Effects of nitrogen on temporal and spatial patterns of nitrate in streams and soil solution of a central hardwood forest

Author

• Gilliam, Frank S.
• Adams, Mary Beth.

Year Published

2011

Source

ISRN Ecology. 2011: 1-9.

Abstract

This study examined changes in stream and soil water NO₃^- and their relationship to temporal and spatial patterns of NO₃^- in soil solution of watersheds at the Fernow Experimental Forest, West Virginia. Following tenfold increases in stream NO₃^- concentrations over a 13-year period (1969-1981) on untreated WS4, concentrations have declined through 2006. Following fourfold increases in stream NO₃^-on treatment WS3 from pretreatment levels to a 1998 maximum, concentrations have declined through 2006, despite additions of N. Concentrations of soil water NO₃^- were consistently lower for WS4 compared to WS3. Data for soil water NO₃^-on WS3 versus WS4 followed patterns of net mineralization and nitrification for these watersheds. Nitrogen additions to WS3 decreased spatial heterogeneity of N processing, which was largest in the pretreatment year and decreased significantly to a minimum by 2000-2001. Concurrently, soil water NO₃^-increased on WS3 from 1.3mg NO₃^--N L^-1 in pretreatment 1989 to a maximumof 6.4mg NO₃^--N L^-1 in 2001. Spatial heterogeneity in soil water NO₃^- on WS4 remained high during this period. Data suggest that temporal patterns of stream NO₃^- may be influenced by spatial heterogeneity of watershed processes which vary over time in response to N availability.

Citation

Gilliam, Frank S.; Adams, Mary Beth. 2011. Effects of nitrogen on temporal and spatial patterns of nitrate in streams and soil solution of a central hardwood forest. ISRN Ecology. 2011: 1-9.

For further details log on website :
https://www.nrs.fs.fed.us/pubs/39692