Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Short-term increases in relative nitrification rates due to trenching in forest floor and mineral soil horizons of different forest types

  • Published:
Plant and Soil Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The representation of NO3 − dynamics within forest growth simulation models could improve forest management. An extensive literature review revealed an 88% probability of measuring a higher relative nitrification index (i.e. RNI = [NO3 −] ÷ [NO3 − + NH4 +]) in mineral soil horizons than in forest floors, across a wide range of conifer and hardwood ecosystems. We then hypothesised that humus form and fine root density could be used as two crude variables to predict changes in in situ, potential and relative nitrification rates. Twenty-seven trench plots were established in 1999, across nine contrasting hardwood and coniferous stands in the Eastern Townships of Québec. Forest floor and mineral soil samples were collected from each plot, and from a 1 m radius surrounding each plot, on three dates during summer 2000. In situRNI values increased significantly in trench plots as the season progressed. Potential nitrification rates (i.e. NO3 − concentrations following incubation) were two orders of magnitude higher in forest floor than in mineral soil samples. RNI was significantly higher in mineral soil than in forest floor samples after incubations, but the relative increase in RNI due to trenching was higher in forest floor samples. Indices of available C were significantly higher in forest floor than mineral soil samples, and decreased only in forest floor samples during incubations. Likewise, trenching significantly reduced available C in forest floor samples only. Seasonal changes in soil temperature and fine root growth were the most plausible explanations for seasonal changes in NO3 − dynamics, whereas other factors such soil acidity and moisture appeared less important in determining NO3 − dynamics in this study. We conclude that crude assessments of humus form and fine root density have the potential to be used as calibration parameters for the simulation of NO3 − dynamics in forest growth and yield models.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Aber J D, Magill A and Boone R 1993 Plant and soil responses to chronic nitrogen additions at the Harvard forest, Massachusetts. Ecol. Appl. 3, 156–166.

    Google Scholar 

  • Anderson J P E and Domsch K H 1978 A physiological method for the quantitative measurement of microbial biomass in soils. Soil Biol. Biochem. 10, 215–221.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bauhus J, Meyer A C and Brumme R 1996 Effect of the inhibitors nitrapyrin and sodium chlorate on nitrification and N2O formation in an acid forest soil. Biol Fertil. Soils 22, 318–325.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bohlen P J, Groffman P M, Fahey T J, Driscoll C T and Siccama T G 2001 Plant–soil–microbial interactions in a northern hardwood forest. Ecology 82, 955–964.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bradley R L 2001 An alternative explanation for the post-disturbance NO3 – flush in some forest ecosystems. Ecol. Lett. 4, 412–416.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bradley R L and Fyles J W 1995 Growth of Paper Birch (Betula papyrifera) seedlings increases soil available C and microbial acquisition of soil-nutrients. Soil Biol. Biochem. 27, 1565–1571.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bradley R L and Fyles J W 1996 Interactions between tree seedling roots and humus forms in the control of soil C and N cycling. Biol. Fertil. Soils 23, 70–79.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bradley R L, Titus B D and Fyles J W 1997 Nitrogen acquisition and competitive ability of Kalmia angustifolia L., paper birch (Betula papyrifera Marsh.) and black spruce (Picea mariana (Mill).) B.S.P.) seedlings grown on different humus forms. Plant Soil 195, 209–220.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bradley R L, Titus B D and Preston C P 2000 Changes to mineral N cycling and microbial communities in black spruce humus after additions of (NH4)2SO4 and condensed tannins extracted from Kalmia angustifolia and balsam fir. Soil Biol. Biochem. 32, 1227–1240.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bradley R L, Kimmins J P and Martin W L 2002 Post-clearcutting chronosequence in the B.C. Coastal Western Hemlock Zone: II Tracking the assart flush. J. Sustain. For. 14, 23–43.

    Google Scholar 

  • Christ M, Zhang Y, Likens G E and Driscoll C T 1995 Nitrogen retention capacity of a northern hardwood forest soil under ammonium sulfate additions. Ecol. Appl. 5, 802–812.

