the sizes of diverse N subpools in the plant-soil subsystems year-round. This study examined seasonal changes in various N subpools of plant subsystems; soil subsystems [e.g., soil organic N (SON), recalcitrant organic N (RON), labile organic N (LON), dissolved organic N (DON), ammonium N(NH+4 N), and nitrate N(NO3-N)]; N mineralization [e.g., soil net ammonification (RA) and nitrification (RN) rate]; and immobilization [e.g., microbial biomass N (MBN)] in embanked and adjacent S. alterniflora natural salt marshes on the coast of Eastern China. The embankment significantly reduced the litter N storage by 62.7–71.8% over the four seasons and decreased the root N storage by 53.0% during winter. The SON, LON, RON, and N H +4 N concentrations declined significantly by 43.0–60.2%, 35.8–64.8%, 44.9–59.0%, and 20.8–42.2%, respectively, over the four seasons following the embankment construction. Furthermore, the embankment dramatically reduced the DON concentrations by 21.9% in spring, 14.6% in summer, and 10.4% in winter, while notably diminishing the NO3 N concentrations by 33.4% in autumn and 44.9% in winter, and the RA and RN in spring and summer. However, the embankment clearly increased the MBN concentrations during summer and autumn, the NO3 N concentrations in spring, and the RA and RN in winter at different levels. Due to the decreased soil N inputs from plants, the embankment decreased the organic and inorganic N subpools every season to varying degrees, except for the NO3 N concentration in spring. We suggest that the decreased soil salinity following embankment establishment might increase the uptake of ions by microbes, while stimulating the production of MBN. Ultimately, the NO3 N and DON were two vital N sources for S. alterniflora, and plants absorbed N from the soil to promote their biomass, as well as N concentration and storage. This study is conducive toward understanding the mechanisms behind the effects of coastal embankments on the N transfer among various N subpools in the plant and soil systems.

Root exudates shift how N mineralization and N fixation contribute to the plant-available N supply in low fertility soils

Nitrogen (N) availability is a primary constraint to plant productivity, especially in marginal lands with inherently low fertility. Root exudates change with plant nutrient status, and are expected to affect the microbially-mediated N transformations (gross N mineralization vs N fixation) in low fertility soil (low soil organic matter). To explore this possibility, we sampled soils from two monoculture switchgrass (var. Cave-In-Rock) plot with and without N addition at two marginal land sites in Michigan, USA. In a two-week lab incubation, we quantified the effect of different root exudates on gross N mineralization and N fixation by adding simulated root exudates (carbohydrates, organic acids) at a rate of 100 μg C g−1 day−1. On average, adding carbohydrates to low fertility soil increased the soil respiration by 254%, the dissolved organic carbon (DOC) by 366% and reduced dissolved organic N (DON) by 40%. In contrast, soils receiving organic acids had 159% more soil respiration, 163% higher DOC concentration and the DON concentration increased by 49%. Analysis of the C recovery in measured pools revealed that root exudates C inputs were nearly equivalent to the DOC, microbial biomass carbon (MBC), and soil respiration in sandy soil, but only 45–74% of the root exudate C was recovered in these pools in the sandy loam soil. This suggests that root exudate C may be adsorbed to mineral particles in the sandy loam soil. Soil treated with organic acids had higher gross N mineralization and N immobilization rates than soil with carbohydrates addition. Adding carbohydrates significantly increased the free-living N fixation rates, compared to organic acid addition. Changes in soil pH, and DON induced by root exudate addition had strong association with N transformation rates and N availability. Gross N mineralization produced more plant-available N than N fixation, as evidenced by higher inorganic N concentration in soils receiving organic acids than carbohydrates. By quantifying how different root exudates affect the contribution of N mineralization and N fixation to the plant-available N pool in low fertility soils, this study enhances our understanding of the “C for N” exchange in the plant rhizosphere.

