Soil carbon availability decouples net nitrogen mineralization and net nitrification across United States Long Term Ecological Research sites

Allison Gill; R. M. Grinder; Craig R See; F. S. Chapin; L. C. DeLancey; M. C. Fisk; P. M. Groffman; T. Harms; S. E. Hobbie; J. D. Knoepp; J. M.H. Knops; M. Mack; P. B. Reich; A. D. Keiser

doi:10.1007/s10533-022-01011-w

Soil carbon availability decouples net nitrogen mineralization and net nitrification across United States Long Term Ecological Research sites

Allison Gill, R. M. Grinder, Craig R See, F. S. Chapin, L. C. DeLancey, M. C. Fisk, P. M. Groffman, T. Harms, S. E. Hobbie, J. D. Knoepp, J. M.H. Knops, M. Mack, P. B. Reich, A. D. Keiser

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

4 Scopus citations

Abstract

Autotrophic and heterotrophic organisms require resources in stoichiometrically balanced ratios of carbon (C) to nutrients, the demand for which links organismal and ecosystem-level biogeochemical cycles. In soils, the relative availability of C and nitrogen (N) also defines the strength of competition for ammonium between autotrophic nitrifiers and heterotrophic decomposers, which may influence the coupled dynamics between N mineralization and nitrification. Here, we use data from the publicly available US National Science Foundation funded Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) network to evaluate the influence of soil C concentration on the relationship between net nitrification and net N mineralization. We found that soil C availability constrains the fraction of mineralized N that is ultimately nitrified across the continental gradient, contributing to reduced rates of nitrification in soils with high C concentrations. Nitrate, which is produced by nitrification, is a highly mobile ion that easily leaches to aquatic ecosystems or denitrifies into the greenhouse gas nitrous oxide (N₂O). Understanding the connection between soil C concentration and soil N transformations is thus important for managing potential ecosystem N losses, understanding the biogeochemical constraints of these losses, and accurately representing coupled C-N dynamics in ecosystem models.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	13-24
Number of pages	12
Journal	Biogeochemistry
Volume	162
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s10533-022-01011-w
State	Published - Jan 2023

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
This research was supported by a Grand Challenges in Biology Postdoctoral Fellowship from the University of Minnesota to ALG, Williams College Divisional Research Funds to ALG and RMG, and a NatureNet Science Fellowship to ADK. Initial discussions of the project were supported by workshop funding at the 2018 Long Term Ecological Research Network’s All Scientist Meeting. This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under grants to the Arctic LTER (DEB-1637459, DEB-1026843, DEB-981022, DEB-9211775, DEB-8702328; OPP-9911278, OPP-9911681, OPP-9732281, OPP- 9615411, OPP-9615563, OPP-9615942, OPP-9615949, OPP-9400722, OPP-9415411, OPP-9318529; BSR- BSR-9019055, BSR-8806635, BSR-8507493); the Baltimore Ecosystem Study (DEB-1637661 and DEB-1855277); the Bonanza Creek LTER and the USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station (DEB-1636476, RJVA-PNW-01-JV-11261952-231); the HJ Andrews Experimental Forest LTER, administered cooperatively by the USDA Forest Service Pacific Northwest Research Station, Oregon State University, and the Willamette National Forest (DEB-2025755 and DEB-1440409); the Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve and University of Minnesota (DEB-0620652, DEB-1234162, and DEB-1831944); the Central Arizona-Phoenix LTER and Arizona State University (DEB-1832016); the Coweeta LTER (DEB-1637522, DEB-1440485, DEB-0823293, DEB-9632854 and DEB-0218001); the Harvard Forest LTER (DEB-8811764, DEB-9411975, DEB-0080592, DEB-0620443, and DEB-1237491); the Hubbard Brook Ecosystem Study (DEB-8702331, DEB-9211768, DEB-9810221, DEB-0423259, DEB-1114804); the Jornada Basin LTER and New Mexico State University (DEB-2025126); the Kellogg Biological Station and the Michigan State University AgBioResearch (DEB-1832042); the Konza Prairie LTER (DEB-2025849) conducted at the Konza Prairie Biological Station; the Niwot Ridge LTER (DEB-1637686); and the Seviletta LTER and the University of New Mexico (DEB-881906, DEB-9411976, DEB-0080529, DEB-0217774, DEB-1232294, DEB-1440478, DEB-1655499).

