The impact of reduced atmospheric depositions on soil microbial parameters in a strongly acidified Norway spruce forest at Solling, Germany

Raubuch, Markus; Lamersdorf, Norbert; Bredemeier, Michael

doi:10.1002/(sici)1522-2624(199910)162:5<483::aid-jpln483>3.0.co;2-w

Cited by 9 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…The increase in fine root masses were accompanied by a 24% increase in soil respiration (P 5 0.067) in the clean rain plot. Because laboratory incubations of the O horizon and the upper mineral soil revealed no significant differences in the O 2 consumption through the decay of soil organic matter among the plots in 1995 (Raubuch et al, 1999) and 2001 (Table 2), it may be concluded that the clean rain treatment increased respiration of roots and heterotrophic microorganisms within the rhizosphere. Additionally, enhanced decay of dead fine roots in the mineral soil may have contributed to the increase in soil respiration.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 92%

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Clean rain promotes fine root growth and soil respiration in a Norway spruce forest

Lamersdorf

Borken

2004

Global Change Biology

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Soil acidification and N saturation are considered to affect the decomposition of soil organic matter as well as growth and mortality of fine roots in many forest soils. Here we report from a field experiment where ‘clean rain’ has been applied to the soil for about 10 years under a roofed plot of a 71‐year‐old Norway spruce plantation at Solling, Central Germany. Reduced amounts of protons (−78%), sulphate (−53%), ammonium (−86%), and nitrate (−49%) were sprayed on the soil surface of the clean rain plot between 1992 and 2001. In an adjacent roofed control plot, throughfall was collected and immediately re‐sprinkled below the roof construction without any chemical manipulation. One year before the clean rain treatment started, live and dead fine root masses (≤2 mm) were determined from undisturbed soil cores down to 40 cm mineral soil depth. Total live fine root mass was significantly lower in the clean rain plot than in the control plot. After the first sampling, the soil holes were refilled with quartz sand and repeatedly sampled in June 1992, June 1996, and October 2001. There were no differences in live and dead fine root masses between the plots in 1992 and 1996. In 2001, both live and dead fine root masses of the clean rain plot were about twice as high as in the control plot, indicating that fine root growth recovered in the mineral soil following 10 years of clean rain treatment. Moreover, the clean rain treatment significantly reduced the total N concentrations of live fine roots and 1‐year‐old needles. Our results suggest that the reduced N input promoted fine root growth to compensate N deficiency. Reduced Al concentration in soil solution may have contributed to the recovery of fine root growth, however, the toxicity of Al species is largely unknown. Mean annual soil respiration rate was 24% higher in the period from 2000 to 2001, indicating that the clean rain treatment increased respiration of roots and heterotrophic microorganisms within the rhizosphere. Laboratory incubation of samples from the organic horizon and the top mineral soil revealed no differences between the plots in the decay rate of soil organic matter. Our results suggest that strong reductions in atmospheric N deposition from about 30 to 10 kg N ha−1 yr−1 and decreasing acid stress can have beneficial effects on growth of fine roots in the mineral soil within a decade. We conclude that biological recovery under reduced atmospheric loads can affect the nutrient and carbon budget of spruce soils in the long run.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 92%

“…Fine roots from ingrowth cores, sampled in October 2001, 0-10 cm mineral soil depth, n 5 7/7 (live) and 5/5 (dead). § According toRaubuch et al (1999), n 5 3/3. } Mineral soil analysis from November 1998, n 5 16/16.…”

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confidence: 99%

Clean rain promotes fine root growth and soil respiration in a Norway spruce forest

Lamersdorf

Borken

2004

Global Change Biology

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“…‡ Ca, Mg, and Al were analyzed as total amount in the organic layer, and as exchangeable amount in the mineral soil. § Data for the organic layer were reported by Raubuch et al (1999). rates of N mineralization, nitrification, and total N (NH 4 ϩ ϩ NO 3 Ϫ ) immobilization, respectively.…”

Section: Calculation Of Mean Residence Timementioning

confidence: 99%

Reversal of Nitrogen Saturation After Long-Term Deposition Reduction: Impact on Soil Nitrogen Cycling

