Stoichiometry Experiment

Soil communities in the McMurdo Dry Valleys are subject to many limitations, including resource limitations. However, the nutrients that are predominantly limiting to growth and diversity of soil biota are not known. Additionally, landscape history (N deposition, P weathering) and native N and P content (glacial till provenance) may influence the ability of soil communities to respond to nutrient additions or changes in nutrient availability associated with environmental change. Long-term experiments in the Bonney and Fryxell basins have been established with yearly application of aqueous nutrient additions: C, N, P, CN, and CP. Multiple nutrients additions were made at the Redfield Ratio of 106:16:1 (C:N:P). Responses of soil chemistry, CO2 flux, and biota are reported.