The effect of a freeze-thaw cycle on dissolved nitrogen dynamics and its relation to dissolved organic matter and soil microbial biomass in the soil of a northern hardwood forest
Recent global warming models project a significant change in winter climate over the next few decades. The decrease in snowpack in the winter will decrease the heat insulation function of the snowpack, resulting in increased soil freeze-thaw cycles. Here, we examined the impact of winter freeze-thaw cycles on year-round dissolved nitrogen (N) and carbon (C) dynamics and their relationship with dissolved organic matter and microbial biomass in soil by conducting an in situ experimental reduction in snowpack. We investigated dissolved inorganic N (NH4+ and NO3-), dissolved organic N (DON), dissolved organic carbon (DOC), inorganic N leaching, soil microbial biomass, and microbial activities (mineralization and nitrification) in the surface soil of a northern hardwood forest located in Japan. Experimental snowpack reduction significantly increased the number of soil freeze-thaw cycles and soil frost depth. The NH4+ content of the surface soil was significantly increased by the amplified soil freeze-thaw cycles due to decreased snowpack, while the soil NO3- content was unchanged or decreased slightly. The gravimetric soil moisture, DON and DOC contents in soil and soil microbial biomass significantly increased by the snowpack removal in winter. Our results suggest that the amplified freeze-thaw cycles in soil increase the availability of DON and DOC for soil microbes due to an increase in soil freezing. The increases in both DON and DOC in winter contributed to the enhanced growth of soil microbes, resulting in the increased availability of NH4+ in winter from net mineralization following an increase in soil freeze-thaw cycles. Our study clearly indicated that snow reduction significantly increased the availability of dissolved nitrogen and carbon during winter, caused by increased soil water content due to freeze-thaw cycles in winter.
1.Hokkaido Univ, Field Sci Ctr Northern Biosphere, Kita Ku, N9 W9, Sapporo, Hokkaido 0600809, Japan 2.Kyoto Univ, Field Sci Educ & Res Ctr, Sakyo Ku, Oiwake Cho, Kyoto 6068502, Japan 3.Inst Environm Sci, Rokkasho, Aomori 0393212, Japan 4.Univ Tokyo, Grad Sch Agr & Life Sci, Bunkyo Ku, 1-1-1 Yayoi, Tokyo 1138657, Japan 5.Japan Environm Sanitat Ctr, Asia Ctr Air Pollut Res, Nishi Ku, 1182 Sowa, Niigata 9502144, Japan 6.Hokkaido Univ, Grad Sch Environm Sci, Kita Ku, N9 W9, Sapporo, Hokkaido 0600809, Japan 7.Tohoku Univ, Grad Sch Sci, Aoba Ku, 6-3 Aramaki Aza Aoba, Sendai, Miyagi 9808578, Japan 8.Forestry & Forest Prod Res Inst, Shikoku Res Ctr, 2-915 Asakuranishimachi, Kochi 7808077, Japan 9.Kyushu Univ, Grad Sch Agr, 394 Tsubakuro, Fukuoka, Fukuoka 8112415, Japan 10.Tokyo Univ Agr & Technol, Grad Sch Agr, 3-5-8 Saiwai Cho, Fuchu, Tokyo 1838509, Japan
Recommended Citation:
Watanabe, Tsunehiro,Tateno, Ryunosuke,Imada, Shogo,et al. The effect of a freeze-thaw cycle on dissolved nitrogen dynamics and its relation to dissolved organic matter and soil microbial biomass in the soil of a northern hardwood forest[J]. BIOGEOCHEMISTRY,2019-01-01,142(3):319-338