Ochoa-Hueso R, Stevens CJ, Ortiz-Llorente MJ, Manrique E. Soil chemistry and fertility alterations in response to N application in a semiarid Mediterranean shrubland.
Sci Total Environ 2013;
452-453:78-86. [PMID:
23500401 DOI:
10.1016/j.scitotenv.2013.02.049]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2012] [Revised: 02/15/2013] [Accepted: 02/16/2013] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
N deposition is currently affecting nutrient cycling in terrestrial ecosystems. We studied the effects of four years of N application (0, 10, 20 and 50 kg N ha(-1) year(-1)+background deposition) on soil chemistry and fertility in a semiarid shrubland in central Spain. Soil pH and nutrient availability fluctuated seasonally. The inorganic-N fraction in soil was dominated by nitrate, as expected in calcareous soils. N application increased inorganic N availability in soil. There was a negative correlation between N application and soil K(+) availability and pH, measured as the % change after four years. Soil N and C storage (evaluated as the % change) slightly increased after four years. Our data suggest that, in the short-term, the seasonality of nutrients overwhelm any chemical alteration related to N deposition. However, the potential implication of continuous N addition on soil chemistry in the long-term is not well understood.
Collapse