Abstract
Northern permafrost soils contain important carbon stocks. Here we report the long-term response of carbon stocks in high Arctic dwarf shrub tundra to short-term, low-level nutrient enrichment. Twenty years after experimental nitrogen addition, carbon stocks in vegetation and organic soil had almost halved. In contrast, where phosphorus was added with nitrogen, carbon storage increased by > 50 %. These responses were explained by changes in the depths of the moss and organic soil layers. Nitrogen apparently stimulated decomposition, reducing carbon stocks, whilst phosphorus and nitrogen co-stimulated moss productivity, increasing organic matter accumulation. The altered structure of moss and soil layers changed soil thermal regimes, which may further influence decomposition of soil carbon. If climate warming increases phosphorus availability, any increases in nitrogen enrichment from soil warming or expanding human activity in the Arctic may result in increased carbon sequestration. Where phosphorus is limiting in tundra areas however, nitrogen enrichment may result in carbon loss.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1155-1167 |
| Number of pages | 13 |
| Journal | Ecosystems |
| Volume | 21 |
| Issue number | 6 |
| Early online date | 18 Dec 2017 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Sept 2018 |
Bibliographical note
This study was funded by NERC (NE/I016899/1) and facilitated by use of NERC facilities at Harland Huset, Ny-Ålesund and the kind support of Nick Cox and colleagues. Nancy Burns assisted with field sampling and Brodie Shaw and Rob Mills assisted with laboratory analyses. Open access via Springer Compact Agreement.Keywords
- moss
- nutrient
- fertilisation
- decomposition
- productivity
- soil organic matter
- soil respiration
- cellobiohydrolase
- ammonium
- nitrate
Access to Document
- Phosphorus Availability Determines the Response of Tundra Ecosystem Carbon Stocks to Nitrogen Enrichment
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