Journal article

Publication year: 2013

Journal: Scientific Reports

Volume number: 3

ISSN: 2045-2322

eISSN: 2045-2322

Open access status: Gold

DOI Link: https://doi.org/10.1038/srep02342

Publisher: Nature Research

Abstract: 
The mechanisms underlying the retention of inorganic N in acidic forest soils in southern China are not well understood. Here, we simultaneously quantified the gross N transformation rates of various subtropical acidic forest soils located in southern China (southern soil) and those of temperate forest soils located in northern China (northern soil). We found that acidic southern soils had significantly higher gross rates of N mineralization and significantly higher turnover rates but a much greater capacity for retaining inorganic N than northern soils. The rates of autotrophic nitrification and NH3 volatilization in acidic southern soils were significantly lower due to low soil pH. Meanwhile, the relatively higher rates of NO3- immobilization into organic N in southern soils can counteract the effects of leaching, runoff, and denitrification. Taken together, these processes are responsible for the N enrichment of the humid subtropical forest soils in southern China.

Harvard Citation style: Zhang, J., Cai, Z., Zhu, T., Yang, W. and Müller, C. (2013) Mechanisms for the retention of inorganic N in acidic forest soils of southern China, Scientific Reports, 3, Article 2342. https://doi.org/10.1038/srep02342

APA Citation style: Zhang, J., Cai, Z., Zhu, T., Yang, W., & Müller, C. (2013). Mechanisms for the retention of inorganic N in acidic forest soils of southern China. Scientific Reports. 3, Article 2342. https://doi.org/10.1038/srep02342