Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Increases in soil CO2 and N2O emissions with warming depend on plant species in restored alpine meadows of Wugong Mountain, China

  • Soils, Sec 1 • Soil Organic Matter Dynamics and Nutrient Cycling • Research Article
  • Published:
Journal of Soils and Sediments Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

Ecosystem restorations can impact carbon dioxide (CO2) and nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions which are important greenhouse gasses. Alpine meadows are degraded worldwide, but restorations are increasing. Because their soils represent large carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) pools, they may produce significant amounts of CO2 and N2O depending on the plant species used in restorations. In addition, warming and N deposition may impact soil CO2 and N2O emissions from restored meadows.

Materials and methods

We collected soils from degraded meadows and plots restored using three different plant species at Wugong Mountain (Jiangxi, China). We measured CO2 and N2O emissions when soils were incubated at different temperatures (15, 25 or 35 °C) and levels of N addition (control vs. 4 g m−2) to understand their responses to warming and N deposition.

Results and discussion

Dissolved organic C was higher in restored plots (especially with Fimbristylis dichotoma) compared to non-restored bare soils, and their soil inorganic N was lower. CO2 emission rates were increased by vegetation restorations, decreased by N deposition, and increased by warming. CO2 emission rates were similar for the three grass species at 15 and 25 °C, but they were lower with Miscanthus floridulus at 35 °C. Soils from F. dichotoma and Carex chinensis plots had higher N2O emissions than degraded or M. floridulus plots, especially at 25 °C.

Conclusions

These results show that the effects of restorations on soil greenhouse gas emissions depended on plant species. In addition, these differences varied with temperature suggesting that future climate should be considered when choosing plant species in restorations to predict soil CO2 and N2O emissions and global warming potential.

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.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Berendse F, Van Breemen N, Rydin H, Buttler A, Heijmans M, Hoosbeek MR, Lee JA, Mitchell E, Saarinen T, Vasander H, Wallén B (2001) Raised atmospheric CO2 levels and increased N deposition cause shifts in plant species composition and production in Sphagnum bogs. Glob Change Biol 7:591–598

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chung J-H, Kim D-S (2012) Miscanthus as a potential bioenergy crop in East Asia. J Crop Sci Biotechno 15:65–77

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Conti G, Díaz S (2013) Plant functional diversity and carbon storage-an empirical test in semi-arid forest ecosystems. J Ecol 101:18–28

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • De Deyn GB, Cornelissen JHC, Bardgett RD (2008) Plant functional traits and soil carbon sequestration in contrasting biomes. Ecol Lett 11:516–531

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Du R, Lu D, Wang G (2006) Diurnal, seasonal, and inter-annual variations of N2O fluxes from native semi-arid grassland soils of Inner Mongolia. Soil Biol Biochem 38:3474–3482

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fan H, Wu J, Liu W, Yuan Y, Huang R, Liao Y, Li Y (2014) Nitrogen deposition promotes ecosystem carbon accumulation by reducing soil carbon emission in a subtropical forest. Plant Soil 379:361–371

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fang H, Cheng S, Yu G, Zheng J, Zhang P, Xu M, Li Y, Yang X (2012) Responses of CO2 efflux from an alpine meadow soil on the Qinghai Tibetan Plateau to multi-form and low-level N addition. Plant Soil 351:177–190

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Galloway JN, Townsend AR, Erisman JW, Bekunda M, Cai Z, Freney JR, Martinelli LA, Seitzinger SP, Sutton MA (2008) Transformation of the nitrogen cycle: recent trends, questions, and potential solutions. Science 320:889–892

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Grabherr G, Gottfried M, Pauli H (2009) Climate effects on mountain plants. Nature 369:448–448

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hopkins FM, Filley TR, Gleixner G, Lange M, Top SM, Trumbore SE (2014) Increased belowground carbon inputs and warming promote loss of soil organic carbon through complementary microbial responses. Soil Biol Biochem 76:57–69

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hu Y, Chang X, Lin X, Wang Y, Wang S, Duan J, Zhang Z, Yang X, Luo C, Xu G, Zhao X (2010) Effects of warming and grazing on N2O fluxes in an alpine meadow ecosystem on the Tibetan plateau. Soil Biol Biochem 42:944–952

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Huang Y, Zou JW, Zheng XH, Wang YS, Xu XK (2004) Nitrous oxide emissions as influenced by amendment of plant residues with different C:N ratios. Soil Biol Biochem 36:973–981

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jensen LS, Mueller T, Magid J, Nielsen NE (1997) Temporal variation of C and N mineralization, microbial biomass and extractable organic pools in soil after oilseed rape straw incorporation in the field. Soil Biol Biochem 29:1043–1055

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jian S, Zhao C, Fang S, Yu K (2015) Effects of different vegetation restoration on soil water storage and water balance in the Chinese Loess Plateau. Agr Forest Meteorol 206:85–96

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jin Z, Dong Y, Wang Y, Wei X, Wang Y, Cui B, Zhou W (2014) Natural vegetation restoration is more beneficial to soil surface organic and inorganic carbon sequestration than tree plantation on the Loess Plateau of China. Sci Total Environ 485–486:615–623