Effects of long-term nitrogen addition on dissolved organic matter characteristics in a temperate wetland of Northeast China

Dissolved organic matter (DOM) plays an indispensable role in ecosystem services and functions in wetlands. While most wetlands have undergone increased nitrogen (N) loading due to intensive human activities, the response of DOM characteristics to long-term N addition remains unexplored. In this study, we assessed the changes in dissolved organic carbon (DOC), NH4+, NO3-, dissolved organic N (DON), dissolved total N (DTN), and dissolved total phosphorus (DTP) in surface water and soil pore water at 15 cm depth after 10 years of N addition at four levels (0, 60, 120, and 240 kg N hm−2 year−1) in a freshwater marsh of Northeast China. We also examined the effect of N addition on DOM aromaticity and humification by measuring the specific UV absorbance at 254 nm (SUVA254), the color per C unit (C/C ratio), and the fulvic acid/humic acid ratio (E4/E6 ratio). Our results showed that N addition significantly altered DOM properties, but the direction and magnitude of these changes generally did not vary with the N addition level. During the growing season, DOC, NH4+, NO3-, DON, and DTN concentrations in both surface water and soil pore water were increased by N addition. Accordingly, N addition increased the DOC/DTP and DTN/DTP ratios but decreased the DOC/DTN ratio in surface water and soil pore water. In addition, the SUVA254 value and C/C ratio increased, while the E4/E6 ratio reduced after N addition in surface water and soil pore water, indicating increases in DOM aromaticity and humification. These observations suggest that long-term N addition changes DOM characteristics by causing stoichiometric imbalances and increasing recalcitrant compounds in temperate freshwater wetlands, which may then deteriorate water quality, alter microbial-mediated ecological processes, and impact downstream aquatic ecosystem structures.

Gradients of Anthropogenic Nutrient Enrichment Alter N Composition and DOM Stoichiometry in Freshwater Ecosystems

AbstractA comprehensive cross‐biome assessment of major nitrogen (N) species that includes dissolved organic N (DON) is central to understanding interactions between inorganic nutrients and organic matter in running waters. Here, we synthesize stream water N chemistry across biomes and find that the composition of the dissolved N pool shifts from highly heterogeneous to primarily comprised of inorganic N, in tandem with dissolved organic matter (DOM) becoming more N‐rich, in response to nutrient enrichment from human disturbances. We identify two critical thresholds of total dissolved N (TDN) concentrations where the proportions of organic and inorganic N shift. With low TDN concentrations (0–1.3 mg/L N), the dominant form of N is highly variable, and DON ranges from 0% to 100% of TDN. At TDN concentrations above 2.8 mg/L, inorganic N dominates the N pool and DON rarely exceeds 25% of TDN. This transition to inorganic N dominance coincides with a shift in the stoichiometry of the DOM pool, where DOM becomes progressively enriched in N and DON concentrations are less tightly associated with concentrations of dissolved organic carbon (DOC). This shift in DOM stoichiometry (defined as DOC:DON ratios) suggests that fundamental changes in the biogeochemical cycles of C and N in freshwater ecosystems are occurring across the globe as human activity alters inorganic N and DOM sources and availability. Alterations to DOM stoichiometry are likely to have important implications for both the fate of DOM and its role as a source of N as it is transported downstream to the coastal ocean.

Leaf nitrogen acquisition of Leymus chinensis varies with leaf age and land use change in a semiarid grassland

Nitrogen (N) is a determinant nutrient for plant growth, but how patterns of leaf N acquisition vary with leaf age and land use changes remain unclear. We quantified the contributions of soil ammonium (NH4+), nitrate (NO3−), and dissolved organic N (DON) to age-specific leaf N nutrient of a dominant species, Leymus chinensis, under changing land use (i.e., grazing, mowing, and grazing exclusion) in a semiarid grassland. Along the leaf age gradient, soil NO3− and DON contributed more to leaf N in younger than older leaves, while the opposite was observed for soil NH4+. Under changing land use, the relative contribution of DON was higher than inorganic N in grazing sites, while the opposite was true for mowing sites. Moreover, relative contributions of NO3− and DON increased along the restoration chronosequences of L. chinensis communities, while the opposite pattern was observed for NH4+. Variation in the relative contributions of NH4+, NO3−, and DON with land use changes was driven by soil pH, NO3– to NH4+ ratio, DON concentration and arbuscular mycorrhizae colonization, respectively. These results demonstrate that age-specific leaf N acquisition is associated with the adaptive strategies of plants. Due to differences in the biotic and abiotic factors that drive plant N acquisition, tradeoffs in N utilization of L. chinensis occur between NH4+, NO3−, and DON under land use changes in semiarid grasslands.

