Rainer Gasche

Climate and forest management influence nitrogen balance of European beech forests: microbial N transformations and inorganic N net uptake capacity of mycorrhizal roots

The effects of local climate and silvicultural treatment on the inorganic N availability, net N uptake capacity of mycorrhizal beech roots and microbial N conversion were assessed in order to characterise changes in the partitioning of inorganic N between adult beech and soil microorganisms. Fine root dynamics, inorganic N in the soil solution and in soil extracts, nitrate and ammonium uptake kinetics of beech as well as gross ammonification, nitrification and denitrification rates were determined in a beech stand consisting of paired sites that mainly differed in aspect (SW vs. NE) and stand density (controls and thinning treatments). Nitrate was the only inorganic N form detectable in the soil water. Its concentration was high in control plots of the NE aspect, but only in canopy gaps and not influenced by thinning. Neither thinning nor aspect affected the abundance of root tips in the soil. Maximum nitrate net uptake by mycorrhizal fine roots of beech, however, differed with aspect, showing significantly lower values at the SW aspect with warm–dry local climate. There were no clear-cut significant effects of local climate or thinning on microbial N conversion, but a tendency towards higher ammonification and nitrification and lower denitrification rates on the untreated controls of the SW as compared to the NE aspect. Apparently, the observed sensitivity of beech towards reduced soil water availability is at least partially due to impaired N acquisition. This seems to be mainly a consequence of reduced N uptake capacity rather than of limited microbial re-supply of inorganic N or of changed patterns of inorganic N partitioning between soil bacteria and roots.

Trace gas exchange in forest ecosystems

Contibutors. 1: Biological processes involved in trace gas exchange. 1.1. Microbiological and biochemical background of production and consumption of NO and N2O in soil R. Conrad. 1.2. NO2, NO and HNO3 uptake by trees A.R. Wellburn. 1.3. Production and consumption of NH4+ and NH3 in trees J. Pearson, J. Wooda, E.C.M. Clough, K.H. Nielsen, J.K. Schjorring. 1.4. Isoprene and terpene biosynthesis H.K. Lichtenthaler, J.G. Ziedler. 1.5. Biosynthesis of aldehydes and organic acids J. Kreuzwieser. 2: Exchange of trace gases at the soil-atmosphere interface. 2.1. NO, NO2 and N2O R. Gasche, H. Papen. 2.2. CH4 K. Butterbach-Bahl. 3: Exchange of trace gases at the tree-atmosphere interface. 3.1. Ammonia exchange at the tree-atmosphere interface K.H. Nielsen, J.K. Schorring, J.W. Erisman, J. Pearson. 3.2. Isoprene and other isoprenoids R. Steinbrecher, A Guenther, G. Seufert. 3.3. Aldehydes and organic acids J. Kreuzwieser. Ozone G. Wieser. 4: Forest canopies as sources and sinks of atmospheric trace gases. 4.1. Scaling up to the ecosystem level D.D. Baldocchi, K. Wilson. 5: Atmospheric chemistry of trace gases exchanged in forest ecosystems. 5.1. Nitrogen oxides J.N. Cape. 5.2. Ozone and volatile organic compounds: isoprene, terpenes, aldehydes, and organic acids W.R. Stockwell, R. Forkel. 6: Environmental factors influencing tracegas exchange. 6.1. Acid rain and N-deposition S.J. Hall, P.A. Matson. 6.2. Tropospheric ozone C. Langebartels, G. Thomas, G. Vogg, J. Wildt, D. Ernst, H. Sandermann. Subject Index.

Long-term effects of clear-cutting and selective cutting on soil methane fluxes in a temperate spruce forest in southern Germany

Based on multi-year measurements of CH(4) exchange in sub-daily resolution we show that clear-cutting of a forest in Southern Germany increased soil temperature and moisture and decreased CH(4) uptake. CH(4) uptake in the first year after clear-cutting (-4.5 ± 0.2 μg C m(-2) h(-1)) was three times lower than during the pre-harvest period (-14.2 ± 1.3 μg C m(-2) h(-1)). In contrast, selective cutting did not significantly reduce CH(4) uptake. Annual mean uptake rates were -1.18 kg C ha(-1) yr(-1) (spruce control), -1.16 kg C ha(-1) yr(-1) (selective cut site) and -0.44 kg C ha(-1) yr(-1) (clear-cut site), respectively. Substantial seasonal and inter-annual variations in CH(4) fluxes were observed as a result of significant variability of weather conditions, demonstrating the need for long-term measurements. Our findings imply that a stepwise selective cutting instead of clear-cutting may contribute to mitigating global warming by maintaining a high CH(4) uptake capacity of the soil.