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kato T, Tang Y, Gu S, Hirota M, Du M, Li Y, Zhao X (2006) Temperature and biomass influences on interannual changes in CO2 exchange in an alpine meadow on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. Glob Change Biol 12:1285–1298

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li C, Shi L, Ostermann A, Xu J, Li Y, Mortimer P (2015a) Indigenous trees restore soil microbial biomass at faster rates than exotic species. Plant Soil. doi: 10.1007/s11104-015-2570-x

  • Li W, Jin C, Guan D, Wang Q, Wang A, Yuan F, Wu J (2015b) The effects of simulated nitrogen deposition on plant root traits: a meta-analysis. Soil Biol Biochem 82:112–118

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li W, Yan M, Qingfeng Z, Zhikaun J (2012) Effects of vegetation restoration on soil physical properties in the wind-water erosion region of the Northern Loess Plateau of China. Clean (Weinh) 40:7–15

    Google Scholar 

  • Li YY, Shao MA (2006) Change of soil physical properties under long-term natural vegetation restoration in the Loess Plateau of China. J Arid Environ 64:77–96

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liang BC, Gregorich EG, Schnitzer M, Voroney RP (1996) Carbon mineralization in soils of different textures as affected by water-soluble organic carbon extracted from composted dairy manure. Biol Fert Soils 21:10–16

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liang Y, He X, Chen C, Feng S, Liu L, Chen X, Zhao Z, Su Y (2015) Influence of plant communities and soil properties during natural vegetation restoration on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal communities in a karst region. Ecol Eng 82:57–65

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Luo J, Ledgard S, Wise B, Welten B, Lindsey S, Judge A, Sprosen M (2015) Effect of dicyandiamide (DCD) delivery method, application rate, and season on pasture urine patch nitrous oxide emissions. Biol Fert Soils 51:453–464

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Luo Y, Wan S, Hui D, Wallace LL (2001) Acclimatization of soil respiration to warming in a tall grass prairie. Nature 413:622–625

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ma X, Wang S, Wang Y, Jiang G, Nyren P (2006) Short‐term effects of sheep excrement on carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide and methane fluxes in typical grassland of Inner Mongolia. New Zeal J Agr Res 49:285–297

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Maaroufi NI, Nordin A, Hasselquist NJ, Bach LH, Palmqvist K, Gundale MJ (2015) Anthropogenic nitrogen deposition enhances carbon sequestration in boreal soils. Glob Change Biol 21:3169–80

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Maljanen M, Hytönen J, Martikainen PJ (2001) Fluxes of N2O, CH4 and CO2 on afforested boreal agricultural soils. Plant Soil 231:113–121

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Martin-Olmedo P, Rees RM (1999) Short-term N availability in response to dissolved-organic-carbon from poultry manure, alone or in combination with cellulose. Biol Fert Soils 29:386–393

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Merbold L, Eugster W, Stieger J, Zahniser M, Nelson D, Buchmann N (2014) Greenhouse gas budget (CO2, CH4 and N2O) of intensively managed grassland following restoration. Glob Change Biol 20:1913–1928

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mo J, Zhang W, Zhu W, Gundersen P, Fang Y, Li D, Wang H (2008) Nitrogen addition reduces soil respiration in a mature tropical forest in southern China. Glob Change Biol 14:403–412

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mosier A, Schimel D, Valentine D, Bronson K, Parton W (1991) Methane and nitrous oxide fluxes in native, fertilized and cultivated grasslands. Nature 350:330–332

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ni J (2002) Carbon storage in grasslands of China. J Arid Environ 50:205–218

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nieveen JP, Campbell DI, Schipper LA, Blair IJ (2005) Carbon exchange of grazed pasture on a drained peat soil. Glob Change Biol 11:607–618

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Parton W, Mosier A, Ojima D, Valentine D, Schimel D, Weier K, Kulmala AE (1996) Generalized model for N2 and N2O production from nitrification and denitrification. Global Biogeochem Cy 10:401–412

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Peng S, Chen A, Fang H, Wu J, Liu G (2013) Effects of vegetation restoration types on soil quality in Yuanmou dry-hot valley, China. Soil Sci Plant Nutr 59:347–360

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rui Y, Wang S, Xu Z, Wang Y, Chen C, Zhou X, Kang X, Lu S, Hu Y, Lin Q, Luo C (2011) Warming and grazing affect soil labile carbon and nitrogen pools differently in an alpine meadow of the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau in China. J Soils Sediments 11:903–914

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Saggar S, Bolan NS, Bhandral R, Hedley C, Luo J (2004) A review of emissions of methane, ammonia, and nitrous oxide from animal excreta deposition and farm effluent application in grazed pastures. New Zeal J Agr Res 47:513–544

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Saggar S, Jha N, Deslippe J, Bolan NS, Luo J, Giltrap DL, Kim DG, Zaman M, Tillman RW (2013) Denitrification and N2O : N2 production in temperate grasslands: processes, measurements, modelling and mitigating negative impacts. Sci Total Environ 465:173–195