Dynamic of nitrogen and dissolved organic carbon in an alpine forested catchment: atmospheric deposition and soil solution trends

A number of studies have reported decreasing trends of acidifying and N deposition inputs to forest areas throughout Europe and the USA in recent decades. There is a need to assess the responses of the ecosystem to declining atmospheric pollution by monitoring the variations of chemical species in the various compartments of the forest ecosystem on a long temporal scale. In this study, we report on patterns and trends in throughfall deposition concentrations of inorganic N, dissolved organic N (DON) and C (DOC) over a 20-year (1995–2015) period in the LTER site -Val Masino (1190 m a.s.l.), a spruce forest, in the Central Italian Alps. The same chemical species were studied in the litter floor leachates and mineral soil solution, at three different depths (15, 40 and 70 cm), over a 10-year period (2005–2015). Inorganic N concentration was drastically reduced as throughfall and litter floor leachates percolated through the topsoil, where the measured mean values (2 µeq L-1) were much lower than the critical limits established for coniferous stands (14 µeq L-1). The seasonal temperature dependence of throughfall DOC and DON concentration suggests that the microbial community living on the needles was the main source of dissolved organic matter. Most of DOC and DON infiltrating from the litter floor were retained in the mineral soil. The rainfall amount was the only climatic factor exerting a control on DOC and N compounds in throughfall and forest floor leachates over a decadal period. Concentration of SO4 and NO3 declined by 50% and 26% respectively in throughfall deposition. Trends of NO3 and SO4 in forest floor leachates and mineral soil solution mirrored declining depositions. No trends in both DON and DOC concentration and in DOC/DON ratio in soil solutions were observed. These outcomes suggest that the declining NO3 and SO4 atmospheric inputs did not influence the dynamic of DON and DOC in the Val Masino forest. The results of this study are particularly relevant, as they are based on a comprehensive survey of all the main compartments of the forest ecosystem. Moreover, this kind of long-term research has rarely been carried out in the Alpine region.

Non-additive responses of soil C and N to rice straw and hairy vetch (Vicia villosa Roth L.) mixtures in a paddy soil

We studied the effects of mixing rice straw and hairy vetch plant residues in a subtropical paddy soil, on subsequent carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) dynamics. Using a theoretical framework, we designed two groups of experiments (involving equal amounts of residual C or N addition, referred to as either C or N treatments). Each experiment included mixed residues of rice straw and hairy vetch at different mixing ratios. Soils together with residues were incubated at 25 °C under waterlogged conditions for 100 days. Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and soil C and N fractions were measured continuously. Both C and N treatments affected soil C and N dynamics, and these dynamics were quantitatively dependent on residue C/N ratios. The effect of residue mixtures on C and N dynamics could not be predicted from single residues, since there were non-additive effects of residue mixtures. Synergistic effects were generally more frequent than antagonistic effects. Residue mixtures tended to enhance CO2 and CH4 emissions in both C and N treatments but decreased N2O emissions in the N treatment. In the N treatment, dissolved organic C (DOC), dissolved organic N (DON), and microbial biomass C (MBC) concentrations increased. DOC and DON concentrations decreased in the C treatment. Residue mixtures enhanced the global warming potentials (GWP) of greenhouse gases (GHG) emitted from soil by non-additive synergistic effects. The C/N ratio of residue mixtures affected the non-additive responses of soil C and N dynamics, for example mixtures with a C/N ratio of 25 had higher CO2 emissions and DOC concentrations than those with a C/N ratio of 35 as a consequence of non-additive effects, however, CH4 emissions and MBC concentrations were higher in mixtures with a C/N ratio of 35 than in mixtures with a C/N ration of 25. These results indicated that non-additive effects can impact soil C and N dynamics and that residue C/N ratios play an important role in influencing non-additive effects. Applying a single residue to paddy soils may be better than residue mixtures from a GWP mitigation perspective.

Size Fractionation of Dissolved Organic Nitrogen in Peatland Fluvial Systems.

