Blog List

Thursday 8 March 2018

Nitrogen cycling processes and soil characteristics in an urban versus rural forest

Author
  • Carleton S. White
  • Mark J. McDonnell
Abstract

Different soils of an urban forest in New York City showed relatively low, yet similar rates of N mineralization and nitrification in laboratory potential measurements. This consistent pattern occurred even though a number of factors known to influence these processes (including overstory vegetation, soil type, and heavy metal levels) differed between the urban samples. Net N mineralization rates in forest floor and A horizon samples from a hemlock stand within the urban forest were 81% and 53% lower than respective samples from a comparable rural stand. In addition, all forest floor and A horizon samples from the urban forest were extremely hydrophobic. The low mineralization rates and hydrophobic nature of the urban samples suggested that factors associated with the ‘urban grime’ hydrocarbons may be limiting the activity of soil microbes and invertebrates. Trampling and high concentrations of heavy metals may have synergistic effects that would act to reduce net N mineralization and nitrification within the urban forest.

References

  1. Adams, S., B.R. Strain & M.S. Adams (1970) Water-repellent soils, fire, and annual plant cover in a desert scrub community of southeastern California. Ecology 51: 696–700Google Scholar
  2. Binkley, D., J. Aber & K. Nadelhoffer (1986) Nitrogen availability in some Wisconsin forests: comparisons of resin bags and on-site incubations. Biology and Fertility of Soils 2: 77–82Google Scholar
  3. Bremner, J.M. & L.A. Douglas (1971) Use of plastic films for aeration in soil incubation experiments. Soil Biology and Biochemistry 3: 289–296Google Scholar
  4. Britton, N.L. (1906) The hemlock grove on the banks of the Bronx River and what it signifies. Transactions of the Bronx Society of Arts and Sciences 1: 5–13Google Scholar
  5. Broddin, W., W. Cautreels & K. Van Cauwenberghe (1980) On the aliphatic and polyaromatic hydrocarbon levels in urban and background aerosols from Belgium and The Netherlands. Atmospheric Environment 14: 895–910Google Scholar
  6. Broughton, J.G., D.W. Fisher, Y.W. Isachsen & L.V. Richard (1966) Geology of New York: a short account. The University of New York, The State Education Department and New York State Museum and Science Service Educational Leaflet No. 20Google Scholar
  7. Bornkamm, R., J.A. Lee & M.R.D. Seaward (Eds) (1982) Urban Ecology. The Second European Ecological Symposium, Berlin, 8–12 September 1980. Blackwell Scientific Publications, London, EnglandGoogle Scholar
  8. Carlyle, J.C. & D.C. Malcolm (1986) Nitrogen availability beneath pure spruce and mixed larch + spruce stands growing on a deep peat. I. Net N mineralization measured by field and laboratory incubations. Plant and Soil 93: 95–113Google Scholar
  9. Climatography of the United States No. 20. (1985) Climatic summaries for selected sites in New York, 1951–1980. National Oceanic and Atmospheric AdministrationGoogle Scholar
  10. Cole, D.N. (1985) Recreational trampling effects on six habitat types in western Montana. USDA Forest Service Research Paper INT-350. Intermountain Research Station, Ogden, Utah, USAGoogle Scholar
  11. DeBano, L.F. (1971) The effects of hydrophobic substances on water movement in soil during infiltration. Soil Science Society of America, Proceedings 35: 340–343Google Scholar
  12. DeBano, L.F., L.D. Mann & D.A. Hamilton (1970) Translocation of hydrophobic substances into soil by burning organic litter. Soil Science Society of America, Proceedings 34: 130–133Google Scholar
  13. Doelman, P. & L. Haanstra (1984) Short-term and long-term effects of cadmium, chromium, copper, nickel, lead, and zinc on soil microbial respiration in relation to abiotic soil factors. Plant and Soil 75: 317–327Google Scholar
  14. Farmer, C.T. & T.L. Wade (1986) Relationship of ambient atmospheric hydrocarbon (C12­C32) concentrations to deposition. Water, Air and Soil Pollution 29: 439–452Google Scholar