    Google Scholar 

  • Côté B, Hendershot W H, Fyles J W, Roy A G, Bradley R, Biron P M and Courchesne F 1998 The phenology of fine root growth in a maple-dominated ecosystem: relationships with some soil properties. Plant Soil 201, 59–69.

    Google Scholar 

  • Davidson E A, Hart S C and Firestone M K 1992 Internal cycling of nitrate in soils of a mature coniferous forest. Ecology 73, 1148–1156.

    Google Scholar 

  • De Boer W, Tietema A, Klein Gunnewiek P J A and Laanbroek H J 1992 The chemolithotrophic ammonium-oxidizing community in a nitrogen-saturated acid forest soil in relation to pH-dependent nitrifying activity. Soil Biol. Biochem. 24, 229–234.

    Google Scholar 

  • Degrange V, Coûteaux M M, Anderson J M, Berg M P and Lensi R 1998 Nitrification and occurrence of Nitrobacter by MPN-PCR in low and high nitrifying coniferous forest soils. Plant Soil 198, 201–208.

    Google Scholar 

  • Discoll K G, Arocema J M and Massicote H B 1999 Post-fire nitrogen content and vegetation composition in Sub-Boreal forests of British Columbia's central interior, Canada. For. Ecol. Manag. 121, 227–237.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ehrenfeld J G, Parsons W F J, Han X, Parmelee R W and Zhu W 1997 Live and dead root in forest soil horizons: Contrasting effects of nitrogen dynamics. Ecology 78, 348–362.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eno C F 1960 Nitrate production in the field by incubating the soil in polyethylene bags. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. Proc. 24, 277–279.

    Google Scholar 

  • Environnement Canada, 2001. Section du suivi et de l'adaptation au climat. Division des Sciences Atmosphériques et enjeux environnementaux. Québec. http://www.criacc.qc.ca/climat/suivi/index.html#bilan.

  • Ewel K C, Cropper W P Jr and Gholz H L 1987 Soil CO2 evolution in Florida slash pine plantations. II. Importance of root respiration. Can. J. For. Res. 17, 330–333.

    Google Scholar 

  • Federer C A 1983 Nitrogen mineralization and nitrification: depth variation in four New England forest soils. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 47, 1008–1014.

    Google Scholar 

  • Feller M C 2000 Influence of forest harvesting intensity on nutrient leaching through soil in Soutwestern British Columbia. J. Sustain. For. 10, 241–247.

    Google Scholar 

  • Finér L, Messier C and De Grandpré L 1996 Fine-root dynamics in mixed boreal conifer-broad-leafed forest stands at different successional stages after fire. Can. J. For. Res. 27, 304–314.

    Google Scholar 

  • Frazer D W, McColl J G and Powers R F 1990 Soil nitrogen mineralization in a clearcutting chronosequence in a northern California conifer forest. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 54, 1145–1152.

    Google Scholar 

  • Giardina C P and Ryan M G 2000 Evidence that decomposition rates of organic carbon in mineral soil do not vary with temperature. Nature 404, 858–861.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gosz J R and White C S 1986 Seasonal and annual variation in nitrogen mineralization and nitrification along an elevational gradient in New Mexico. Biogeochemistry 2, 281–297.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hart S C, Nason G E, Myrold D D and Perry D A 1994 Dynamics of gross nitrogen transformation in an old-growth forest: The carbon connection. Ecology 75, 880–891.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hart S C, Binkley D and Perry D A 1997 Influence of red alder on soil nitrogen transformations in two conifer forests of contrasting productivity. Soil Biol. Biochem. 29, 1111–1123.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hendrick R L and Pregitzer K S 1996 Temporal and depth-related patterns of fine root dynamics in northern hardwood forests. J. Ecol. 84, 167–176.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hendrickson O Q, Chartarpaul L and Robinson J B 1985 Effects of two methods of timber harvesting on microbial processes in forest soil. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 49, 739–746.