Publisher Copyright:
© 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.

Keywords

Long Term Ecological Research
Nitrification
Nitrogen mineralization
Soil carbon

Access

10.1007/s10533-022-01011-w

OpenUrl availability

Full text

Cite this

Gill, A., Grinder, R. M., See, C. R., Chapin, F. S., DeLancey, L. C., Fisk, M. C., Groffman, P. M., Harms, T., Hobbie, S. E., Knoepp, J. D., Knops, J. M. H., Mack, M., Reich, P. B., & Keiser, A. D. (2023). Soil carbon availability decouples net nitrogen mineralization and net nitrification across United States Long Term Ecological Research sites. Biogeochemistry, 162(1), 13-24. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10533-022-01011-w

Gill, A, Grinder, RM, See, CR, Chapin, FS, DeLancey, LC, Fisk, MC, Groffman, PM, Harms, T, Hobbie, SE, Knoepp, JD, Knops, JMH, Mack, M, Reich, PB & Keiser, AD 2023, 'Soil carbon availability decouples net nitrogen mineralization and net nitrification across United States Long Term Ecological Research sites', Biogeochemistry, vol. 162, no. 1, pp. 13-24. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10533-022-01011-w

@article{1c93c82896864f0a9f8d056fbca7f400,

title = "Soil carbon availability decouples net nitrogen mineralization and net nitrification across United States Long Term Ecological Research sites",

abstract = "Autotrophic and heterotrophic organisms require resources in stoichiometrically balanced ratios of carbon (C) to nutrients, the demand for which links organismal and ecosystem-level biogeochemical cycles. In soils, the relative availability of C and nitrogen (N) also defines the strength of competition for ammonium between autotrophic nitrifiers and heterotrophic decomposers, which may influence the coupled dynamics between N mineralization and nitrification. Here, we use data from the publicly available US National Science Foundation funded Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) network to evaluate the influence of soil C concentration on the relationship between net nitrification and net N mineralization. We found that soil C availability constrains the fraction of mineralized N that is ultimately nitrified across the continental gradient, contributing to reduced rates of nitrification in soils with high C concentrations. Nitrate, which is produced by nitrification, is a highly mobile ion that easily leaches to aquatic ecosystems or denitrifies into the greenhouse gas nitrous oxide (N2O). Understanding the connection between soil C concentration and soil N transformations is thus important for managing potential ecosystem N losses, understanding the biogeochemical constraints of these losses, and accurately representing coupled C-N dynamics in ecosystem models.",

keywords = "Long Term Ecological Research, Nitrification, Nitrogen mineralization, Soil carbon",

author = "Allison Gill and Grinder, {R. M.} and See, {Craig R} and Chapin, {F. S.} and DeLancey, {L. C.} and Fisk, {M. C.} and Groffman, {P. M.} and T. Harms and Hobbie, {S. E.} and Knoepp, {J. D.} and Knops, {J. M.H.} and M. Mack and Reich, {P. B.} and Keiser, {A. D.}",

