Repository logo
 

Impact of labile and recalcitrant carbon treatments on available nitrogen and plant communities in a semiarid ecosystem

Simple item page
dc.contributor.authorRiggle, R., author
dc.contributor.authorLauenroth, W. K., author
dc.contributor.authorLowe, P. N., author
dc.contributor.authorBarrett, J. E., author
dc.contributor.authorBontti, E. E., author
dc.contributor.authorBurke, I. C., author
dc.contributor.authorEcological Society of America, publisher
dc.date.accessioned2007-01-03T07:05:54Z
dc.date.available2007-01-03T07:05:54Z
dc.date.issued2013
dc.description.abstractIn a 10-year study, we assessed the influence of five carbon (C) treatments on the labile C and nitrogen (N) pools of historically N-enriched plots on the Shortgrass Steppe Long Term Ecological Research site located in northeastern Colorado. For eight years, we applied sawdust, sugar, industrial lignin, sawdust + sugar, and lignin + sugar to plots that had received N and water additions in the early 1970s. Previous work showed that past water and N additions altered plant species composition and enhanced rates of nutrient cycling; these effects were still apparent 25 years later. We hypothesized that labile C amendments would stimulate microbial activity and suppress rates of N mineralization, whereas complex forms of carbon (sawdust and lignin) could enhance humification and lead to longer-term reductions in N availability. Results indicated that, of the five carbon treatments, sugar, sawdust, and sawdust + sugar suppressed N availability, with sawdust + sugar being the most effective treatment to reduce N availability. The year after treatments stopped, N availability remained less in the sawdust + sugar treatment plots than in the high-N control plots. Three years after treatments ended, reductions in N availability were smaller (40–60%). Our results suggest that highly labile forms of carbon generate strong short-term N sinks, but these effects dissipate within one year of application, and that more recalcitrant forms reduce N longer. Sawdust + sugar was the most effective treatment to decrease exotic species canopy cover and increase native species density over the long term. Labile carbon had neither short- nor long-term effects on exotic species. Even though the organic amendments did not contribute to recovery of the dominant native species Bouteloua gracilis, they were effective in increasing another native species, Carex eleocharis. These results indicate that organic amendments may be a useful tool for restoring some native species in the shortgrass steppe, though not all.
dc.format.mediumborn digital
dc.format.mediumarticles
dc.identifier.bibliographicCitationI. C. Burke, E. E. Bontti, J. E. Barrett, P. N. Lowe, W. K. Lauenroth, and R. Riggle 2013. Impact of Labile and Recalcitrant Carbon Treatments on Available Nitrogen and Plant Communities in a Semiarid Ecosystem. Ecological Applications 23:537–545. https://dx.doi.org/10.1890/12-0015.1.
dc.identifier.doihttp://dx.doi.org/10.1890/12-0015.1
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10217/85551
dc.languageEnglish
dc.language.isoeng
dc.publisherColorado State University. Libraries
dc.relation.ispartofFaculty Publications
dc.relation.referencesBurke, Ingrid C., SGS-LTER Impact of Labile and Recalcitrant Carbon Treatments on Plant Communities in a Semiarid Ecosystem on the Central Plains Experimental Range, Nunn, Colorado, USA 1997-2012, ARS Study Number 3. http://hdl.handle.net/10217/85548
dc.rights©2013 Ecological Society of America
dc.subjectexotic species
dc.subjectCarex eleocharis
dc.subjectcarbon addition
dc.subjectBouteloua gracilis
dc.subjecthistoric fertilization
dc.subjectlignin
dc.subjectsawdust
dc.subjectShortgrass Steppe Long Term Ecological Research site
dc.subjectsugar
dc.titleImpact of labile and recalcitrant carbon treatments on available nitrogen and plant communities in a semiarid ecosystem
dc.typeText

Files

Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
SGS_LTER_Humus_12-0015.1.pdf
Size:
288.81 KB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Description:
Impact of labile and recalcitrant carbon treatments on available nitrogen and plant communities in a semiarid ecosystem
Download

Collections

Faculty Publications