    Google Scholar 

  • Holmes W E and Zak D R 1999 Soil microbial control of nitrogen loss following clear-cut harvest in northern hardwood ecosystems. Ecol. Appl. 9, 202–215.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jackson L E, Schimel J P and Firestone M K 1989 Short-term partitioning of ammonium and nitrate between plants and microbes in an annual grassland. Soil Biol Biochem. 21, 409–415.

    Google Scholar 

  • Joergensen R G and Scheu S 1999 Depth gradients of microbial and chemical properties in moder soils under beech and spruce. Pedobiologia 43, 134–144.

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnson D W 1979 Some nitrogen fractions in two forest soils and their changes in response to urea fertilization. Northwest Sci. 53, 23–32.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kaye J P and Hart S C 1998 Ecological restoration alters nitrogen transformations in a ponderosa pine-bunchgrass ecosystem. Ecol. Appl. 8, 1052–1060.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kimmins J P, Mailly D and Seely B 1999 Modelling forest ecosystem net primary production: The hybrid simulation approach used in FORECAST. Ecol. Model. 122, 195–224.

    Google Scholar 

  • Koopmans C J, Lubrecht W C and Tietema A 1995 Nitrogen transformation in two nitrogen saturated forest ecosystems subjected to an experimental decrease in nitrogen deposition. Plant Soil 175, 205–218.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kreitinger J P, Klein T M, Novic N J and Alexander M 1985 Nitrification and characteristics of nitrifying microorganisms in an acid forest soil. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 49, 1407–1410.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kronzucker H J, Siddiqi M Y and Glass A D M 1997 Conifer root discrimination against soil nitrate and the ecology of forest succession. Nature 385, 59–61.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kuo S 1996 Phosphorus. In Methods of Soil Analysis. Part 3. Chemical Methods. Ed. D L Sparks. pp. 869–919. Soil Science Society of America and American Society of agronomy, Madison, Wisconsin.

    Google Scholar 

  • Laverman A M, Zoomer H R, Van Verseveld H W and Verhoef H A 2000a Temporal and spatial variation of nitrogen transformations in a coniferous forest soil. Soil Biol. Biochem. 32, 1661–1670.

    Google Scholar 

  • Laverman A M, Zoomer H R, Engelbrecht D, Berg M P, Van Straalen N M, Van Verseveld H W and Verhoef H A 2000b Soil layer-specific variability in net nitrification and denitrification in an acid coniferous forest. Biol. Fertil. Soils 32, 427–434.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lin J and Stewart V 1998 Assimilatory nitrate reductase. Adv.Micr. Phys. 39, 11–15.

    Google Scholar 

  • Magill A H and Aber J D 2000 Variation in soil net mineralization rates with dissolved organic carbon additions. Soil Biol. Biochem. 32, 597–601.

    Google Scholar 

  • Magill A H, Aber J D, Hendricks J J, Bowden R D, Melillo J M and Steudler P A 1997 Biogeochemical response of forest ecosystems to simulated chronic nitrogen deposition. Ecol. Appl. 7, 402–415.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mailly D, Kimmins J P and Busing R T 2000 Disturbance and succession in a coniferous forest of northwestern North America: Simulations with DRYADES, a spatial gap model. Ecol. Model. 127, 183–205.

    Google Scholar 

  • Melillo J M, Aber J D, Linkins A E, Ricca A, Fry B and Nadelhorffer K J 1989 Carbon and nitrogen dynamics along the decay continuum: Plant litter to soil organic matter. Plant Soil 115, 189–198.

    Google Scholar 

  • Myrold D D, Matson P A and Peterson D L 1989 Relationships between soil microbial properties and aboveground stand char384 acteristics of conifer forests in Oregon. Biogeochemistry 8, 265–281.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nohrstedt H O, Sikström U, Ring E, Näsholm T, Högberg P and Persson T 1995 Nitrate in soil water in three Norway spruce stands insouthwest Sweden as related to N-deposition and soil, stand, and foliage properties. Can. J. For. Res. 26, 836–848.

