Nitrogen and Carbon Cycling in a Grassland Community Ecosystem as Affected by Elevated Atmospheric CO2

Increasing global atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration has led to concerns regarding its potential effects on terrestrial ecosystems and the long-term storage of carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) in soil. This study examined responses to elevated CO2 in a grass ecosystem invaded with a leguminou...

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Main Authors: H. A. Torbert, H. W. Polley, H. B. Johnson
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2012-01-01
Series:International Journal of Agronomy
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/817343
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author H. A. Torbert
H. W. Polley
H. B. Johnson
author_facet H. A. Torbert
H. W. Polley
H. B. Johnson
author_sort H. A. Torbert
collection DOAJ
description Increasing global atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration has led to concerns regarding its potential effects on terrestrial ecosystems and the long-term storage of carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) in soil. This study examined responses to elevated CO2 in a grass ecosystem invaded with a leguminous shrub Acacia farnesiana (L.) Willd (Huisache). Seedlings of Acacia along with grass species were grown for 13 months at CO2 concentrations of 385 (ambient), 690, and 980 μmol mol−1. Elevated CO2 increased both C and N inputs from plant growth which would result in higher soil C from litter fall, root turnover, and excretions. Results from the incubation indicated an initial (20 days) decrease in N mineralization which resulted in no change in C mineralization. However, after 40 and 60 days, an increase in both C and N mineralization was observed. These increases would indicate that increases in soil C storage may not occur in grass ecosystems that are invaded with Acacia over the long term.
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spelling doaj-art-64aa6777bc254ed691c535ba71b3d8a72025-08-20T03:34:25ZengWileyInternational Journal of Agronomy1687-81591687-81672012-01-01201210.1155/2012/817343817343Nitrogen and Carbon Cycling in a Grassland Community Ecosystem as Affected by Elevated Atmospheric CO2H. A. Torbert0H. W. Polley1H. B. Johnson2National Soil Dynamics Laboratory, USDA Agricultural Research Service, 411 S. Donahue, Auburn, AL 36832, USAGrassland Soil and Water Research Laboratory, USDA Agricultural Research Service, 808 E Blackland Road, Temple, TX 76502, USAGrassland Soil and Water Research Laboratory, USDA Agricultural Research Service, 808 E Blackland Road, Temple, TX 76502, USAIncreasing global atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration has led to concerns regarding its potential effects on terrestrial ecosystems and the long-term storage of carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) in soil. This study examined responses to elevated CO2 in a grass ecosystem invaded with a leguminous shrub Acacia farnesiana (L.) Willd (Huisache). Seedlings of Acacia along with grass species were grown for 13 months at CO2 concentrations of 385 (ambient), 690, and 980 μmol mol−1. Elevated CO2 increased both C and N inputs from plant growth which would result in higher soil C from litter fall, root turnover, and excretions. Results from the incubation indicated an initial (20 days) decrease in N mineralization which resulted in no change in C mineralization. However, after 40 and 60 days, an increase in both C and N mineralization was observed. These increases would indicate that increases in soil C storage may not occur in grass ecosystems that are invaded with Acacia over the long term.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/817343
spellingShingle H. A. Torbert
H. W. Polley
H. B. Johnson
Nitrogen and Carbon Cycling in a Grassland Community Ecosystem as Affected by Elevated Atmospheric CO2
International Journal of Agronomy
title Nitrogen and Carbon Cycling in a Grassland Community Ecosystem as Affected by Elevated Atmospheric CO2
title_full Nitrogen and Carbon Cycling in a Grassland Community Ecosystem as Affected by Elevated Atmospheric CO2
title_fullStr Nitrogen and Carbon Cycling in a Grassland Community Ecosystem as Affected by Elevated Atmospheric CO2
title_full_unstemmed Nitrogen and Carbon Cycling in a Grassland Community Ecosystem as Affected by Elevated Atmospheric CO2
title_short Nitrogen and Carbon Cycling in a Grassland Community Ecosystem as Affected by Elevated Atmospheric CO2
title_sort nitrogen and carbon cycling in a grassland community ecosystem as affected by elevated atmospheric co2
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/817343
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AT hwpolley nitrogenandcarboncyclinginagrasslandcommunityecosystemasaffectedbyelevatedatmosphericco2
AT hbjohnson nitrogenandcarboncyclinginagrasslandcommunityecosystemasaffectedbyelevatedatmosphericco2