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shang Z, Cao J, Guo R, Long R (2012) Effects of cultivation and abandonment on soil carbon content of subalpine meadows, northwest China. J Soils Sediments 12:826–834

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shi F, Chen H, Chen H, Wu Y, Wu N (2012) The combined effects of warming and drying suppress CO2 and N2O emission rates in an alpine meadow of the eastern Tibetan Plateau. Ecol Res 27:725–733

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Smith JL, Halvorson JJ, Bolton H (2002) Soil properties and microbial activity across a 500m elevation gradient in a semi-arid environment. Soil Biol Biochem 34:1749–1757

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Thomas CD, Cameron A, Green RE, Bakkenes M, Beaumont LJ, Collingham YC, Erasmus BF, De Siqueira MF, Grainger A, Hannah L (2004) Extinction risk from climate change. Nature 427:145–148

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wan SQ, Luo YQ (2003) Substrate regulation of soil respiration in a tallgrass prairie: results of a clipping and shading experiment. Global Biogeochem Cy 17:1054

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang J, Wang G, Hu H, Wu Q (2010) The influence of degradation of the swamp and alpine meadows on CH4 and CO2 fluxes on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. Environ Earth Sci 60:537–548

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang J, Wang G, Wang Y, Li Y (2007) Influences of the degradation of swamp and alpine meadows on CO2 emission during growing season on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Chinese Sci Bull 52:2565–2574

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang Z, Liu GB, Xu MX, Zhang J, Wang Y, Tang L (2012) Temporal and spatial variations in soil organic carbon sequestration following revegetation in the hilly Loess Plateau, China. Catena 99:26–33

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wei Y, Yu L-F, Zhang JC, Yu YC, Deangelis DL (2011) Relationship between vegetation restoration and soil microbial characteristics in degraded Karst regions: a case study. Pedosphere 21:132–138

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wu GL, Liu ZH, Zhang L, Chen JM, Hu TM (2010) Long-term fencing improved soil properties and soil organic carbon storage in an alpine swamp meadow of western China. Plant Soil 332:331–337

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Xu X, Shi Z, Li D, Zhou X, Sherry RA, Luo Y (2015) Plant community structure regulates responses of prairie soil respiration to decadal experimental warming. Glob Change Biol 21:3846–3853

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yang L, Chen L, Wei W (2015) Effects of vegetation restoration on the spatial distribution of soil moisture at the hillslope scale in semi-arid regions. Catena 124:138–146

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang C, Niu D, Hall SJ, Wen H, Li X, Fu H, Wan C, Elser JJ (2014a) Effects of simulated nitrogen deposition on soil respiration components and their temperature sensitivities in a semiarid grassland. Soil Biol Biochem 75:113–123

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang L, Zhang Y, Zou J, Siemann E (2014b) Decomposition of Phragmites australis litter retarded by invasive Solidago canadensis in mixtures: an antagonistic non-additive effect. Sci Rep 4:05488

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang S, Chen D, Sun D, Wang X, Smith JL, Du G (2012) Impacts of altitude and position on the rates of soil nitrogen mineralization and nitrification in alpine meadows on the eastern Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau, China. Biol Fert Soils 48:393–400

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhou X, Chen C, Wang Y, Xu Z, Hu Z, Cui X, Hao Y (2012) Effects of warming and increased precipitation on soil carbon mineralization in an Inner Mongolian grassland after 6 years of treatments. Biol Fert Soils 48:859–866

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

We thank Hai Xiang, Hankun Wang, Huiqin Yi, and Wei Hong for their assistance in the laboratory work and two reviewers for their substantial contributions to the improvement of the earlier version of the manuscript. The study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31360177, 41501317), the High-end Foreign Experts Recruitment Program (GDW20157200307), and the Scientific Research Foundation for New Scholars by Jiangxi Agricultural University (09005172).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Forestry, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, 330045, China

    Bangliang Deng, Zhenzhen Li, Ling Zhang, Yingchao Ma, Zhi Li, Wenyuan Zhang & Xiaomin Guo

  2. College of Land resources and Environment, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, 330045, China

    Dekui Niu

  3. Department of Biosciences, Rice University, Houston, 77005, USA

    Evan Siemann

Authors
  1. Bangliang Deng
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Zhenzhen Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Ling Zhang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Yingchao Ma
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Zhi Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Wenyuan Zhang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Xiaomin Guo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Dekui Niu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. Evan Siemann
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ling Zhang.

Additional information

Responsible editor: Caixian Tang

Electronic supplementary material

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

Fig. S1

The dependence of estimated cumulative CO2 emissions from non-restored soils (A) or soils in plots restored by three different grass species (BCD) on warming and N fertilization treatments.

High-resolution image.

Fig. S2

The dependence of estimated cumulative N2O emissions from non-restored soils (A) or soils in plots restored by three different grass species (BCD) on warming and N fertilization treatments.

High-resolution image.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Deng, B., Li, Z., Zhang, L. et al. Increases in soil CO2 and N2O emissions with warming depend on plant species in restored alpine meadows of Wugong Mountain, China. J Soils Sediments 16, 777–784 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-015-1307-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-015-1307-z

Keywords

Search

Navigation