[Effects of simulated nitrogen deposition on soil enzyme activities in a Betula luminifera plantation in Rainy Area of West China].

From January 2008 to January 2009, a field experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of simulated nitrogen (N) deposition (0, 5, 15, and 30 g N x m(-2) x a(-1)) on the soil enzyme activities in a Betula luminifera plantation in Rainy Area of West China. As compared with the control (0 g N x m(-2) x a(-1)), simulated N deposition stimulated the activities of soil hydrolases (beta-fructofuranosidase, cellulase, acid phosphatase, and urease) significantly, but depressed the activities of soil oxidases (polyphenol oxidase and peroxidase). These results suggested that the increased exogenous inorganic N could stimulate soil microbial activity and increase the demands of both B. luminifera and soil microbes for C and P, whereas the depress of soil polyphenol oxidase and peroxidase activities under N addition could inhibit the degradation of litter and promote its accumulation in soil, leading to the increase of soil C storage in the B. luminifera plantation ecosystem.

[Effects of simulated nitrogen deposition on soil respiration in a Bambusa pervariabilis x Dendrocala mopsi plantation in rainy area of West China].

From January 2008 to February 2009, a field experiment was conducted in Rainy Area of West China to understand the effects of nitrogen (N) deposition on the soil respiration in a Bambusa pervariabilis x Dendrocala mopsi plantation. Four treatments were installed, i. e., no N added (control), 5 g N m(-2) a(-1) (low-N), 15 g N m(-2) a(-1) (medium-N), and 30 g N m(-2) a(-1) (high-N), and soil respiration rate was determined by infra-red CO2 analyzer. In the plantation, soil respiration rate had an obvious seasonal change, with the maximum in July and the minimum in January. In control plot, the annual cumulative soil respiration was (389 +/- 34) g m(-2) a(-1). Soil respiration rate had significant positive exponential relationships with soil temperature at 10 cm depth and air temperature, and significant positive linear relationships with soil microbial biomass carbon (MBC) and nitrogen (MBN). Simulated N deposition promoted soil respiration significantly, with significant differences between the low- and medium-N and the control but no significant difference between high-N and the control. In control plot, surface soil (0-20 cm) MBC and MBN were 0.460 and 0.020 mg g(-1), respectively. In N-added plots, both the MBC and the MBN had significant increase. The fine root density in surface soil was 388 g m(-2), which was less affected by simulated N deposition. The soil respiration Q10 value calculated from soil temperature at 10 cm depth and air temperature was 2.66 and 1.87, respectively, and short-term N deposition had lesser effects on the Q10 value. The variation of soil respiration in the plantation was mainly controlled by temperature and soil microbial biomass, and simulated N deposition could increase the CO2 emission via increasing soil microbial biomass.

[Effects of simulated nitrogen deposition on litter decomposition in Neosinocalamus affinis stands in rainy area of West China].

An in situ experiment was conducted to study the effects of simulated nitrogen deposition on the litter decomposition in Neosinocalamus affinis stands in rainy area of West China. Four treatments were installed, i.e., null N (CK, 0 kg x hm(-2) x a(-1)), low N (LN, 50 kg x hm(-2) x a(-1)), medium N (MN, 150 kg x hm(-2) x a(-1)), and high N (HN, 300 kg x hm(-2) x a(-1)). Among the litters, leaf had the highest decomposition rate, followed by sheath, and twig, with a remaining rate after decomposing for 15 months being 26.38%, 46.18%, and 54.54%, respectively (P < 0.01). Leaf litter decomposed faster during the first 2 months and the 7th-10th month, while the decomposition of sheath and twig was faster from the 5th to the 8th month. It took 2.573 years to decompose 95% of leaf litter mass, 1.686 years and 3.319 years shorter than that of sheath and twig, respectively. After 15 months decomposition of leaf litter, no significant differences were observed among different treatments. To decompose 95% of sheath litter needed 2.679-4.259 years, being the longest in CK and the shortest in treatment MN. After decomposing for 15 months, the decomposition rate of twig litter was in the order MN > HN > LN > CK, and significant difference existed between treatments MN and LN. Nitrogen deposition had obvious promotion effect on the litter decomposition in the N. affinis stands, but this effect decreased with increasing deposited N concentration and time extension.

[Soil enzyme activities in a Pleioblastus amurus plantation in Rainy Area of West China under simulated nitrogen deposition].

From November 2007 to May 2009, a simulation test was conducted in a Pleioblastus amarus plantation in Rainy Area of West China to study the effects of nitrogen deposition on the activities of soil enzymes. Four treatments were installed, i.e., control (0 g N x m(-2) x a(-1)), low nitrogen (5 g N x m(-2) x a(-1)), medium nitrogen (15 g N x m(-2) x a(-1)), and high nitrogen (30 g N x m(-2) x a(-1)). Half year after N deposition, 0-20 cm soil samples were collected monthly, and the activities of peroxidase, polyphenol oxidase, cellulase, sucrase, urease, and acid phosphatase were determined. All test enzyme activities had apparent, seasonal variation, with the peak of cellulase, suerase, and acid phosphatase activities in spring, of urease activity in autumn, and of peroxidase and polyphenol oxidase activities in winter. Nitrogen deposition stimulated the activities of polyphenol oxidase, sucrase, urease, and acid phosphatase, inhibited cellulase activity, but had no significant effects on peroxidase activity. The test P. amurus plantation ecosystem was N-limited, and nitrogen deposition stimulated the decomposition of soil organic matter by microbe-enzyme system.