Fornara, Dario A. and Bardgett, Richard and Steinbeiss, Sibylle and Zak, Donald R. and Gleixner, Gerd and Tilman, David (2011) Plant effects on soil N mineralization are mediated by the composition of multiple soil organic fractions. Advances in Ecological Research, 26 (1). pp. 201-208. ISSN 0912-3814
Full text not available from this repository.Abstract
Despite the topic of soil nitrogen (N) mineralization being well-studied, very few studies have addressed the relative contribution of different plant and soil variables in influencing soil N mineralization rates, and thus the supply of inorganic N to plants. Here, we used data from a well-studied N-limited grassland to address the relative effects of six plant and soil variables on net and on gross rates of soil N mineralization. We also addressed whether plant effects on soil N mineralization were mediated by changes in C and N concentrations of multiple soil organic matter (SOM) fractions. Regression analyses show that key plant traits (i.e., plant C:N ratios and total root mass) were more important than total C and N concentrations of bulk soil in influencing N mineralization. This was mainly because plant traits influenced the C and N concentration (and C:N ratios) of different SOM fractions, which in turn were significantly associated with changes in net and gross N mineralization. In particular, C:N ratios of a labile soil fraction were negatively related to net soil N mineralization rates, whereas total soil C and N concentrations of more recalcitrant fractions were positively related to gross N mineralization. Our study suggests that changes in belowground N-cycling can be better predicted by simultaneously addressing how plant C:N ratios and root mass affect the composition and distribution of different SOM pools in N-limited grassland systems.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Journal or Publication Title: | Advances in Ecological Research |
| Subjects: | G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GE Environmental Sciences |
| Departments: | Faculty of Science and Technology > Lancaster Environment Centre |
| ID Code: | 55627 |
| Deposited By: | ep_importer_pure |
| Deposited On: | 10 Jul 2012 10:25 |
| Refereed?: | Yes |
| Published?: | Published |
| Last Modified: | 26 Jul 2012 20:41 |
| Identification Number: | |
| URI: | http://eprints.lancs.ac.uk/id/eprint/55627 |
Actions (login required)
| View Item |