  15. Flanagan, P.W. & K. Van Cleve (1983) Nutrient cycling in relation to decomposition and organic-matter quality in taiga ecosystems. Canadian Journal of Forest Research 13: 795–817Google Scholar
  16. Friedland, A.J., A.H. Johnson & T.G. Siccama (1986) Zinc, Cu, Ni and Cd in the forest floor in the northeastern United States. Water, Air and Soil Pollution 29: 233–243Google Scholar
  17. Gill, D. & P. Bonnett (1973) Nature in the Urban Landscape: A Study of City Ecosystems. York Press, Baltimore, Maryland, USAGoogle Scholar
  18. Giovannini, G. & S. Lucchesi (1984) Differential thermal analysis and infrared investigations on soil hydrophobic substances. Soil Science 137: 457–463Google Scholar
  19. Gleason, H.A. & A. Cronquist (1963) Manual of Vascular Plants of Northeastern United States and Adjacent Canada. D. Van Nostrand Company. New YorkGoogle Scholar
  20. Gosz, J.R. & C.S. White (1986) Seasonal and annual variation in nitrogen mineralization and nitrification along an elevational gradient in New Mexico. Biogeochemistry 2: 281–297Google Scholar
  21. Gosz, J.R., D.R. Brookins & D.I. Moore (1983) Using strontium isotope ratios to estimate inputs to ecosystems. BioScience 33: 23–30Google Scholar
  22. Graustein, W.C. & R.L. Armstrong (1983) The use of strontium-87/strontium-86 ratios to measure atmospheric transport into forested watersheds. Science 219: 289–292Google Scholar
  23. Grodzinski, W., J. Weiner & P.F. Maycock (Eds) (1984) Forest Ecosystems in Industrial Regions. Springer-Verlag, New York, New York, USAGoogle Scholar
  24. Jamison, V.C. (1946) Resistance to wetting in the surface of sandy soils under citrus trees in central Florida and its effect upon penetration and the efficiency of irrigation. Soil Science Society of America, Proceedings 11: 103–109Google Scholar
  25. Johnson, A.H., T.G. Siccama & A.J. Friedland (1982) Spatial and temporal patterns of lead accumulation in the forest floor in the northeastern United States. Journal of Environmental Quality 11: 577–580Google Scholar
  26. Klein, T.M. & M. Alexander (1986) Effects of the quality and duration of application of simulated acid precipitation on nitrogen mineralization and nitrification in a forest soil. Water, Air and Soil Pollution 28: 309–318Google Scholar
  27. Knopf, E.B. (1927) Some results of recent work in the southern Taconic area. American Journal of Science 24: 429–458Google Scholar
  28. Matsumoto, G. & T. Hanya (1980) Organic constituents in atmospheric fallout in the Tokyo area. Atmospheric Environment 14: 1409–1419Google Scholar
  29. McGhie, D.A. & A.M. Posner (1981) The effect of plant top material on the water repellence of fired sands and water repellent soils. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 32: 609–520Google Scholar
  30. Nadelhoffer, K.J., J.D. Aber & J.M. Melillo (1983) Leaf litter production and soil organic matter dynamics along a nutrient availability gradient in southern Wisconsin (USA). Canadian Journal of Forest Research 13: 12–21Google Scholar
  31. National Academy of Sciences (1983) Acid Deposition: Atmospheric Processes in Eastern North America: A Review of Current Scientific Understanding. National Research Council, National Academy Press, Washington, D.C., USAGoogle Scholar
  32. National Academy of Sciences (1984) Acid Deposition: Processes of Lake Acidification. National Research Council, National Academy Press, Washington, D.C., USAGoogle Scholar
  33. Neuhauser, E.F., R.C. Loehr, D.L. Milligan & M.R. Malecki (1985) Toxicity of metals to the earthworm Eisenia fetida. Biology and Fertility of Soils 1: 149–152Google Scholar
  34. Numata, M. (1977) The impact of urbanization on vegetation in Japan. In: A. Miyawaki & R. Tuxen(Eds) Vegetation Science and Environmental Protection (pp. 161–171). MAruzen, Tokyo, JapanGoogle Scholar
  35. Olson, R.K. & W.A. Reiners (1983) Nitrification in subalpine balsam fir soils: tests for inhibitory factors. Soil Biology and Biochemistry 15: 413–418Google Scholar
  36. Pack, A.B. (1974) The climate of New York. In: Climates of the States. Vol. 1. Eastern States. Water Information Center, Inc., Port Washington, New York, USAGoogle Scholar