Understanding the nature and fate of nitrogen (N) in freshwater systems is crucial for assessing the risk of eutrophication. However, there is a paucity of information on the characterization of fluvial N in upland peat-dominated environments. Here, we employ a combination of field sampling and tangential flow ultrafiltration (TFU) to investigate the concentrations and fluxes of low molecular weight (LMW) and high molecular weight (HMW) dissolved organic N (DON) in a peatland stream-reservoir system in the south Pennines (UK). Our TFU results show that ∼26% of DON concentration is LMW DON and represents an estimated fluvial flux of 3.07 ± 22 kg N ha-1 during the study period. Our mass balance results reveal that the reservoir retains 71% of LMW DON input, which accounts for ∼25% retention of bioavailable (dissolved inorganic N + LMW DON) N. Our study suggests that current understanding of inorganic N as the sole source of bioavailable N with eutrophic significance in upland freshwaters requires a reappraisal. Evaluation of ecosystem response to increased loading of N needs to include a consideration of LMW DON.

Composition, sources, and bioavailability of nitrogen in a longitudinal gradient from freshwater to estuarine waters

Nitrogen (N) transport from land to water is a dominant contributor of N in estuarine waters leading to eutrophication, harmful algal blooms, and hypoxia. Our objectives were to (1) investigate the composition of inorganic and organic N forms, (2) distinguish the sources and biogeochemical mechanisms of nitrate–N (NO3–N) transport using stable isotopes of NO3− and Bayesian mixing model, and (3) determine the dissolved organic N (DON) bioavailability using bioassays in a longitudinal gradient from freshwater to estuarine ecosystem located in the Tampa Bay, Florida, United States. We found that DON was the most dominant N form (mean: 64%, range: 46–83%) followed by particulate organic N (PON, mean: 22%, range: 14–37%), whereas inorganic N forms (NOx–N: 7%, NH4–N: 7%) were 14% of total N in freshwater and estuarine waters. Stable isotope data of NO3− revealed that nitrification was the main contributor (36.4%), followed by soil and organic N sources (25.5%), NO3− fertilizers (22.4%), and NH4+ fertilizers (15.7%). Bioassays showed that 14 to 65% of DON concentrations decreased after 5-days of incubation indicating utilization of DON by microbes in freshwater and estuarine waters. These results suggest that despite low proportion of inorganic N forms, the higher concentrations and bioavailability of DON can be a potential source of N for algae and bacteria leading to water quality degradation in the estuarine waters.

Phosphorus and nitrogen trajectories in the Mediterranean Sea (1950–2030): Diagnosing basin-wide anthropogenic nutrient enrichment

Human activities have significantly modified the inputs of land-derived phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N) to the Mediterranean Sea (MS). Here, we reconstruct the external inputs of reactive P and N to the Western Mediterranean Sea (WMS) and Eastern Mediterranean Sea (EMS) over the period 1950–2030. We estimate that during this period the land derived P and N loads increased by factors of 3 and 2 to the WMS and EMS, respectively, with reactive P inputs peaking in the 1980s but reactive N inputs increasing continuously from 1950 to 2030. The temporal variations in reactive P and N inputs are imposed in a coupled P and N mass balance model of the MS to simulate the accompanying changes in water column nutrient distributions and primary production with time. The key question we address is whether these changes are large enough to be distinguishable from variations caused by confounding factors, specifically the relatively large inter-annual variability in thermohaline circulation (THC) of the MS. Our analysis indicates that for the intermediate and deep water masses of the MS the magnitudes of changes in reactive P concentrations due to changes in anthropogenic inputs are relatively small and likely difficult to diagnose because of the noise created by the natural circulation variability. Anthropogenic N enrichment should be more readily detectable in time series concentration data for dissolved organic N (DON) after the 1970s, and for nitrate (NO3) after the 1990s. The DON concentrations in the EMS are predicted to exhibit the largest anthropogenic enrichment signature. Temporal variations in annual primary production over the 1950–2030 period are dominated by variations in deep-water formation rates, followed by changes in riverine P inputs for the WMS and atmospheric P deposition for the EMS. Overall, our analysis indicates that the detection of basin-wide anthropogenic nutrient concentration trends in the MS is rendered difficult due to: (1) the Atlantic Ocean contributing the largest reactive P and N inputs to the MS, hence diluting the anthropogenic nutrient signatures, (2) the anti-estuarine circulation removing at least 45% of the anthropogenic nutrients inputs added to both basins of the MS between 1950 and 2030, and (3) variations in intermediate and deep water formation rates that add high natural noise to the P and N concentration trajectories.

