Nitrogen transformations following tropical forest felling and burning on a volcanic soil
The authors measured nitrogen transformations and loss following forest clearing in a relatively fertile tropical forest site. Nitrogen mineralization, nitrification, and amounts of ammonium and nitrate increased substantially in surface soils during the 6 mo following burning, then returned to background levels. The nitrogen content of microbial biomass declined to half its original value 6 mo after clearing and remained low in the cleared sites. Plant uptake of nitrogen was substantial on cleared plots (50 g/m/sup 2/), but it accounted for only 18% of /sup 15/N label added to field plots. Microbial immobilization of /sup 15/N was small relative to that in a cleared temperature site, and measurements of dinitrification potentials suggested that relatively little mineralized nitrogen was lost to the atmosphere. Substantial amounts of nitrogen (40-70 g/m/sup 2/) were retained as exchangeably bound nitrate deep in the soils of a cleared plot on which revegetation was prevented; this process accounted for 12% of the /sup 15/N label added to field plots.
- Research Organization:
- NASA-Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA
- OSTI ID:
- 6083603
- Journal Information:
- Ecology; (United States), Vol. 68:3
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
DEFORESTATION
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
NITROGEN
MINERALIZATION
UPTAKE
SOILS
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
MINERAL CYCLING
NITRIFICATION
NITROGEN 15
NITROGEN CYCLE
PLANTS
SOIL CHEMISTRY
TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEMS
TRACER TECHNIQUES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHEMISTRY
ECOSYSTEMS
ELEMENTS
ISOTOPE APPLICATIONS
ISOTOPES
LIGHT NUCLEI
NITROGEN ISOTOPES
NONMETALS
NUCLEI
ODD-EVEN NUCLEI
STABLE ISOTOPES
510101* - Environment
Terrestrial- Basic Studies- Radiometric Techniques- (-1989)