  37. Reeder, C.J. & M.F. Jurgensen (1979) Fire induced water repellency in forest soils of upper Michigan. Canadian Journal of Forest Research 9: 369–373Google Scholar
  38. Richardson, J.L. & F.D. Hale (1978) Influence of vegetation on water repellency in selected western Wisconsin, USA soils. Soil Science Society of America, Journal 42: 465–467Google Scholar
  39. Robertson, G.P. (1982) Factors regulating nitrification in primary and secondary succession. Ecology 63: 1561–1573Google Scholar
  40. Roundtree, R.A. (Ed) (1984) Ecology of the Urban Forest. Part I. Structure and Composition. Urban Ecology 8: 1–178Google Scholar
  41. Ruhling, A. & G. Tyler (1973) Heavy metal pollution and decomposition of spruce needle litter. Oikos 24: 402–416Google Scholar
  42. Savage, S.N., J.P. Martin & J. Letey (1972) Substances contributing to fire-induced water repellency in soils. Soil Science Society of America, Proceedings 36: 674–678Google Scholar
  43. Schlesinger, W.H. & W.A. Reiners (1974) Deposition of water and cations on artificial foliar collectors in fir krummholz of New England mountains. Ecology 55: 378–386Google Scholar
  44. Schuberth, C.J. (1968) The Geology of New York City and Environs. Natural History Press, New York, New York, USAGoogle Scholar
  45. Seastedt, T.R. (1984) The role of microarthropods in decomposition and mineralization processes. Annual Review in Entomology 29: 25–46Google Scholar
  46. Secor, W., L.F. Koehler, D.F. Kinsman, M.G. Cline, W.J. Moran, J.D. Ruffner, J.D. Sheetz & L.P. Kelsey (1955) Soil Survey of Dutchess County, New York. USDA Soil Conservation Service and Cornell University Agricultural Experiment Station Series 1939, No. 23Google Scholar
  47. Smeltzer, D.L.K., D.R. Bergdahl & J.R. Donnelly (1986) Forest ecosystem responses to artificially induced soil compaction. II. Selected soil microorganism populations. Canadian Journal of Forest Research 16: 870–872Google Scholar
  48. Stern, A.C., R.W. Boubel, D.B. Turner & D.L. Fox (1984) Fundamentals of Air Pollution. Academic Press, New York, New York, USAGoogle Scholar
  49. Thornes, L.A. (1974) Soil survey of the hemlock forest at the New York Botanical Garden, Bronx, New York 10458. Report prepared by the USDA Soil Conservation Service in cooperation with Cornell UniversityGoogle Scholar
  50. Tyler, G. (1975) Heavy metal pollution and mineralization of nitrogen in forest soils. Nature 255: 701–702Google Scholar
  51. Vitousek, P.M., J.R. Gosz, C.C. Grier, J.M. Melillo & W.A. Reiners (1982) A comparative analysis of potential nitrification and nitrate mobility in forest ecosystems. Ecological Monographs 52: 155–177Google Scholar
  52. Vitousek, P.M. & P.A. Matson (1985) Causes of delayed nitrate production in two Indiana forests. Forest Science 31: 122–131Google Scholar
  53. Volchok, H.L., L.E. Toonkel & M. Schonberg (1974) Trace metals — Fallout in New York City II. US Atomic Energy Commission Report HASL-281. Health and Safety Laboratory, New York, New York, USAGoogle Scholar
  54. Wade, T.L. (1983) Bulk atmospheric deposition of hydrocarbons to lower Chesapeake Bay. Atmospheric Environment 17: 2311–2320Google Scholar
  55. White, C.S. (1986) Volatile and water-soluble inhibitors of nitrogen mineralization and nitrification in a ponderosa pine ecosystem. Biology and Fertility of Soils 2: 97–104Google Scholar
  56. White, C.S. & J.R. Gosz (1987) Factors controlling nitrogen mineralization in New Mexico forest ecosystems. Biology and Fertility of Soils 5: 195–202Google Scholar

About This Article As :

Cite this article as:
White, C.S. & McDonnell, M.J. Biogeochemistry (1988) 5: 243. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02180230
  • DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1007/BF02180230
  •  
  • Publisher NameKluwer Academic Publishers
  •  
  • Print ISSN0168-2563
  • Online ISSN1573-515X
For further details log on website:
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/BF02180230

No comments:

Post a Comment

Advantages and Disadvantages of Fasting for Runners

Author BY   ANDREA CESPEDES  Food is fuel, especially for serious runners who need a lot of energy. It may seem counterintuiti...