Characterization of dissolved organic nitrogen in leachate from a newly established and fertilized turfgrass

Understanding the mechanisms of nitrogen (N) retention and loss from fertilized urban turfgrass is critical to develop practices that mitigate N transport and protect water quality in urban ecosystems. We investigated the fate of N in lysimeters sodded with St. Augustine turfgrass and amended with labeled 15N from either ammonium sulfate or urea. Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectroscopy (FTICR-MS) was employed to identify various biomolecular classes in the leached dissolved organic N (DON) from one lysimeter for each treatment and the control. Mean DON concentrations, over 92 days, were 88, 94, and 94% of total N in the leachate from the control, urea, and ammonium sulfate treatments, respectively. Isotopic analysis showed that <3% of N in the leachate originated from newly applied N fertilizer, suggesting that the remainder of the N in the leachate was derived from the lysimeter soil or sod biomass pools. The 15N fertilizer recovery was greatest in soil (44–48%), followed by sod+thatch (18–33%), grass clippings (10–13%), and leachate (<3%). Despite isotopic evidence of little contribution of N from fertilizers in the leachate, a fraction of ammonium sulfate fertilizer was recovered as DON in the leachate, likely after uptake and conversion of inorganic fertilizer to organic plant exudates and/or microbial byproducts. FTICR-MS identified N-bearing organic molecular formulas in the leachate from urea and ammonium sulfate treatments, providing evidence of N leaching from newly established turfgrass of DON compounds in a range of biomolecular compositions such as lipid-, protein-, carbohydrate-, and lignin-like molecules.

Effects of the hydrosedimentological regime on nitrogen transport and speciation in a large subtropical floodplain river

Hydrosedimentological conditions of floodplain rivers can affect nutrient delivery processes. This study evaluated the effects of sedimentological and hydrological regimes on nitrogen (N) speciation and transport in the floodplain–river system of the Middle Paraná. Relations of sedimentological and hydrological regimes, assessed through turbidity and hydrometric level, with N speciation and concentration were analyzed. Simple linear regressions were performed to assess whether N load changed within the main channel in response to hydrological and sedimentological regimes. From the main channel to the floodplain, dissolved inorganic N decreased; however, the most isolated lake had the highest N concentration, almost totally in organic form. Turbidity was negatively associated with concentrations of nitrate-N (NO3-N), nitrite-N (NO2-N), and dissolved organic N (DON), and relative contributions of these N forms to total N (TN) but was positively correlated to particulate N (PN) and ammonium-N (NH4-N). The hydrometric level was positively associated with DON concentration and its relative contribution at the main channel but negatively associated with DON, PN, and TN concentrations in the most isolated lake. Simple linear regressions showed that the sedimentological regime significantly explained all N forms but not TN load. Flooding increased TN and mainly DON load. The results show that the hydrosedimentological regime largely affects N transport and speciation. The sediment peak incorporates PN to the system and affects dissolved N speciation, probably through effects of suspended particles on redox reactions. The increase of N inputs to the fluvial system during the flood could be caused by DON exportation from the floodplain.

Effects of three years of simulated nitrogen deposition on soil nitrogen dynamics and greenhouse gas emissions in a Korean pine plantation of northeast China

Continuously enhanced nitrogen (N) deposition alters the pattern of N and carbon (C) transformations, and thus influences greenhouse gas emissions. It is necessary to clarify the effect of N deposition on greenhouse gas emissions and soil N dynamics for an accurate assessment of C and N budgets under increasing N deposition. In this study, four simulated N deposition treatments (control [CK: no N addition], low-N [L: 20kgNha−1yr−1], medium-N [M: 40kgNha−1yr−1], and high-N [H: 80kgNha−1yr−1]) were operated from 2014. Carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide fluxes were monitored semimonthly, as were soil variables such as temperature, moisture and the concentrations of total dissolved N (TDN), NO3−, NO2−, NH4+, and dissolved organic N (DON) in soil solutions. The simulated N deposition resulted in a significant increase in TDN, NO3− and DON concentrations in soil solutions. The average CO2 emission rate ranged from 222.6mgCO2m−2h−1 in CK to 233.7mgCO2m−2h−1 in the high-N treatment. Three years of simulated N deposition had no effect on soil CO2 emission, which was mainly controlled by soil temperature. The mean N2O emission rate during the whole 3years was 0.02mgN2Om−2h−1 for CK, which increased significantly to 0.05mgN2Om−2h−1 in the high-N treatment. The N2O emission rate positively correlated with NH4+ concentrations, and negatively correlated with soil moisture. The average CH4 flux during the whole 3years was −0.74μgCH4m−2h−1 in CK, which increased to 1.41μgCH4m−2h−1 in the low-N treatment. CH4 flux positively correlated with NO3− concentrations. These results indicate that short-term N deposition did not affect soil CO2 emissions, while CH4 and N2O emissions were sensitive to N deposition.

