| Title |
The Impacts of Excessive Nitrogen Additions on Enzyme Activities and Nutrient Leaching in Two Contrasting Forest Soils |
| Author |
Haryun Kim1 and Hojeong Kang2* |
| Address |
1Department of Soil and Water Science, University of Florida, FL 32611, USA, 2School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul 120-740, Republic of Korea |
| Bibliography |
Journal of Microbiology, 49(3),369-375, 2011,
|
| DOI |
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| Key Words |
nitrogen deposition, microbial enzyme activity, soil acidification, temperate forest |
| Abstract |
Nitrogen (N) deposition has increased dramatically worldwide, which may affect forest soils in various ways. In this study, we conducted a short-term manipulation experiment of N addition on two types of forest soils (urban and rural soils) found in Korea. N addition significantly decreased phenol oxidase activities in urban soil samples; however, it did not affect those in rural soils. Furthermore, N addition did not change β-glucosidase and N-acetylglucosaminidase activities, except for β-glucosidase activities in the O layer of rural soils. Changes in microbial biomass and general activity (dehydrogenase activity) were not induced by N addition, except for dehydrogenase in the A layer of urban soils. Although N addition did not change the extractable soil nutrients, organic matter, and water contents significantly, it enhanced nutrient leaching and resulted in lower pH leachate. These results suggest that excessive N addition to forest soils may induce nutrient leaching in the long-term. Overall results of our study also suggest that N addition may induce retardation of organic matter decomposition in soils; however, such a response may depend on the intensity of previous exposure to N deposition. |