    Google Scholar 

  • Norton J M and Firestone M K 1996 N dynamics in the rhizosphere of Pinus ponderosa seedlings. Soil Biol. Biochem. 28, 351–362.

    Google Scholar 

  • Norton J M, Smith J L and Firestone M K 1990 Carbon flow in the rhizosphere of ponderosa pine seedlings. Soil Biol. Biochem. 22, 449–455.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ohrui K, Mitchell M and Bischoff J M 1999 Effect of landscape position on N mineralization and nitrification in a forested watershed in the Adirondack Mountains of New York. Can. J. For. Res. 29, 497–508.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ohta S and Kumada K 1978 Studies on the humus forms of forest soils VI. Mineralization of nitrogen in brown forest soils. Soil Sci. Plant Nutr. 24, 41–54.

    Google Scholar 

  • Olson R K and Reiners W A 1983 Nitrification in subalpine balsam fir soils: test for inhibitory factors. Soil Biol. Biochem. 15, 413–418.

    Google Scholar 

  • Paavolainen L and Smolander A 1998 Nitrification and denitrification in soil from a clear-cut Norway spruce (Picea abies) stand. Soil Biol. Biochem. 30, 775–781.

    Google Scholar 

  • Paavolainen L, Kitunen V and Smolander A 1998 Inhibition of nitrification in forest soil by monoterpenes. Plant Soil 205, 147–154.

    Google Scholar 

  • Papen H and von Berg R 1998 A most probable number method (mpn) for the estimation of cell numbers of heterotrophic nitrifying bacteria in soil. Plant Soil 199, 123–130.

    Google Scholar 

  • Paré D and Bergeron Y 1996 Effect of colonizing tree species on soil nutrient availability in a clay soil of the boreal mixedwood. Can. J. For. Res. 26, 1022–1031.

    Google Scholar 

  • Parmelee R W, Ehrenfeld J G and Tate R L 1993 Effects of pine roots on microorganisms, fauna, and nitrogen availability in two soil horizons of a coniferous forest spodosol. Biol. Fertil. Soils 15, 113–119.

    Google Scholar 

  • Persson T and Wirén A 1995 Nitrogen mineralization and potential nitrification at different depths in acid forest soils. Plant Soil 168–169, 55–65.

  • Pietikänen J, Vaijärvi E, Iivesniemi H, Fritze H and Westman C J 1999 Carbon storage of microbes and roots and the flux of CO2 across a moisture gradient. Can. J. For. Res. 29, 1197–1203.

    Google Scholar 

  • Popovic B 1967 Kwävemobiliseringsförsök med humusprov fran gödslingförsöksytor I skogsbestand pa fastmark. Research notes, Dept For. Ecol. And For. Soils, R. Coll. For., Stockholm, Vol. 6, 1–31.

  • Popovic B 197a Auswirkung der durchforstung auf die stickstoffmobilisierung un humuys und mineralbodenproben eineger fichtenbestande in Stockholm. Dept. For. Ecol. and For. Soils, R. Coll. For. Research notes, Vol. 8, 1–38.

  • Popovic B 1971b Effect of sampling date on nitrogen mobilization during incubation experiments. Plant Soil 34, 381–392.

    Google Scholar 

  • Prescott C E 1997 Effects of clearcutting and alternative silvicultural systems on rates of decomposition and nitrogen mineralization in a coastal montane coniferous forest. For. Ecol. Manag. 95, 253–260.

    Google Scholar 

  • Priha O and Smolander A 1999 Nitrogen transformation in soil under Pinus sylvestris, Picea abies and Betula pendula at two forest sites. Soil Biol. Biochem. 31, 965–977.

