Postfire Phosphorus Enrichment Mitigates Nitrogen Loss in Boreal Forests.
Environ Sci Technol
; 58(24): 10611-10622, 2024 Jun 18.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-38836563
ABSTRACT
Net nitrogen mineralization (Nmin) and nitrification regulate soil N availability and loss after severe wildfires in boreal forests experiencing slow vegetation recovery. Yet, how microorganisms respond to postfire phosphorus (P) enrichment to alter soil N transformations remains unclear in N-limited boreal forests. Here, we investigated postfire N-P interactions using an intensive regional-scale sampling of 17 boreal forests in the Greater Khingan Mountains (Inner Mongolia-China), a laboratory P-addition incubation, and a continental-scale meta-analysis. We found that postfire soils had an increased risk of N loss by accelerated Nmin and nitrification along with low plant N demand, especially during the early vegetation recovery period. The postfire N/P imbalance created by P enrichment acts as a "N retention" strategy by inhibiting Nmin but not nitrification in boreal forests. This strategy is attributed to enhanced microbial N-use efficiency and N immobilization. Importantly, our meta-analysis found that there was a greater risk of N loss in boreal forest soils after fires than in other climatic zones, which was consistent with our results from the 17 soils in the Greater Khingan Mountains. These findings demonstrate that postfire N-P interactions play an essential role in mitigating N limitation and maintaining nutrient balance in boreal forests.
Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Fósforo
/
Solo
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Florestas
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Nitrogênio
País/Região como assunto:
Asia
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Environ Sci Technol
/
Environ. sci. technol
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Environmental science & technology
Ano de publicação:
2024
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
China