Journal article

Publication year: 2018

Pages: 189-192

Journal: Soil Biology and Biochemistry

Volume number: 116

DOI Link: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2017.10.010

Publisher: Elsevier

Abstract: 

Belowground microbial nitrogen (N) processes play key roles
in regulating terrestrial ecosystem services such as vegetation production,
however, our understanding of their responses to climate change remains
limited. We determined patterns and controls of five gross N transformation
processes along a typical aridity gradient on the Tibetan Plateau. Potential
gross N transformation rates responded diversely to the changing aridity. Both
mineralization (MN, average rate: 2.87 mg N kg−1 soil d−1) and ammonium
immobilization (INH4, 3.35 mg N kg−1 soil d−1) declined as aridity increased.
Autotrophic nitrification (ONH4, 1.72 mg N kg−1 soil d−1) exhibited a
bell-shaped pattern along the gradient, with an optimum aridity of 0.53 (1-
aridity index (AI)). By contrast, rates of nitrate immobilization (INO3, 0.46
mg N kg−1 soil d−1) and dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium (DNRA, 0.10
mg N kg−1 soil d−1) did not respond to the changing aridity. These results
suggest that predicted increases in aridity will exert different effects on
various soil internal N cycling processes, and thus potentially have profound
impact on structure and function of dryland ecosystems.

Harvard Citation style: Kou, D., Peng, Y., Wang, G., Ding, J., Chen, Y., Yang, G., et al. (2018) Diverse responses of belowground internal nitrogen cycling to increasing aridity, Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 116, pp. 189-192. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2017.10.010

APA Citation style: Kou, D., Peng, Y., Wang, G., Ding, J., Chen, Y., Yang, G., Fang, K., Liu, L., Zhang, B., Müller, C., Zhang, J., & Yang, Y. (2018). Diverse responses of belowground internal nitrogen cycling to increasing aridity. Soil Biology and Biochemistry. 116, 189-192. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2017.10.010