    Google Scholar 

  • Priha O, Grayston S J, Pennanen T and Smolander A 1999 Microbial activities related to C and N cycling and microbial community structure in the rhizospheres of Pinus sylvestris, Picea abies and Betula pendula seedlings in an organic and mineral soil. FEMS Microbiol. Ecol. 30, 187–199

    Google Scholar 

  • Robertson G P 1982 Nitrification in forested ecosystems. Phil. Trans. R. Soc. Lond. B 296, 445–457.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rudebeck A and Persson T 1998 Nitrification in organic and mineral soil layers in coniferous forests in response to acidity. Environ. Pollut. 102, 377–383.

    Google Scholar 

  • SAS, 1998. SAS/Stat user's guide. Release 6.12. SAS Institute, Cary, North Carolina, USA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schmidt M G, Macdonald S E and Rothwell R L 1996 Impacts of harvesting and mechanical site preparation on soil chemical properties of mixed-wood boreal forest sites in Alberta. Can. J. Soil Sci. 76, 531–540.

    Google Scholar 

  • Scott N A, Parfitt R L, Ross D J and Salt G J 1998 Carbon and nitrogen transformations in New Zealand plantation forest soils from sites with different N status. Can. J. For. Res. 28, 967–976.

    Google Scholar 

  • Soil classification working group 1998 The Canadian System of Soil Classification 3rd edn. Agriculture and Agri-food Canada, research brand, Ottawa. 188 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stark J M and Hart S C 1997 High rates of nitrification and nitrate turnover in undisturbed coniferous forests. Nature 385, 61–64.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ste-Marie C and Paré D 1999 Soil, pH and N availability effects on net nitrification in the forest floor of a range of boreal forest stands. Soil Biol. Biochem. 31, 1571–1589.

    Google Scholar 

  • Suzuki I, Dular U and Kwok S C 1974 Ammonia or ammonium ion as substrate for oxidation by Nitrosomonas europaea cells and extracts. J. Bact. 120, 556–558.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tietema A and Verstraten J M 1988 The nitrogen budget of an oak-beech forest ecosystem in the Netherlands in relation to atmospheric deposition. National Institute of public health and environmental protection. 49 pp.

  • Tietema A and Verstraten J M 1991 Nitrogen cycling in an acid forest ecosystem in the Netherlands under increased atmospheric nitrogen input. Biogeochemistry 15, 21–46.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tietema A, De Boer W, Riemer L and Verstraten J M 1992 Nitrate production in nitrogen-saturated acid forest soils: Vertical distribution and characteristics. Soil Biol. Biochem. 24, 235–240.

    Google Scholar 

  • Turner D P, Sollins P, Leuking M and Rudd N 1993 Availability and uptake of inorganic nitrogen in a mixed old-growth coniferous forest. Plant Soil 148, 163–174.

    Google Scholar 

  • Van Cleve K, Oechel W C and Hom J L 1990 Response of black spruce (Picea mariana) ecosystems to soil temperature modification in interior Alaska. Can. J. For. Res. 20, 1530–1535.

    Google Scholar 

  • Van Praag H J and Weissen F 1973 Elements of a functional definition oligotroph humus based on the nitrogen nutrition of forest stands. J. Appl. Ecol. 10, 569–583.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vitousek P M, Gosz J R, Grier C C, Melillo J M and Reiners W A 1982 A comparative analysis of potential nitrification and nitrate mobility in forest ecosystems. Ecol. Monogr. 52, 155–177.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vogt D J and Edmonds R L 1982 Nitrate and Ammonium levels in relation to site quality in Douglas-fir soil and litter. Northwest Sci. 56, 83–89.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre de recherche en biologie forestière (CRBF), Département de biologie, Faculté des Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada, J1K 2R1

    Martin Lavoie & Robert L. Bradley

Authors
  1. Martin Lavoie
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Robert L. Bradley
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Robert L. Bradley.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Lavoie, M., Bradley, R.L. Short-term increases in relative nitrification rates due to trenching in forest floor and mineral soil horizons of different forest types. Plant and Soil 252, 367–384 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1024773410874

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1024773410874

Search

Navigation