Dynamics of soil inorganic nitrogen and their responses to nitrogen additions in three subtropical forests, south China

Three forests with different historical land-use, forest age, and species assemblages in subtropical China were selected to evaluate current soil N status and investigate the responses of soil inorganic N dynamics to monthly ammonium nitrate additions. Results showed that the mature monsoon evergreen broadleaved forest that has been protected for more than 400 years exhibited an advanced soil N status than the pine （Pinus massoniana） and pine-broadleaf mixed forests, both originated from the 1930＇s clear-cut and pine plantation. Mature forests had greater extractable inorganic N pool, lower N retention capacity, higher inorganic N leaching, and higher soil C/N ratios. Mineral soil extractable NH4^＋-N and NO3-N concentrations were significantly increased by experimental N additions on several sampling dates, but repeated ANOVA showed that the effect was not significant over the whole year except NH4^＋-N in the mature forest. In contrast, inorganic N （both NH4^＋-N and NO3^--N） in soil 20-cm below the surface was significantly elevated by the N additions. From 42% to 74% of N added was retained by the upper 20 cm soils in the pine and mixed forests, while 0%-70% was retained in the mature forest. Our results suggest that land-use history, forest age and species composition were likely to be some of the important factors that determine differing forest N retention responses to elevated N deposition in the study region.

Response of Nitrogen Leaching to Nitrogen Deposition in Disturbed and Mature Forests of Southern China

Current nitrogen (N) leaching losses and their responses to monthly N additions were investigated under a disturbed pine (Pinus massoniana) forest and a mature monsoon broadleaf forest in southern China. N leaching losses from both disturbed and mature forests were quite high (14.6 and 29.2 kg N ha-1 year-1, respectively), accounting for 57% and 80% of their corresponding atmospheric N inputs. N leaching losses were substantially increased following the first 1.5 years of N applications in both forests. The average increases induced by the addition of 50 and 100 kg N ha-1 year-1 were 36.5 and 24.9 kg N ha-1 year-1, respectively, in the mature forest, accounting for 73.0% and 24.9% of the annual amount of N added, and 14.2 and 16.8 kg N ha-1 year-1 in the disturbed forest, accounting for 28.4% and 16.8% of the added N. Great N leaching and a fast N leaching response to N additions in the mature forest might result from long-term N accumulation and high ambient N deposition load (greater than 30 kg N ha-1 year-1 over the past 15 years), whereas in the disturbed forest, it might result from the human disturbance and high ambient N deposition load. These results suggest that both disturbed and mature forests in the study region may be sensitive to increasing N deposition.

Topography modulates effects of nitrogen deposition on microbial resource limitation in a nitrogen-saturated subtropical forest

Background:Nitrogen(N)saturation theory proposes that an ecosystem might switch from N limitation to carbon(C),phosphorus(P),or other nutrient limitations if it receives continuous N input.Yet,after N limitation is removed,which nutrient is the most limited and whether topography modulates such change is rarely tested at a microbial level.Here,we conducted a two-year N addition experiment under two different topography positions(i.e.a slope and a valley)in a N-saturated subtropical forest.Soil enzyme activity was measured,and ecoenzymatic stoichiometry indexes were calculated as indicators of microbial resource limitation.Results:In the valley,two-year N addition changed the activity of all studied enzymes to various degrees.As a result,microbial C limitation was aggravated in the valley,and consequently microbial decomposition of soil labile organic C increased,but microbial P limitation was alleviated due to the stoichiometry balance.On the slope,however,N addition did not significantly change the activity of the studied enzymes,and did not alter the status of microbial resource limitation.Conclusions:These results indicate that C is a more limited element for microbial growth than P after removing N limitation,but we also highlight that topography can regulate the effect of N deposition on soil microbial resource limitation in subtropical forests.These findings provide useful supplements to the N saturation theory.