note = "Funding Information: This research was supported by a Grand Challenges in Biology Postdoctoral Fellowship from the University of Minnesota to ALG, Williams College Divisional Research Funds to ALG and RMG, and a NatureNet Science Fellowship to ADK. Initial discussions of the project were supported by workshop funding at the 2018 Long Term Ecological Research Network{\textquoteright}s All Scientist Meeting. This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under grants to the Arctic LTER (DEB-1637459, DEB-1026843, DEB-981022, DEB-9211775, DEB-8702328; OPP-9911278, OPP-9911681, OPP-9732281, OPP- 9615411, OPP-9615563, OPP-9615942, OPP-9615949, OPP-9400722, OPP-9415411, OPP-9318529; BSR- BSR-9019055, BSR-8806635, BSR-8507493); the Baltimore Ecosystem Study (DEB-1637661 and DEB-1855277); the Bonanza Creek LTER and the USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station (DEB-1636476, RJVA-PNW-01-JV-11261952-231); the HJ Andrews Experimental Forest LTER, administered cooperatively by the USDA Forest Service Pacific Northwest Research Station, Oregon State University, and the Willamette National Forest (DEB-2025755 and DEB-1440409); the Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve and University of Minnesota (DEB-0620652, DEB-1234162, and DEB-1831944); the Central Arizona-Phoenix LTER and Arizona State University (DEB-1832016); the Coweeta LTER (DEB-1637522, DEB-1440485, DEB-0823293, DEB-9632854 and DEB-0218001); the Harvard Forest LTER (DEB-8811764, DEB-9411975, DEB-0080592, DEB-0620443, and DEB-1237491); the Hubbard Brook Ecosystem Study (DEB-8702331, DEB-9211768, DEB-9810221, DEB-0423259, DEB-1114804); the Jornada Basin LTER and New Mexico State University (DEB-2025126); the Kellogg Biological Station and the Michigan State University AgBioResearch (DEB-1832042); the Konza Prairie LTER (DEB-2025849) conducted at the Konza Prairie Biological Station; the Niwot Ridge LTER (DEB-1637686); and the Seviletta LTER and the University of New Mexico (DEB-881906, DEB-9411976, DEB-0080529, DEB-0217774, DEB-1232294, DEB-1440478, DEB-1655499). Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.",

year = "2023",

month = jan,

doi = "10.1007/s10533-022-01011-w",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "162",

pages = "13--24",

journal = "Biogeochemistry",

issn = "0168-2563",

publisher = "Springer Netherlands",

number = "1",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Soil carbon availability decouples net nitrogen mineralization and net nitrification across United States Long Term Ecological Research sites

AU - Gill, Allison

AU - Grinder, R. M.

AU - See, Craig R

AU - Chapin, F. S.

AU - DeLancey, L. C.

AU - Fisk, M. C.

AU - Groffman, P. M.

AU - Harms, T.

AU - Hobbie, S. E.

AU - Knoepp, J. D.

AU - Knops, J. M.H.

AU - Mack, M.

AU - Reich, P. B.

AU - Keiser, A. D.

N1 - Funding Information: This research was supported by a Grand Challenges in Biology Postdoctoral Fellowship from the University of Minnesota to ALG, Williams College Divisional Research Funds to ALG and RMG, and a NatureNet Science Fellowship to ADK. Initial discussions of the project were supported by workshop funding at the 2018 Long Term Ecological Research Network’s All Scientist Meeting. This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under grants to the Arctic LTER (DEB-1637459, DEB-1026843, DEB-981022, DEB-9211775, DEB-8702328; OPP-9911278, OPP-9911681, OPP-9732281, OPP- 9615411, OPP-9615563, OPP-9615942, OPP-9615949, OPP-9400722, OPP-9415411, OPP-9318529; BSR- BSR-9019055, BSR-8806635, BSR-8507493); the Baltimore Ecosystem Study (DEB-1637661 and DEB-1855277); the Bonanza Creek LTER and the USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station (DEB-1636476, RJVA-PNW-01-JV-11261952-231); the HJ Andrews Experimental Forest LTER, administered cooperatively by the USDA Forest Service Pacific Northwest Research Station, Oregon State University, and the Willamette National Forest (DEB-2025755 and DEB-1440409); the Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve and University of Minnesota (DEB-0620652, DEB-1234162, and DEB-1831944); the Central Arizona-Phoenix LTER and Arizona State University (DEB-1832016); the Coweeta LTER (DEB-1637522, DEB-1440485, DEB-0823293, DEB-9632854 and DEB-0218001); the Harvard Forest LTER (DEB-8811764, DEB-9411975, DEB-0080592, DEB-0620443, and DEB-1237491); the Hubbard Brook Ecosystem Study (DEB-8702331, DEB-9211768, DEB-9810221, DEB-0423259, DEB-1114804); the Jornada Basin LTER and New Mexico State University (DEB-2025126); the Kellogg Biological Station and the Michigan State University AgBioResearch (DEB-1832042); the Konza Prairie LTER (DEB-2025849) conducted at the Konza Prairie Biological Station; the Niwot Ridge LTER (DEB-1637686); and the Seviletta LTER and the University of New Mexico (DEB-881906, DEB-9411976, DEB-0080529, DEB-0217774, DEB-1232294, DEB-1440478, DEB-1655499). Publisher Copyright: © 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.

