Nitrogen mineralisation in the soil of indigenous oak and pine plantation forests in a Mediterranean environment
Date
2010-01
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Elsevier France-Editions Scientifiques Medicales Elsevier
Abstract
Nitrogen mineralisation in soils of various forest sites (pine plantation, natural and thinned oak) at Uludag University campus in Bursa, Turkey was investigated continuously over a year by the field incubation method. Net nitrogen mineralisation and nitrification rates varied depending on sampling dates. Although nitrogen mineralisation and nitrification rates increased in the spring and summer months, there was no seasonal variation in the soils of the examined forests. Annual net nitrate (NO3--N) accumulation in the upper soil layer (0-5 cm) was higher in Oak I and Oak II (14 kg ha y(-1) and 12 kg ha y(-1)) than in the pine plantation (8 kg ha y(-1)). While annual net NO3--N accumulation (0-5 cm) varied between the oak forests (possibly due to forest management practices), annual net N-min values were similar in these forests. No significant correlation was found between the examined soil parameters and net nitrification and mineralisation rates in the soils (P > 0.05). These results indicate that tree species and forest management practices play important roles in N cycling in forest ecosystems.
Description
Keywords
N-Mineralisation, Nitrification, Oak forest, Pine plantation, Mediterranean, Land-use change, Litter decompositions, Ecosystem processes, Boreal forest, Nitrification, Transformations, Conversion, Impact, Carbon, Vegetation, Environmental sciences & ecology, Agriculture
Citation
Arslan, H. vd. (2010). "Nitrogen mineralisation in the soil of indigenous oak and pine plantation forests in a Mediterranean environment". European Journal of Soil Biology, 46(1), 11-17.