Effect of tree species on methane and ammonium oxidation capacity in forest soils

D S Reay, D B Nedwell, N McNamara, P Ineson

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

High and low affinity methane oxidation potentials were measured for soils under five fully replicated land-use treatments over an entire calendar year. Simultaneous measurements of soil nitrification potential in replicate soil samples were also made. Both high and low affinity CH4 oxidation were significantly reduced in the nitrate-rich soils under alder, compared to the other four vegetation treatments (oak, Norway spruce, Scots pine and grass). However, the effect of land-use was less for high affinity methanotrophy than for low affinity CH4 oxidation. Nitrification rates were highest in alder soils, with the greatest potential for NH4+ oxidation occurring in the top 5 cm of the soil. No significant relationship between potential nitrification rate and low affinity CH4 oxidation was seen. However, a significant negative relationship between nitrification and high affinity CH4 oxidation was identified. We found vegetation type to be a key determinant of soil-mediated CH4 and NH4+ oxidation, but found no evidence for significant CH4 oxidation by nitrifying bacteria. (C) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)719-730
Number of pages12
JournalSoil Biology and Biochemistry
Volume37
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Apr 2005

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Effect of tree species on methane and ammonium oxidation capacity in forest soils'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this