Nitrogen mineralisation in the soils of alpine mat communities: An incubation experiment under laboratory conditions

Abstract

Plantago holosteum Scop. and P. atrata Hoppe plant communities contribute to the vegetation mosaic in the humid places on different substrata in the sub-alpine and alpine belts of Uludaǧ Mountain, Bursa, Turkey. Nitrogen mineralisation in the soils of these 2 mat communities was investigated under controlled conditions (60% WHC, 20 °C). Different N mineralisation rates in the soils of the communities were found. This difference was clearer in the upper layer (0-5 cm) of soil, in which the organic matter accumulation was high. We found that nitrification occurred in the soils of both communities, but it was dominant in the soils of the P. atrata Hoppe mat community. Our results support the general opinion that plant diversity and composition exert control over N cycling, affecting inorganic N in soils. © TÜBİTAK.