Development and application of a method for determination of net nitrification rates

A laboratory method was developed that allows determination of in situ net nitrification with high sensitivity and at high temporal resolution. Nitrate in soils is quantitatively converted into nitrous oxide under strictly anaerobic conditions in the presence of 10 kPa acetylene by the soil endogenous denitrifier population, with the N2O detected by a gas chromatograph equipped with a 63Ni electron capture detector. Thus, even low net nitrification rates, i.e. small net increases in soil nitrate concentrations can easily be detected. Comparison of results using this method with results obtained using the classical in situ incubation method (buried bag soil incubation) revealed excellent agreement. Application of the new method allowed both determination of the seasonal pattern of net nitrification as well as correlation analysis between in situ NO and N2O flux rates and in situ net nitrification rates of the forest soils studied. Regardless of the forest site studied (spruce, spruce limed, beech), and during each year of a 3 years period (1995–1997), net nitrification varied strongly with season and was least during winter and greatest during summer. The long-term annual, mean rate of net nitrification for the untreated spruce site, the limed spruce site and the beech site were 1.54 ± 0.27 mg N kg−1 sdw d−1, 1.92 ± 0.23 mg N kg−1 sdw d−1 and 1.31 ± 0.23 mg N kg−1 sdw d−1, respectively. In situ rates of nitrification and NO and N2O emission were strongly correlated for all sites suggesting that nitrification was the dominate source of NO as well as N2O.

TERENO-SOILCan: a lysimeter-network in Germany observing soil processes and plant diversity influenced by climate change

The aim of TERENO (TERrestrial ENvironmental Observatories) is to collect long-term observation data on the hydrosphere, biosphere, pedosphere, lower atmosphere and anthroposphere along multiple spatial and temporal gradients in climate sensitive regions across Germany. The lysimeter-network SOILCan was installed as a part of TERENO between March and December 2010 within the four observatories. It represents a long-term large-scale experiment to study the effects of climate and management changes in terrestrial ecosystems, with particular focus on the impact of these changes on water, energy and matter fluxes into groundwater and atmosphere. SOILCan primarily focuses on soil hydrology, the carbon and nutrient cycle and plant species diversity. Time series measurements of states and fluxes at high spatial and temporal resolution in the soil and biosphere are combined with remote sensing information for the development and calibration of process-based models simulating impacts of climate change in soil processes at field to regional scale. Within the framework of SOILCan, 132 fully automated lysimeter systems were installed at 14 highly equipped experimental field sites across the four TERENO observatories. Relevant state variables of grassland and arable ecosystems are monitored characterizing climate, hydrology and matter fluxes into the atmosphere and within the hydrosphere as well as plant species diversity. Lysimeters are either being operated at or near their original sampling location or were transferred within or between the four TERENO observatories thereby using temperature and rainfall gradients to mimic future climatic conditions (space for time), which allow measuring impacts of climate change on terrestrial ecosystems. The lysimeters are cultivated as grassland (intensive, extensive and non-used) or arable land, the latter with a standardized crop rotation of winter wheat—winter barley—winter rye—oat. This publication describes the general design of the SOILCan experiment including a comprehensive description of the pedological characteristics of the different sites and presents a few exemplary results from the first years of operation.

Climate Change Impairs Nitrogen Cycling in European Beech Forests

European beech forests growing on marginal calcareous soils have been proposed to be vulnerable to decreased soil water availability. This could result in a large-scale loss of ecological services and economical value in a changing climate. In order to evaluate the potential consequences of this drought-sensitivity, we investigated potential species range shifts for European beech forests on calcareous soil in the 21st century by statistical species range distribution modelling for present day and projected future climate conditions. We found a dramatic decline by 78% until 2080. Still the physiological or biogeochemical mechanisms underlying the drought sensitivity of European beech are largely unknown. Drought sensitivity of beech is commonly attributed to plant physiological constraints. Furthermore, it has also been proposed that reduced soil water availability could promote nitrogen (N) limitation of European beech due to impaired microbial N cycling in soil, but this hypothesis has not yet been tested. Hence we investigated the influence of simulated climate change (increased temperatures, reduced soil water availability) on soil gross microbial N turnover and plant N uptake in the beech-soil interface of a typical mountainous beech forest stocking on calcareous soil in SW Germany. For this purpose, triple 15N isotope labelling of intact beech seedling-soil-microbe systems was combined with a space-for-time climate change experiment. We found that nitrate was the dominant N source for beech natural regeneration. Reduced soil water content caused a persistent decline of ammonia oxidizing bacteria and therefore, a massive attenuation of gross nitrification rates and nitrate availability in the soil. Consequently, nitrate and total N uptake of beech seedlings were strongly reduced so that impaired growth of beech seedlings was observed already after one year of exposure to simulated climatic change. We conclude that the N cycle in this ecosystem and here specifically nitrification is vulnerable to reduced water availability, which can directly lead to nutritional limitations of beech seedlings. This tight link between reduced water availability, drought stress for nitrifiers, decreased gross nitrification rates and nitrate availability and finally nitrate uptake by beech seedlings could represent the Achilles’ heel for beech under climate change stresses.

