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Soil nitrogen pools and plant uptake at sub-zero soil temperature in a cool temperate forest soil: a field experiment using 15N labeling

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Abstract

Aims

Winter biogeochemical processes have received considerable attention. Biological processes (e.g., microbial respiration and plant photosynthesis) do not cease, even at sub-zero temperatures. However, our knowledge of plant nitrogen (N) uptake at sub-zero soil temperatures is particularly limited for deciduous plant species, which do not have leaves during winter. We investigated plant N uptake by evergreen and deciduous species and soil N processes during sub-zero soil temperatures in cool temperate forest soil.

Methods

Isotopically labelled nitrate (NO3-15N) was injected into soil as a tracer of plant uptake and soil N dynamics at sub-zero temperature soil at a cool temperate field site.

Results

Over a period of 41 days, 6–48 mg/kg DW−1 of 15N accumulated in evergreen species and deciduous tree species. Furthermore, the 15N content in ammonium increased, suggesting ammonium production at sub-zero soil temperatures. The increase in 15NH4 was positively correlated with soil moisture, indicating an important role for soil water in N dynamics at sub-zero soil temperatures.

Conclusions

Our findings demonstrate that N uptake by plants and soil N transformation did not cease at sub-zero soil temperatures. Further studies are needed to understand the importance of N dynamics at sub-zero soil temperatures.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Kouki Hikosaka and staff members of TOEF for their support on this study. This study was supported by a Grant-in-Aid for Science Research (No. 21248017) from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, and Technology, Japan.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Graduate School of Life Science, Tohoku University, Aoba, Sendai, 980-8578, Japan

    Miki U. Ueda

  2. Field Science Education and Research Center, Kyoto University, Oiwake-cho, Kitashirakawa, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8502, Japan

    Naoko Tokuchi

  3. Tomakomai Research Station, Field Science Center for Northern Biosphere, Hokkaido University, Tomakomai, 053-0035, Japan

    Tsutom Hiura

Authors
  1. Miki U. Ueda
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  2. Naoko Tokuchi
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  3. Tsutom Hiura
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Correspondence to Miki U. Ueda.

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Responsible Editor: Hans Lambers.

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Ueda, M.U., Tokuchi, N. & Hiura, T. Soil nitrogen pools and plant uptake at sub-zero soil temperature in a cool temperate forest soil: a field experiment using 15N labeling. Plant Soil 392, 205–214 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-015-2453-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-015-2453-1

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