Changes in carbon content, respiration rate, ATP content, and microbial biomass in nitrogen-fertilized pine forest soils in Sweden

Abstract

Carbon content and indices of microbial biomass and activity were determined in 1985 in different soil horizons of two nitrogen-fertilized pine forests in Sweden. The Kroksbo site was fertilized in 1974 with 150 and 600 kg N•ha −1 using NH 4 NO 3 or urea, while the Nissafors site was fertilized in 1977 and 1984 with 150 kg NH 4 NO 3 -N•ha −1 The absolute amount of C per square metre of forest floor increased in fertilizer treatments compared with the control (by 10–26%, depending on the site or fertilizer treatment). Respiration rate, ATP content, and microbial biomass C, measured with the substrate-induced respiration technique, decreased in all horizons when expressed per gram of C. The decrease was most evident with NH 4 NO 3 , and at the highest level of fertilization. However, on an area basis there were no differences between fertilizer and control treatments. A calculated increase in litter fall in the fertilized plots could not explain all the increase in the amount of C per square metre compared with the control. Decreased microbial activity per gram of C therefore appeared to be an important factor in the increase in C content in fertilized plots.