Phosphorus limitation on photosynthesis of two dominant understory species in a lowland tropical forest

Aims Elevated nitrogen(N)deposition in tropical regions may accelerate ecosystem phosphorus(P)limitation.However,it is not explicitly addressed that how changes in soil N and P availability affect foliar nutrients and photosynthesis of plants in tropical forests.In this study,we examined the effects of N and P additions on foliar nutrients and net photosynthesis of two dominant understory species,Randia can-thioides(R.canthioides)and Cryptocarya concinna(C.concinna)in an N-saturated old-growth tropical forest(>400-year-old)in south-ern China.Methods A full factorial NP addition experiment(2×2)was established in 2007 and continued through August 2010.Four treatments,including control,N addition(150 kg N ha^(−1) year^(−1)),P addi-tion(150 kg P ha^(−1) year^(−1))and NP addition(150 kg N ha^(−1) year^(−1) plus 150 kg P ha^(−1) year^(−1))were set up in this experiment.Photosynthetic traits maximum photosynthetic CO_(2) assimilation(Amax),stomatal conductance(gs),leaf transpiration(E),light satu-rating point,concentrations of chlorophyll a/b and foliar nutri-ents(N and P)of the two species were measured with standard methods.Important Findings Three years of N addition had no significant effects on any measured photosynthetic parameter of either species.However,N addition significantly elevated foliar N and P concentrations of one species(R.canthioides),resulting in lower photosynthetic nitrogen use effi-ciency(PNUE).N treatments decreased foliar P concentration of the other(C.concinna),resulting in increased photosynthetic phos-phorus use efficiency,which was potentially related to N-induced P shortage.In contrast,positive effects of P treatments on gs of R.can-thioides,Amax and chlorophyll a+b of C.concinna were observed.P treatments also elevated foliar P and PNUE of both species,imply-ing P induced more efficient use of N.Our results suggested a more important role of P than N on influencing photosynthetic traits of these two understory species.Alleviation of P shortage through P addition may enhance photosynthetic performances of some under-story species in N-rich tropical forests.

Responses of plant^(15)N natural abundance and isotopic fractionation to N addition reflect the N status of a temperate steppe in China

Aims Elevated anthropogenic nitrogen(N)deposition could alter N status in temperate steppe.However,threshold observations of N status change from N limit to N saturation by far are not conclusive in these ecosystems.Research on the natural abundance of ^(15)N( δ^(15)N)could greatly help provide integrated information about ecosystem N status.The goal of this study was to investigate the suitability of measurements of δ^(15)N of major ecosystem N pools and several key species,plant ^(15)N fractionation,together with key vegetation and soil indicators in response to N fertilization as a tool to identify the N status in a temperate steppe in Inner Mongolia.Methods We carried out a N addition experiment during 2011-14 on a Stipa krylovii steppe in Inner Mongolia,Northern China.We investigated the response of several key N transformation processes,vegetation and soil properties to N addition.Aboveground biomass and below-ground biomass(BGB) δ^(15)N,root and foliar δ^(15)N of three dominant species(Artemisia frigida,S.krylovii and Leymus chinensis), δ^(15)N of soil total N and soil KCl-extractable NO_(3)^(−)-N were determined.The responses of isotope fractionation during plant N uptake and reallo-cation to N addition were also determined.Important Findings Our results suggest that the N addition rate of 5g N m^(−2) yr^(−1) could be regarded as threshold of early N saturation in this S.krylovii steppe as indicated by an increase in plant fraction-ation and a decrease in plant δ^(15)N.When N input rate is>10 g N m^(-2) yr^(-1),increased N deposition can lead to an apparent reduction in species richness and BGB as well as an increase in NO_(3)^(−)in extractable soil pools<30-cm soil profile.With N addition,S.krylovii and A.frigida undergo earlier N status shift from N limitation toward N excess compared with L.chinen-sis,contributing to L.chinensis out-competing other species.Overall,this study provides a better understanding of N status change in temperate steppe based on isotope evidence and several other functional variables and contributes to predicting the responses of temperate steppe to future global N deposition scenario.

g-C_3N_4 as a saturable absorber for the passively Q-switched Nd:LLF laser at 1.3 μm

Two-dimensional(2D) graphite carbon nitride(g-C_3N_4) nanosheets have been successfully used as a saturable absorber(SA) in a passively Q-switched Nd:LLF laser at 1.3 μm for the first time, to the best of our knowledge.Under an incident pump power of 9.97 W, the shortest pulse duration of 275 ns was acquired with output power of0.96 W and pulse repetition rate of 154 k Hz, resulting in a pulse energy of 6.2 μJ. In addition, the saturable absorption behaviors of zero-dimensional 12 nm g-C_3N_4 nanoparticles(g-C_3N_4-NPs) and three-dimensional ordered mesoporous g-C_3N_4(mpg-C_3N_4) were also observed, although their morphology and structure were quite different from 2D g-C_3N_4. The experimental results introduce the potential application of g-C_3N_4 nanomaterials as SAs in Q-switched lasers.