Limited Effects of Precipitation Manipulation on Soil Respiration and Inorganic N Concentrations across Soil Drainage Classes in Northern Minnesota Aspen Forests

It is critical to gain insight into the responses of forest soils to the changing climate. We simulated future climate conditions with growing season throughfall reduction (by 50%) and winter snow removal using a paired-plot design across a soil drainage class gradient at three upland, <i>Popu...

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Main Authors: Anna B. Stockstad, Robert A. Slesak, Alan J. Toczydlowski, Charles R. Blinn, Randall K. Kolka, Stephen D. Sebestyen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2022-07-01
Series:Forests
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/13/8/1194
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author Anna B. Stockstad
Robert A. Slesak
Alan J. Toczydlowski
Charles R. Blinn
Randall K. Kolka
Stephen D. Sebestyen
author_facet Anna B. Stockstad
Robert A. Slesak
Alan J. Toczydlowski
Charles R. Blinn
Randall K. Kolka
Stephen D. Sebestyen
author_sort Anna B. Stockstad
collection DOAJ
description It is critical to gain insight into the responses of forest soils to the changing climate. We simulated future climate conditions with growing season throughfall reduction (by 50%) and winter snow removal using a paired-plot design across a soil drainage class gradient at three upland, <i>Populus</i>-dominated forests in northern Minnesota, USA. In situ bulk soil respiration and concentrations of extractable soil N were measured during the summers of 2020–2021. Soil respiration and N concentrations were not affected by throughfall reduction and snow removal, which was largely attributed to the limited treatment effects on soil moisture content and soil temperature. Drainage class was only a significant factor during the spring thaw period in 2021. During this period, the poorly drained plots had lower respiration rates compared to the well-drained plots, which was associated with the drainage class effects on soil temperature. The results of the companion laboratory incubation with varying levels of soil moisture also indicated no effect of the treatment on soil respiration, but effects of drainage class and moisture content on respiration were observed. Our results indicate that the combined effects of reduced summer and winter precipitation on soil respiration and N dynamics may be limited across the range of conditions that occurred in our study.
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spelling doaj.art-a0069490a07a4585b34aeebe434cd5b42023-12-03T13:39:42ZengMDPI AGForests1999-49072022-07-01138119410.3390/f13081194Limited Effects of Precipitation Manipulation on Soil Respiration and Inorganic N Concentrations across Soil Drainage Classes in Northern Minnesota Aspen ForestsAnna B. Stockstad0Robert A. Slesak1Alan J. Toczydlowski2Charles R. Blinn3Randall K. Kolka4Stephen D. Sebestyen5Department of Forest Resources, University of Minnesota—Twin Cities, St. Paul, MN 55108, USAPacific Northwest Research Station, USDA Forest Service, Olympia, WA 98512, USADepartment of Forest Resources, University of Minnesota—Twin Cities, St. Paul, MN 55108, USADepartment of Forest Resources, University of Minnesota—Twin Cities, St. Paul, MN 55108, USANorthern Research Station, USDA Forest Service, Grand Rapids, MN 55744, USANorthern Research Station, USDA Forest Service, Grand Rapids, MN 55744, USAIt is critical to gain insight into the responses of forest soils to the changing climate. We simulated future climate conditions with growing season throughfall reduction (by 50%) and winter snow removal using a paired-plot design across a soil drainage class gradient at three upland, <i>Populus</i>-dominated forests in northern Minnesota, USA. In situ bulk soil respiration and concentrations of extractable soil N were measured during the summers of 2020–2021. Soil respiration and N concentrations were not affected by throughfall reduction and snow removal, which was largely attributed to the limited treatment effects on soil moisture content and soil temperature. Drainage class was only a significant factor during the spring thaw period in 2021. During this period, the poorly drained plots had lower respiration rates compared to the well-drained plots, which was associated with the drainage class effects on soil temperature. The results of the companion laboratory incubation with varying levels of soil moisture also indicated no effect of the treatment on soil respiration, but effects of drainage class and moisture content on respiration were observed. Our results indicate that the combined effects of reduced summer and winter precipitation on soil respiration and N dynamics may be limited across the range of conditions that occurred in our study.https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/13/8/1194forest soilsthroughfall reductionsnow removalsoil respirationnitrogen dynamics
spellingShingle Anna B. Stockstad
Robert A. Slesak
Alan J. Toczydlowski
Charles R. Blinn
Randall K. Kolka
Stephen D. Sebestyen
Limited Effects of Precipitation Manipulation on Soil Respiration and Inorganic N Concentrations across Soil Drainage Classes in Northern Minnesota Aspen Forests
Forests
forest soils
throughfall reduction
snow removal
soil respiration
nitrogen dynamics
title Limited Effects of Precipitation Manipulation on Soil Respiration and Inorganic N Concentrations across Soil Drainage Classes in Northern Minnesota Aspen Forests
title_full Limited Effects of Precipitation Manipulation on Soil Respiration and Inorganic N Concentrations across Soil Drainage Classes in Northern Minnesota Aspen Forests
title_fullStr Limited Effects of Precipitation Manipulation on Soil Respiration and Inorganic N Concentrations across Soil Drainage Classes in Northern Minnesota Aspen Forests
title_full_unstemmed Limited Effects of Precipitation Manipulation on Soil Respiration and Inorganic N Concentrations across Soil Drainage Classes in Northern Minnesota Aspen Forests
title_short Limited Effects of Precipitation Manipulation on Soil Respiration and Inorganic N Concentrations across Soil Drainage Classes in Northern Minnesota Aspen Forests
title_sort limited effects of precipitation manipulation on soil respiration and inorganic n concentrations across soil drainage classes in northern minnesota aspen forests
topic forest soils
throughfall reduction
snow removal
soil respiration
nitrogen dynamics
url https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/13/8/1194
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