Nitrification potential of secondary-succession upland oak forests: 1. Mineralization and nitrification during laboratory incubations

Journal Article · · Soil Science Society of America Journal; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2136/sssaj1990.03615995005400030047x· OSTI ID:5400147

Donaldson, J M ^[1]; Henderson, G S ^[2]

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1. Dept. of Agriculture, Otto, NC (USA)
2. Univ. of Missouri, Columbia (USA)

Experiments were carried out to examine factors regulating N mineralization and nitrification in upland oak (Quercus spp.) forests of the Missouri Ozarks. Soils were collected from three sites representing secondary oak succession. Sampling dates represented different stages in the phenological development of the vegetation during a 1-yr period. Soils were incubated in the laboratory, and changes in soil NO{sub 3{minus}} and NH{sub 4}-N were measured, along with changes in populations of autotrophic NH{sub 4}-oxidizing bacteria. The NO{sub 3}-production curves during laboratory incubation were used to calculate three variables that describe potential nitrification. These variables were lag prior to NO{sub 3} accumulation, and initial rate and maximum rate of NO{sub 3} production. This nitrification potential is greater in more mature oak stands. Multiple regression analyses of these data show that nitrification in these sites is indirectly regulated by soil NH{sub 4}-N availability and pH. However, the strong sampling-date effect on soil NH{sub 4}-N levels, lags in nitrification, and populations of NH{sub 4}-oxidizing bacteria suggest interactions between soil nitrification potential and possible inhibition by vegetation.

• OSTI ID: 5400147
• Journal Information: Soil Science Society of America Journal; (United States), Journal Name: Soil Science Society of America Journal; (United States) Vol. 54:3; ISSN SSSJD; ISSN 0361-5995
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540210* -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Basic Studies-- (1990-)
AMMONIUM COMPOUNDS
AUTOTROPHS
BENCH-SCALE EXPERIMENTS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
ELEMENTS
FEDERAL REGION VII
FORESTS
LABORATORIES
MAGNOLIOPHYTA
MAGNOLIOPSIDA
MINERALIZATION
MISSOURI
NITRIFICATION
NONMETALS
NORTH AMERICA
OAKS
PH VALUE
PHOSPHORUS
PLANTS
SOILS
TREES
USA