Short-term recovery of NH4-15N applied to a temperate forest inceptisol and ultisol in east Tennessee USA
- ORNL
The short-term fate and retention of ammonium (NH4)-{sup 15}nitrogen (N) applied to two types of forest soils in east Tennessee was investigated. Four ridgetop forests, predominantly oak (Quercus spp.), were studied. Five applications of NH{sub 4}-{sup 15}N tracer were made to the forest floor at 2- to 4-week intervals over a 14-week period in 2004. Nitrogen-15 recovery in the forest floor, fine roots (<2 mm), and the mineral soil (0-20 cm) was calculated at 6, 21, and 42 weeks after the last application. Most of the {sup 15}N was retained in the forest floor and the mineral soil, with only small amounts ({approx}<2%) found in roots from both soil layers. Recovery of NH{sub 4}-{sup 15}N was greater in Inceptisols, which had a wider carbon (C)-to-N ratio than Ultisols. For both soil types, higher NH{sub 4}-{sup 15}N recoveries and long retention times (half-lives>100 weeks) indicated the forest floor is an effective filter for atmospheric N inputs.
- Research Organization:
- Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States). Oak Ridge National Environmental Research Park
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Science (SC)
- DOE Contract Number:
- DE-AC05-00OR22725
- OSTI ID:
- 930867
- Journal Information:
- Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis, Vol. 38, Issue 19 & 20; ISSN 0010-3624
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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