Mechanisms behind plant diversity effects on inorganic and organic N leaching from temperate grassland

Higher plant diversity reduces nitrate leaching by complementary resource use, while its relation to leaching of other N species is unclear. We determined the effects of plant species richness, functional group richness, and the presence of specific functional groups on ammonium, dissolved organic N (DON), and total dissolved N (TDN) leaching from grassland in the first 4 years after conversion from fertilized arable land to unfertilized grassland. On 62 experimental plots in Jena, Germany, with 1–60 plant species and 1–4 functional groups (legumes, grasses, tall herbs, small herbs), nitrate, ammonium, and TDN concentrations in soil solution (0–0.3 m soil layer) were measured fortnightly during 4 years. DON concentrations were calculated by subtracting inorganic N from TDN. Nitrogen concentrations were multiplied with modeled downward water fluxes to obtain N leaching. DON leaching contributed most to TDN leaching (64 ± SD 4% of TDN). Ammonium leaching was unaffected by plant diversity. Increasing species richness decreased DON leaching in the fourth year. We attribute this finding to enhanced use of DON as a C and N source and enhanced mineralization of DON by soil microorganisms. An increase of species richness decreased TDN leaching likely driven by the complementary use of nitrate by diverse mixtures. Legumes increased DON and TDN leaching likely because of their N\(_{2}\)-fixing ability and higher litter production. Grasses decreased TDN leaching because of more exhaustive use of nitrate and water. Our results demonstrate that increasing plant species richness decreases leaching of DON and TDN.

Nitrogen isotopic evidence for a shift from nitrate- to diazotroph-fueled export production in the VAHINE mesocosm experiments

Abstract. In a coastal lagoon with a shallow, 25 m water column off the southwest coast of New Caledonia, large-volume ( ∼ 50 m3) mesocosm experiments were undertaken to track the fate of newly fixed nitrogen (N). The mesocosms were intentionally fertilized with 0.8 µM dissolved inorganic phosphorus to stimulate diazotrophy. N isotopic evidence indicates that the dominant source of N fueling export production shifted from subsurface nitrate (NO3−) assimilated prior to the start of the 23-day experiments to N2 fixation by the end of the experiments. While the δ15N of the sinking particulate N (PNsink) flux changed during the experiments, the δ15N of the suspended PN (PNsusp) and dissolved organic N (DON) pools did not. This is consistent with previous observations that the δ15N of surface ocean N pools is less responsive than that of PNsink to changes in the dominant source of new N to surface waters. In spite of the absence of detectable NO3− in the mesocosms, the δ15N of PNsink indicated that NO3− continued to fuel a significant fraction of export production (20 to 60 %) throughout the 23-day experiments, with N2 fixation dominating export after about 2 weeks. The low rates of organic N export during the first 14 days were largely supported by NO3−, and phytoplankton abundance data suggest that sinking material primarily comprised large diatoms. Concurrent molecular and taxonomic studies indicate that the diazotroph community was dominated by diatom–diazotroph assemblages (DDAs) at this time. However, these DDAs represented a minor fraction (&lt; 5 %) of the total diatom community and contributed very little new N via N2 fixation; they were thus not important for driving export production, either directly or indirectly. The unicellular cyanobacterial diazotroph, a Cyanothece-like UCYN-C, proliferated during the last phase of the experiments when N2 fixation, primary production, and the flux of PNsink increased significantly, and δ15N budgets reflected a predominantly diazotrophic source of N fueling export. At this time, the export flux itself was likely dominated by the non-diazotrophic diatom, Cylindrotheca closterium, along with lesser contributions from other eukaryotic phytoplankton and aggregated UCYN-C cells, as well as fecal pellets from zooplankton. Despite comprising a small fraction of the total biomass, UCYN-C was largely responsible for driving export production during the last ∼ 10 days of the experiments both directly ( ∼ 5 to 22 % of PNsink) and through the rapid transfer of its newly fixed N to other phytoplankton; we infer that this newly fixed N was transferred rapidly through the dissolved N (including DON) and PNsusp pools. This inference reconciles previous observations of invariant oligotrophic surface ocean DON concentrations and δ15N with incubation studies showing that diazotrophs can release a significant fraction of their newly fixed N as some form of DON.