Corre

Lamersdorf

2004

Ecology

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An ongoing roof experiment, where N and acid inputs were reduced to the recommended critical load levels, has been conducted since 1991 in an N‐saturated spruce stand in Solling, Germany. Our study was aimed at (1) quantifying the changes in gross rates of microbial N cycling under ambient and reduced N conditions, and (2) relating the soil N dynamics to the changes in N leaching and N status of trees. Two roofs were used, one to achieve “ambient” and the other reduced (“clean rain”) inputs, with a roofless plot as a control for possible roof effects. In 2001, the ambient roof and ambient no‐roof plots showed an apparent decrease in gross N mineralization rates and significantly lower microbial NH4+ immobilization rates and turnover rates of NH4+ and microbial N pools. The microbial NO3− immobilization rates and NO3− pool turnover rates were lower than the microbial NH4+ immobilization rates and NH4+ pool turnover rates, showing that less NO3− cycled through microorganisms than NH4+. There was also low abiotic NO3− immobilization. High NO3− input from throughfall and low microbial turnover rates of the NO3− pool, combined with low abiotic NO3− retention, may have contributed to the high NO3− leaching losses in these ambient plots. The clean rain plot showed a slight increase in gross N mineralization rates and significantly higher microbial NH4+ immobilization rates and turnover rates of NH4+ and microbial N pools. Neither nitrification nor soil NO3− was detectable. There was an increase in abiotic NO3− immobilization. Foliar N concentration had decreased but was still adequate. An efficient cycling of NH4+ through microorganisms, combined with the high abiotic NO3− immobilization, indicated efficient mineral N retention in the clean rain plot. These results indicated that long‐term reduction of throughfall N and acid inputs had induced high but tightly coupled microbial NH4+ cycling and an increase in abiotic NO3− retention, which contributed to the reversal of N saturation.

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“…A negative impact on microorganisms is frequently detected in vitro, but is far more difficult to detect when working with indigenous microbial communities in soil (Heijne et al, 1996;Illmer et al, 1995;Pina and Cervantes, 1996;Raubuch et al, 1999). Exceptions are particularly vulnerable metabolic functions like methane oxidation (Nanba and King, 2000) or N-fixation (Igual et al, 1997).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Changes in the microbial community in a forest soil amended with aluminium in situ

et al. 2005

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Considerable knowledge exists about the effect of aluminium (Al) on root vitality, but whether elevated levels of Al affect soil microorganisms is largely unknown. We thus compared soils from Al-treated and control plots of a field experiment with respect to microbial and chemical parameters, as well as root growth and vitality. The field experiment was established in a 50-year-old Norway spruce (Picea abies L.) stand where no Al or low concentrations of Al had been added every 7-10 days during the growth season for 7 years. Analysis of soil solutions collected using zero tension lysimeters and porous suction cups showed that Al treatment lead to increased concentrations of Al, Ca and Mg and lower pH and [Ca + Mg + K/Al] molar ratio. Corresponding soil analyses showed that soil pH remained unaffected (pH 3.8), that exchangeable Al increased, while exchangeable Ca and Mg decreased due to the Al treatment. Root in-growth into cores placed in the upper 20 cm of the soil during three growth seasons was not affected by Al additions, neither was nutrient concentration or mortality of these roots. The biomass of some taxonomic groups of soil microorganisms, analyzed using specific membrane components (phospholipid fatty acids; PLFAs), was clearly affected by the imposed Al treatment, both in the organic soil horizon and in the underlying mineral soil. Microbial community structure in both horizons was also clearly modified by the Al treatment. Shifts in PLFA trans/cis ratios indicative of short term physiological stress were not observed. Yet, aluminium stress was indicated both by changes in community structure and in ratios of single PLFAs for treated/untreated plots. Thus, soil microorganisms were more sensitive indicators of subtle chemical changes in soil than chemical composition and vitality of roots.

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The impact of reduced atmospheric depositions on soil microbial parameters in a strongly acidified Norway spruce forest at Solling, Germany

Cited by 9 publications

References 11 publications

Clean rain promotes fine root growth and soil respiration in a Norway spruce forest

Clean rain promotes fine root growth and soil respiration in a Norway spruce forest

Reversal of Nitrogen Saturation After Long-Term Deposition Reduction: Impact on Soil Nitrogen Cycling

Changes in the microbial community in a forest soil amended with aluminium in situ

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