The natural abundance of 15N in litter and soil profiles under six temperate tree species: N cycling depends on tree species traits and site fertility

Ingeborg Callesen; Lars Ola Nilsson; Inger Kappel Schmidt; Lars Vesterdal; Per Lennart Ambus; Jesper Riis Christiansen; Peter  Högberg; Per Gundersen

doi:10.1007/s11104-012-1515-x

The natural abundance of ¹⁵N in litter and soil profiles under six temperate tree species: N cycling depends on tree species traits and site fertility

Ingeborg Callesen, Lars Ola Nilsson, Inger Kappel Schmidt, Lars Vesterdal, Per Lennart Ambus, Jesper Riis Christiansen, Peter Högberg, Per Gundersen

Forest, Nature and Biomass

28 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Aims: We investigated the influence of tree species on the natural ¹⁵N abundance in forest stands under elevated ambient N deposition. Methods: We analysed δ¹⁵N in litter, the forest floor and three mineral soil horizons along with ecosystem N status variables at six sites planted three decades ago with five European broadleaved tree species and Norway spruce. Results: Litter δ¹⁵N and ¹⁵N enrichment factor (δ¹⁵N_litter-δ¹⁵N_soil) were positively correlated with N status based on soil and litter N pools, nitrification, subsoil nitrate concentration and forest growth. Tree species differences were also significant for these N variables and for the litter δ¹⁵N and enrichment factor. Litter from ash and sycamore maple with high N status and low fungal mycelia activity was enriched in ¹⁵N (+0.9 delta units) relative to other tree species (European beech, pedunculate oak, lime and Norway spruce) even though the latter species leached more nitrate. Conclusions: The δ¹⁵N pattern reflected tree species related traits affecting the N cycling as well as site fertility and former land use, and possibly differences in N leaching. The tree species δ¹⁵N patterns reflected fractionation caused by uptake of N through mycorrhiza rather than due to nitrate leaching or other N transformation processes.

Original language	English
Journal	Plant and Soil
Volume	368
Issue number	1-2
Pages (from-to)	375–392
Number of pages	18
ISSN	0032-079X
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-012-1515-x
Publication status	Published - Jul 2013

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The natural abundance of ¹⁵N in litter and soil profiles under six temperate tree species: N cycling depends on tree species traits and site fertility. / Callesen, Ingeborg; Nilsson, Lars Ola; Schmidt, Inger Kappel et al.
In: Plant and Soil, Vol. 368, No. 1-2, 07.2013, p. 375–392.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review

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title = "The natural abundance of 15N in litter and soil profiles under six temperate tree species: N cycling depends on tree species traits and site fertility",

abstract = "Aims: We investigated the influence of tree species on the natural 15N abundance in forest stands under elevated ambient N deposition. Methods: We analysed δ15N in litter, the forest floor and three mineral soil horizons along with ecosystem N status variables at six sites planted three decades ago with five European broadleaved tree species and Norway spruce. Results: Litter δ15N and 15N enrichment factor (δ15Nlitter-δ15Nsoil) were positively correlated with N status based on soil and litter N pools, nitrification, subsoil nitrate concentration and forest growth. Tree species differences were also significant for these N variables and for the litter δ15N and enrichment factor. Litter from ash and sycamore maple with high N status and low fungal mycelia activity was enriched in 15N (+0.9 delta units) relative to other tree species (European beech, pedunculate oak, lime and Norway spruce) even though the latter species leached more nitrate. Conclusions: The δ15N pattern reflected tree species related traits affecting the N cycling as well as site fertility and former land use, and possibly differences in N leaching. The tree species δ15N patterns reflected fractionation caused by uptake of N through mycorrhiza rather than due to nitrate leaching or other N transformation processes.",

author = "Ingeborg Callesen and Nilsson, {Lars Ola} and Schmidt, {Inger Kappel} and Lars Vesterdal and Ambus, {Per Lennart} and Christiansen, {Jesper Riis} and Peter H{\"o}gberg and Per Gundersen",

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doi = "10.1007/s11104-012-1515-x",

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T1 - The natural abundance of 15N in litter and soil profiles under six temperate tree species

T2 - N cycling depends on tree species traits and site fertility

AU - Callesen, Ingeborg

AU - Nilsson, Lars Ola

AU - Schmidt, Inger Kappel

AU - Vesterdal, Lars

AU - Ambus, Per Lennart

AU - Christiansen, Jesper Riis

AU - Högberg, Peter

AU - Gundersen, Per

PY - 2013/7

Y1 - 2013/7

N2 - Aims: We investigated the influence of tree species on the natural 15N abundance in forest stands under elevated ambient N deposition. Methods: We analysed δ15N in litter, the forest floor and three mineral soil horizons along with ecosystem N status variables at six sites planted three decades ago with five European broadleaved tree species and Norway spruce. Results: Litter δ15N and 15N enrichment factor (δ15Nlitter-δ15Nsoil) were positively correlated with N status based on soil and litter N pools, nitrification, subsoil nitrate concentration and forest growth. Tree species differences were also significant for these N variables and for the litter δ15N and enrichment factor. Litter from ash and sycamore maple with high N status and low fungal mycelia activity was enriched in 15N (+0.9 delta units) relative to other tree species (European beech, pedunculate oak, lime and Norway spruce) even though the latter species leached more nitrate. Conclusions: The δ15N pattern reflected tree species related traits affecting the N cycling as well as site fertility and former land use, and possibly differences in N leaching. The tree species δ15N patterns reflected fractionation caused by uptake of N through mycorrhiza rather than due to nitrate leaching or other N transformation processes.

AB - Aims: We investigated the influence of tree species on the natural 15N abundance in forest stands under elevated ambient N deposition. Methods: We analysed δ15N in litter, the forest floor and three mineral soil horizons along with ecosystem N status variables at six sites planted three decades ago with five European broadleaved tree species and Norway spruce. Results: Litter δ15N and 15N enrichment factor (δ15Nlitter-δ15Nsoil) were positively correlated with N status based on soil and litter N pools, nitrification, subsoil nitrate concentration and forest growth. Tree species differences were also significant for these N variables and for the litter δ15N and enrichment factor. Litter from ash and sycamore maple with high N status and low fungal mycelia activity was enriched in 15N (+0.9 delta units) relative to other tree species (European beech, pedunculate oak, lime and Norway spruce) even though the latter species leached more nitrate. Conclusions: The δ15N pattern reflected tree species related traits affecting the N cycling as well as site fertility and former land use, and possibly differences in N leaching. The tree species δ15N patterns reflected fractionation caused by uptake of N through mycorrhiza rather than due to nitrate leaching or other N transformation processes.

U2 - 10.1007/s11104-012-1515-x

DO - 10.1007/s11104-012-1515-x

M3 - Journal article

SN - 0032-079X

VL - 368

SP - 375

EP - 392

JO - Plant and Soil

JF - Plant and Soil

IS - 1-2