Labile, recalcitrant, microbial carbon and nitrogen and the microbial community composition at two Abies faxoniana forest elevations under elevated temperatures

We investigated the interactions of altitude and artificial warming on the soil microbial community structure in a subalpine Abies faxoniana forest in southwestern China after four years of warming. Open top chambers (OTCs) at two elevations (3000 m and 3500 m) were established, and their soil microbial characteristics, organic carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) were measured. The microbial community structure was quantified by phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) analysis. A two-step sulfuric acid hydrolysis was used to quantify the labile and recalcitrant C fractions in the soil organic matter. The results showed that bacterial PLFAs and gram-negative bacterial PLFAs increased and the fungal PLFAs and the fungi/bacteria ratio decreased with warming at the high altitude. By contrast, the warming effects on those parameters at low altitude were small. The higher proportion of labile easily decomposable soil C may explain the different responses of the microbial community composition at the two altitudes. An RDA analysis confirmed that the variations in the soil community structure were significantly associated with soil organic matter properties such as the sizes of the soil labile N pool (LP-N), the recalcitrant N pool (RP-N), and the labile C pool as well as dissolved organic C (DOC) and dissolved organic N concentrations (DON). Our results also showed that labile C and N pools increased with the altitude, but the microbial biomass C as measured with chloroform fumigation techniques decreased. Warming increased only the recalcitrant C pools at the high altitude. Given the longer mean residence time for recalcitrant C and the much greater size of this soil organic carbon pool, the results indicated that a rise in temperature in our case increased soil C pools at higher altitudes, at least during the early stages of experimental soil warming. Warming could also cause changes in the composition of the microbial community and enzyme activities, consequently leading to functional changes in soil ecosystem processes at the high altitude.

Particulate nitrogen exports in stream runoff exceed dissolved nitrogen forms during large tropical storms in a temperate, headwater, forested watershed

AbstractAlthough lasting only a fraction of the year, large storms may represent a significant, but highly variable, control on watershed nitrogen (N) fluxes. We determined the exports of particulate N (PN) and total dissolved N including nitrate‐N (NO3‐N) and dissolved organic N (DON) in streamflow from a 12 ha temperate forested watershed. Sampling was performed for 15 storms over September 2010 to December 2012 and included four large tropical storms—Nicole (2010), Irene and Lee (2011), and Sandy (2012). PN composed a substantial portion (39–87%) of the storm event N export with storms constituting 65% of the 2011 PN export. Tropical storm Irene alone generated 1.76 kg N ha−1 of PN which was 27% of the annual watershed N (6.43 kg N ha−1) export for 2011. In contrast, tropical storm Sandy (October 2012) yielded low sediment and PN exports, likely due to low precipitation intensity and a freshly fallen leaf cover that may have reduced soil erosion. Stream water concentrations of PN, NO3‐N, and DON ranged from 0–17.5, 0–2.02, and 0.01–0.54 mg N L−1, respectively. Nitrate‐N concentrations displayed a dilution trajectory for peak stormflows suggesting supply limitation, a response that was not as strong for PN. These results underscore the importance of large storms for PN export which is significant given that climate‐change predictions indicate an increasing intensity of large tropical storms for the northeast U.S.. Elevated PN exports could further exacerbate water quality and eutrophication problems in sensitive aquatic ecosystems already subjected to excess dissolved nitrogen loads.