Carbon and nitrogen balance in beech roots under competitive pressure of soil-borne microorganisms induced by girdling, drought and glucose application

The goal of this work was to increase the understanding of factors regulating nitrogen (N) competition between roots and soil microbes. For this purpose, root assimilate supply was diminished or abolished in beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) seedlings by girdling, drought stress or a combination of both factors. This was revealed by 13 C tracer abundance in root tips after 13 CO2 pulse labelling of the shoots. Analysis of different root tip fractions revealed that only 6% were ectomycorrhizal. Carbon (C) allocation to ectomycorrhizal and vital non-mycorrhizal root tips was ~26% higher than to distorted root tips. Drought resulted in ~30% increased ammonium (NH4 + ) and amino acid concentrations in roots and ~65% increased soil NH4 + concentrations, probably because of lower consumption of NH4 + by free-living microorganisms. Root uptake of glutamine of 13nmolg -1 fresh mass h -1 decreased 2-fold with drought, although the number of vital root tips did not decrease. Carbon content in biomass of free-living microbes increased with glucose application regardless of drought, resulting in significant depletion in soil nitrate (NO3 - ), root NH4 + and amino acid concentrations. Our results suggest that the root-soil system of young beech trees was C-limited, and this prevented amino acid metabolism in roots and microbial NO3 - consumption in the soil, thereby exerting feedback inhibition on uptake of inorganic N by roots. We suggest that rhizodeposition is a key link in regulating the plant-microbial N balance.

The small-scale pattern of seepage water nitrate concentration in an N saturated spruce forest is regulated by net N mineralization in the organic layer

Soil net nitrogen (N) mineralization and nitrification as well as gross nitrification rates were studied in a forest soil within a 30 × 18m homogeneous plot located in an N saturated mature spruce stand at the Höglwald Forest (Bavaria, Germany) in order to explain the small-scale variation in nitrate (NO3−) concentration in seepage water. Seepage water was sampled below the main rooting zone in 40cm depth with suction cups over two periods at 20 measuring spots respectively. The sampling spots were uniformly distributed over the plot for both sampling periods, and represented the whole concentration range of seepage water NO3−concentrations measured within a close mesh of 121 suction cups. At each measuring spot soil net N mineralization, gross and net nitrification, heterotrophic soil respiration, extractable soil ammonium (NH4+) and NO3−, and additional physical and chemical soil parameters were measured in the organic layer and correlated with the NO3− concentrations in seepage water. Furthermore, the effects of environmental parameters on N conversion processes were evaluated using multiple linear regression analysis. We found that the small-scaled variations in seepage water NO3− concentration were related to similar small-scaled variations in key processes of microbial N turnover rates in the organic layer. Within this study net N mineralization in the organic layer could explain 51–59% of the corresponding small-scale variation of nitrate concentrations in seepage water below the main rooting zone using a multiple linear regression model with stepwise procedure. In addition, we found that small-scale patterns of N turnover in the organic layer were strongly influenced by water content in the organic layer and the dry mass of organic matter.

Preferential use of root litter compared to leaf litter by beech seedlings and soil microorganisms

Background and aimsLitter decomposition is regulated by e.g. substrate quality and environmental factors, particularly water availability. The partitioning of nutrients released from litter between vegetation and soil microorganisms may, therefore, be affected by changing climate. This study aimed to elucidate the impact of litter type and drought on the fate of litter-derived N in beech seedlings and soil microbes.MethodsWe quantified 15N recovery rates in plant and soil N pools by adding 15N-labelled leaf and/or root litter under controlled conditions.ResultsRoot litter was favoured over leaf litter for N acquisition by beech seedlings and soil microorganisms. Drought reduced 15N recovery from litter in seedlings thereby affecting root N nutrition. 15N accumulated in seedlings in different sinks depending on litter type.ConclusionsRoot turnover appears to influence (a) N availability in the soil for plants and soil microbes and (b) N acquisition and retention despite a presumably extremely dynamic turnover of microbial biomass. Compared to soil microorganisms, beech seedlings represent a very minor short-term N sink, despite a potentially high N residence time. Furthermore, soil microbes constitute a significant N pool that can be released in the long term and, thus, may become available for N nutrition of plants.

Edge effects on N2O, NO and CH4 fluxes in two temperate forests

Forest ecosystems may act as sinks or sources of nitrogen (N) and carbon (C) compounds, such as the climate relevant trace gases nitrous oxide (N2O), nitric oxide (NO) and methane (CH4). Forest edges, which catch more atmospheric deposition, have become important features in European landscapes and elsewhere. Here, we implemented a fully automated measuring system, comprising static and dynamic measuring chambers determining N2O, NO and CH4 fluxes along an edge-to-interior transect in an oak (Q. robur) and a pine (P. nigra) forest in northern Belgium. Each forest was monitored during a 2-week measurement campaign with continuous measurements every 2h. NO emissions were 9-fold higher than N2O emissions. The fluxes of NO and CH4 differed between forest edge and interior, but not for N2O. This edge effect was more pronounced in the oak than in the pine forest. In the oak forest, edges emitted less NO (on average 60%) and took up more CH4 (on average 177%). This suggests that landscape structure can play a role in the atmospheric budgets of these climate relevant trace gases. Soil moisture variation between forest edge and interior was a key variable explaining the magnitude of NO and CH4 fluxes in our measurement campaign. To better understand the environmental impact of N and C trace gas fluxes from forest edges, additional and long-term measurements in other forest edges are required.