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Nitrogen and phosphorus cycling in an ombrotrophic peatland: a benchmark for assessing change

Journal Article · · Plant and Soil
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  1. Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
  2. Univ. of Oregon, Eugene, OR (United States)
  3. Boise State Univ., ID (United States)
  4. Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States); Iowa State Univ., Ames, IA (United States)
  5. US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Duluth, MN (United States)
  6. USDA Forest Service Northern Research Station, Grand Rapids, MN (United States)
  7. Georgia Inst. of Technology, Atlanta, GA (United States)
  8. Stanford Univ., CA (United States)
  9. Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States); Univ. of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN (United States)
+ Show Author Affiliations

Slow decomposition and isolation from groundwater mean that ombrotrophic peatlands store a large amount of soil carbon (C) but have low availability of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P). To better understand the role these limiting nutrients play in determining the C balance of peatland ecosystems, we compile comprehensive N and P budgets for a forested bog in northern Minnesota, USA. N and P within plants, soils, and water are quantified based on field measurements. The resulting empirical dataset are then compared to modern-day, site-level simulations from the peatland land surface version of the Energy Exascale Earth System Model (ELM-SPRUCE).Results: Our results reveal N is accumulating in the ecosystem at 0.2 ± 0.1 g N m-2 year-1 but annual P inputs to this ecosystem are balanced by losses. Biomass stoichiometry indicates that plant functional types differ in N versus P limitation, with trees exhibiting a stronger N limitation than ericaceous shrubs or Sphagnum moss. High biomass and productivity of Sphagnum results in the moss layer storing and cycling a large proportion of plant N and P. Comparing our empirically-derived nutrient budgets to ELM-SPRUCE shows the model captures N cycling within dominant plant functional types well. The nutrient budgets and stoichiometry presented serve as a baseline for quantifying the nutrient cycling response of peatland ecosystems to both observed and simulated climate change. Our analysis improves our understanding of N and P dynamics within nutrient-limited peatlands and represents a crucial step toward improving C-cycle projections into the twenty-first century.

Research Organization:
Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Biological and Environmental Research (BER)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC05-00OR22725
OSTI ID:
1811402
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 1819946
Journal Information:
Plant and Soil, Journal Name: Plant and Soil Journal Issue: 1-2 Vol. 466; ISSN 0032-079X
Publisher:
Springer NatureCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

References (20)

Fine-Root Ecology Database (FRED): A Global Collection of Root Trait Data with Coincident Site, Vegetation, Edaphic, and Climatic Data, Version 2. dataset January 2018
SPRUCE: Sphagnum Productivity and Community Composition in the SPRUCE Experimental Plots dataset January 2018
SPRUCE Tree Growth Assessments of Picea and Larix in S1-Bog Plots and SPRUCE Experimental Plots beginning in 2011 dataset January 2018
SPRUCE Shrub-Layer Growth Assessments in S1-Bog Plots and SPRUCE Experimental Plots beginning in 2010 dataset January 2018
SPRUCE Manual Phenology Observations and Photographs Beginning in 2010 dataset January 2018
SPRUCE Terrestrial Laser Scans of Experimental Plots Beginning in 2015 dataset January 2019
SPRUCE Production and Chemistry of Newly-Grown Fine Roots Assessed Using Root Ingrowth Cores in SPRUCE Experimental Plots beginning in 2014 dataset January 2020
SPRUCE: Sphagnum Carbon, Nitrogen and Phosphorus Concentrations in the SPRUCE Experimental Plots dataset January 2020
SPRUCE Precipitation Chemistry and Bulk Atmospheric Deposition Beginning in 2013 dataset January 2020
SPRUCE Outflow Chemistry Data for Experimental Plots Beginning in 2016 dataset January 2021
SPRUCE Plant Tissue Analyses from Experimental Plots Beginning 2017 dataset January 2021
SPRUCE S1 Bog Production of Newly-Grown Fine Roots Assessed Using Root Ingrowth Cores in 2013 dataset January 2021
SPRUCE Environmental Monitoring Data: 2010-2016 dataset January 2016
SPRUCE Peat Physical and Chemical Characteristics from Experimental Plot Cores, 2012 dataset January 2014
SPRUCE Pretreatment Plant Tissue Analyses, 2009 through 2013 dataset January 2009
SPRUCE Environmental Monitoring Data: 2010-2016 dataset January 2016
SPRUCE Peat Physical and Chemical Characteristics from Experimental Plot Cores, 2012 dataset January 2014
SPRUCE S1 Bog Pretreatment Seasonal Photosynthesis and Respiration of Trees, Shrubs, and Herbaceous Plants, 2010-2015 dataset January 2018
SPRUCE Enclosure Corral and Sump System: Description, Operation, and Calibration text January 2016
SPRUCE Pretreatment Plant Tissue Analyses, 2009 through 2013 dataset January 2009

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Nitrogen and phosphorus cycling in an ombrotrophic peatland: a benchmark for assessing change
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Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES