Publication Date:
2016-08-27
Description:
The magnitude of net soil nitrous oxide (N 2 O) production from a snow covered catchment in a northern temperate forest was investigated. There was considerable net soil N 2 O-N production and consumption through the snowpack, ranging from -6.6 to 26.2 g-N ha-1 d-1. There was no difference in net N 2 O production among topographic positions despite significant variation in soil moisture, reduction-oxidation conditions and pore water dissolved organic carbon and nitrate. Soil temperatures did not vary among topographic positions, suggesting that temperatures at or above the freezing point allow N 2 O production to proceed under the snowpack. Redox conditions were lower at wetland positions compared to lowlands and uplands, suggesting that the biogeochemical pathway of N 2 O production varies with topography. Over the entire non-growing season, 1.5 kg of N 2 O-N was exported to the atmosphere from the 6.33 ha catchment, representing 31% of the growing season N 2 O-N production. These results suggest winter is an active time for gaseous N production in these forests, and that N 2 O production under the snowpack represents an often unmonitored flux of N from catchments.
Print ISSN:
0148-0227
Topics:
Biology
,
Geosciences
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