PY - 2023/1

Y1 - 2023/1

N2 - Autotrophic and heterotrophic organisms require resources in stoichiometrically balanced ratios of carbon (C) to nutrients, the demand for which links organismal and ecosystem-level biogeochemical cycles. In soils, the relative availability of C and nitrogen (N) also defines the strength of competition for ammonium between autotrophic nitrifiers and heterotrophic decomposers, which may influence the coupled dynamics between N mineralization and nitrification. Here, we use data from the publicly available US National Science Foundation funded Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) network to evaluate the influence of soil C concentration on the relationship between net nitrification and net N mineralization. We found that soil C availability constrains the fraction of mineralized N that is ultimately nitrified across the continental gradient, contributing to reduced rates of nitrification in soils with high C concentrations. Nitrate, which is produced by nitrification, is a highly mobile ion that easily leaches to aquatic ecosystems or denitrifies into the greenhouse gas nitrous oxide (N2O). Understanding the connection between soil C concentration and soil N transformations is thus important for managing potential ecosystem N losses, understanding the biogeochemical constraints of these losses, and accurately representing coupled C-N dynamics in ecosystem models.

AB - Autotrophic and heterotrophic organisms require resources in stoichiometrically balanced ratios of carbon (C) to nutrients, the demand for which links organismal and ecosystem-level biogeochemical cycles. In soils, the relative availability of C and nitrogen (N) also defines the strength of competition for ammonium between autotrophic nitrifiers and heterotrophic decomposers, which may influence the coupled dynamics between N mineralization and nitrification. Here, we use data from the publicly available US National Science Foundation funded Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) network to evaluate the influence of soil C concentration on the relationship between net nitrification and net N mineralization. We found that soil C availability constrains the fraction of mineralized N that is ultimately nitrified across the continental gradient, contributing to reduced rates of nitrification in soils with high C concentrations. Nitrate, which is produced by nitrification, is a highly mobile ion that easily leaches to aquatic ecosystems or denitrifies into the greenhouse gas nitrous oxide (N2O). Understanding the connection between soil C concentration and soil N transformations is thus important for managing potential ecosystem N losses, understanding the biogeochemical constraints of these losses, and accurately representing coupled C-N dynamics in ecosystem models.

KW - Long Term Ecological Research

KW - Nitrification

KW - Nitrogen mineralization

KW - Soil carbon

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85145996341&partnerID=8YFLogxK

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85145996341&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1007/s10533-022-01011-w

DO - 10.1007/s10533-022-01011-w

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85145996341

SN - 0168-2563

VL - 162

SP - 13

EP - 24

JO - Biogeochemistry

JF - Biogeochemistry

IS - 1

ER -

Soil carbon availability decouples net nitrogen mineralization and net nitrification across United States Long Term Ecological Research sites

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

Access

OpenUrl availability

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this