Welcome to Journal of University of Chinese Academy of Sciences,Today is

Nitrogen Dynamics of Reforested Soils FollowingAgricultural Abandonment over Decades

  • TIAN Kun ,
  • RICHTER D. D ,
  • HEINE P. R ,
  • HOFMOCKEL M ,
  • YANG Yong-Xing
Expand
  • 1. Northeast Institute of Geography and Agricultural Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130012, China;
    2. Nicholas School of Environment, Duke University Durham, NC 27708, USA

Received date: 2003-05-06

  Online published: 2004-03-19

Supported by

Supported by Yunnan Education Foundation for studying abroad, and Grants from USDA National Research Initiative and USNSF to Duke University

Abstract

Soil samples archived over four decades were used in an incubation experiment to measure theeffects of reforestation on nitrogen dynamics in old agricultural fields. Samples collected from depths 0cm to 715cm and 35cm to 60cm at intervals ranging between five and nine years since 1962 were incubatedaerobically at 30℃ for 30 days using a system specially designed to maintain constant soil moisture. Mineral N was measured in 2 molPL KCl extracts. The ratio of mineralized N to total N rapidly decreased inthe first two decades of forest development. Within 20 years of planting, 80 % to 90 %of plant available N had accumulated in the biomass indicating that agricultural inputs of N were important to early tree development. Significantly, by age 40, 50 % to 80 % of the original pool of mineral N had returned to thesoil profile. The accretion of mineralizable N suggests that forest floor is serving as an increasingly impor2tant source for this nutrient. Further, it indicates that forest managers have the opportunity to manipulatea large pool of forest organic matter to sustain soil N supply.

Cite this article

TIAN Kun , RICHTER D. D , HEINE P. R , HOFMOCKEL M , YANG Yong-Xing . Nitrogen Dynamics of Reforested Soils FollowingAgricultural Abandonment over Decades[J]. Journal of University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 2004 , 21(2) : 241 -247 . DOI: 10.7523/j.issn.2095-6134.2004.2.014

References

[1] Nadelhoffer KJ, Aber J D,Mellilo J M.Leaf2litter production and soil orgnic matter dynamics along a nitrogen mineralization gradient in southernWisconsin (U.S.A.).Canadian Journal of Forest Research, 1983, 13 :12-21

[2] Pastor J, Aber J D, McClaugherty C A, Mellilo J M.Aboveground production and N and P cycling along a nitrogen mineralization gradient onBlackhawk Island, Wisconsin.Ecology, 1984, 65 :225-268

[3] Reich P R, Grigal D F, Aber J D,Gower S T.Nitrogen mineralization and productivity in 50 hardwood and conifer stands on diverse soil.Ecolo2gy, 1997, 78 :335-347

[4] Campbell C A, Jame YW, Akinrem O O, Cabrera ML.Adapting the potentially mineralizable N concept for the prediction of fertilizer N require2ments.Fertilizer Research, 1995, 42 : 61-75

[5] Stanford G,Smith S J.Nitrogen mineralization potentials of soils.Soil Science Society of America Proceeding, 1972, 36 : 465-472

[6] Bonde T A,Roswall T.Seasonal variation of potentially mineralizable nitrogen in four cropping systems.Soil Science Society of America Journal,1987, 51 : 1508-1514

[7] Maimone R A, Moriris L A,Fox T R.Soil nitrogen mineralization potential in a fertilized loblolly pine plantation.Soil Science Society of AmericaJournal, 1991, 55 : 522-527

[8] Motavalli P P, Frey S D,Scott N A.Effects of filter type and extraction efficiency on nitrogen mineralization measurements using the aerobic leach2ing soil incubation method.Biology and Fertility of Soils, 1995, 20 : 197-204

[9] Richter D D, Markewitz D, Wells C G, Allen HL, Dunscomb J, Harrison K, Heine P R, Stuanes A Urrego B, Bonani G.Carbon cycling in anold2field pine forest : implications for the missing carbon sinc and for the concept of soil.In : WMcFee.(ed.) English North American Forest SoilConference.Gainesville :University of Florida, 1994.233-251

[10] Leigh R A,Johnston A E.(eds.) Long2term experiment in agricultural and ecological sciences.CAB International, Oxon, UK, 1994

[11] Richter D D, Markewitz D, Wells C G, Allen H L, April P, Heine P R, Urrego B.Soil chemical change during three decades in an old2fieldloblolly pine (pinus taeda) ecosystem.Ecology, 1994, 75 :1463-1473

[12] Richter D D, Babbar L I.Soil diversity in the tropics.Advances in Ecological Research, 1991, 21 :316-389

[13] Brady N C, Weil P R.The nature and properties of soils.12th ed.Prentice Hall, Inc.1999.184

[14] Keeney D R, Nelson D W.Nitrogen2inorganic forms, in methods of soil analysis, part 2.Chemical and Microbiological Properties (2 nd edition).1982.643-693

Outlines

/