Land use and hydrologic flowpaths interact to affect dissolved organic matter and nitrate dynamics

The transport and transformation of dissolved organic matter (DOM) and dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) through the soil profile impact down-gradient ecosystems and are increasingly recognized as important factors affecting the balance between accumulation and mineralization of subsoil organic matter. Using zero tension and tension lysimeters at three soil depths (20, 40, 60 cm) in paired forest and maize/soybean land uses, we compared dissolved organic C (DOC), dissolved organic N (DON) and DIN concentrations as well as DOM properties including hydrophilic-C (HPI-C), UV absorption (SUVA254), humification index and C/N ratio. Soil moisture data collected at lysimeter locations suggest zero tension lysimeters sampled relatively rapid hydrologic flowpaths that included downward saturated flow through the soil matrix and/or rapid macropore flow that is not in equilibrium with bulk soil solution whereas tension lysimeters sampled relatively immobile soil matrix solution during unsaturated conditions. The effect of land use on DOC and DON concentrations was largely limited to the most shallow (20 cm) sampling depth where DOC concentrations were greater in the forest (only zero tension lysimeters) and DON concentrations were greater in the cropland (both lysimeter types). In contrast to DOC and DON concentrations, the effect of land use on DOM properties persisted to the deepest sampling depth (60 cm), suggesting that DOM in the cropland was more decomposed regardless of lysimeter type. DOC concentrations and DOM properties differed between lysimeter types only in the forest at 20 cm where soil solutions collected with zero tension lysimeters had greater DOC concentrations, greater SUVA254, greater humification index and lower HPI-C. Our data highlight the importance of considering DOM quality in addition to DOC quantity, and indicate long-term cultivation reduced the delivery of relatively less decomposed DOM to all soil depths.

The nitrogen cycle of tropical montane forest in Ecuador turns inorganic under environmental change

AbstractWater‐bound nitrogen (N) cycling in temperate terrestrial ecosystems of the Northern Hemisphere is today mainly inorganic because of anthropogenic release of reactive N to the environment. In little‐industrialized and remote areas, in contrast, a larger part of N cycling occurs as dissolved organic N (DON). In a north Andean tropical montane forest in Ecuador, the N cycle changed markedly during 1998–2010 along with increasing N deposition and reduced soil moisture. The DON concentrations and the fractional contribution of DON to total N significantly decreased in rainfall, throughfall, and soil solutions. This inorganic turn of the N cycle was most pronounced in rainfall and became weaker along the flow path of water through the system until it disappeared in stream water. Decreasing organic contributions to N cycling were caused not only by increasing inorganic N input but also by reduced DON production and/or enhanced DON decomposition. Accelerated DON decomposition might be attributable to less waterlogging and higher nutrient availability. Significantly increasing NO3‐N concentrations and NO3‐N/NH4‐N concentration ratios in throughfall and litter leachate below the thick organic layers indicated increasing nitrification. In mineral soil solutions, in contrast, NH4‐N concentrations increased and NO3‐N/NH4‐N concentration ratios decreased significantly, suggesting increasing net ammonification. Our results demonstrate that the remote tropical montane forests on the rim of the Amazon basin experienced a pronounced change of the N cycle in only one decade. This change likely parallels a similar change which followed industrialization in the temperate zone of the Northern Hemisphere more than a century ago.

Organic nitrogen deposition in precipitation in metropolitan Guangzhou city of southern China

Organic nitrogen (N) has been shown to be an important component of atmospheric N deposition. However, its contribution to total N deposition and its sources have not been well investigated under severe air N pollution. We quantified dissolved inorganic and organic N deposition in bulk precipitation over two years in Guangzhou, a city suffering from long-term acid rain in southern China, and linked organic N to other atmospheric components to explore the potential sources. We found that dissolved organic N (DON) in precipitation contributed a considerable amount of N (8.1 and 8.4kgNha−1yr−1 in 2008 and 2009, respectively) to total N deposition in the study city, although the percentage to total dissolved N (17–21%) was lower than often reported (approximately 30%). Including DON, precipitation N deposition in the study city reached 39–49kgNha−1yr−1, suggesting an important N source to natural ecosystems. We also found that DON concentration was positively correlated with both ammonium and nitrate concentrations, indicating their anthropogenic sources. The anthropogenic source of DON was further supported by close correlations of DON with precipitation non-sea-salt sulfate concentration and with air concentration of nitrogen and sulfur oxides. Our results suggest that atmospheric DON deposition may also be considerable in many other cities.