Fluxes of Nitrogen Oxide and Methane from Nitrogen Amended Soils in the Colorado Alpine

In order to determine the effect of increased nitrogen availability on
fluxes of N2O and CH4 from alpine soils, we measured fluxes of these
gases from fertilized and unfertilized soils in two alpine plant
communities differing in net primary productivity, soil organic matter
quality, and moisture. Five fertilized and 5 unfertilized plots within
each community type were sampled. In the dry meadow community, the
addition of nitrogen resulted in a 22-fold increase in N2O emission,
while in the wet meadow, we observed a 45-fold increase in N2O
emission rates. Methane uptake in the dry meadow community was reduced
52% by fertilization. However, net CH4 production occurred in all of
the wet meadow plots and emission rates were not significantly
affected by fertilization. Net nitrification rates were higher in dry
meadow fertilized plots than in non-fertilized plots throughout the
growing season. Net mineralization rates in fertilized dry meadow
plots were higher than those in non-fertilized plots during the latter
half of the growing season. Carbon to nitrogen ratios and amounts of
total soil organic nitrogen in both the wet and dry meadow were not
significantly affected by fertilization.

Supplementary Information:
The information for the abstract, investigator,

Geographic Description:
Study areas were located on a south-facing slope of Niwot Ridge within
the City of Boulder Watershed. 99.1.5.2 Bounding Rectangle Coordinates