Plant diversity, CO2 and N influence inorganic and organic N leaching in grasslands
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Plant diversity, CO2 and N influence inorganic and organic N leaching in grasslands
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2007
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Abstract
In nitrogen (N)-limited systems, the potential to sequester carbon depends on the balance between N inputs and losses as well as on how efficiently N is used, yet little is known about responses of these processes to changes in plant species richness, atmospheric CO2 concentration ([CO2]), and N deposition. We examined how plant species richness (1 or 16 species), elevated [CO2] (ambient or 560 ppm), and inorganic N addition (0 or 4 g·m−2·yr−1) affected ecosystem N losses, specifically leaching of dissolved inorganic N (DIN) and organic N (DON) in a grassland field experiment in Minnesota, USA. We observed greater DIN leaching below 60 cm soil depth in the monoculture plots (on average 1.8 and 3.1 g N·m−2·yr−1 for ambient N and N-fertilized plots respectively) than in the 16-species plots (0.2 g N·m−2·yr−1 for both ambient N and N-fertilized plots), particularly when inorganic N was added. Most likely, loss of complementary resource use and reduced biological N demand in the monoculture plots caused the increase in DIN leaching relative to the high-diversity plots. Elevated [CO2] reduced DIN concentrations under conditions when DIN concentrations were high (i.e., in N-fertilized and monoculture plots). Contrary to the results for DIN, DON leaching was greater in the 16-species plots than in the monoculture plots (on average 0.4 g N·m−2·yr−1 in 16-species plots and 0.2 g N·m−2·yr−1 in monoculture plots). In fact, DON dominated N leaching in the 16-species plots (64% of total N leaching as DON), suggesting that, even with high biological demand for N, substantial amounts of N can be lost as DON. We found no significant main effects of elevated [CO2] on DIN or DON leaching; however, elevated [CO2] reduced the positive effect of inorganic N addition on DON leaching, especially during the second year of observation. Our results suggest that plant species richness, elevated [CO2], and N deposition alter DIN loss primarily through changes in biological N demand. DON losses can be as large as DIN loss but are more sensitive to organic matter production and turnover.
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10.1890/06-0733
Previously Published Citation
Feike A. Dijkstra, Jason B. West, Sarah E. Hobbie, Peter B. Reich, and Jared Trost 2007. PLANT DIVERSITY, CO2, AND N INFLUENCE INORGANIC AND ORGANIC N LEACHING IN GRASSLANDS. Ecology 88:490–500.
Suggested citation
Dijkstra, Feike A; West, Jason B; Hobbie, Sarah E; Reich, Peter B; Trost, Jared. (2007). Plant diversity, CO2 and N influence inorganic and organic N leaching in grasslands. Retrieved from the University Digital Conservancy, 10.1890/06-0733.
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