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Contrasting effects of wood ash application on microbial community structure, biomass and processes in drained forested peatlands

Bjork, RG ; Ernfors, M ; Sikstrom, U ; Nilsson, MB ; Andersson, MX ; Rutting, T and Klemedtsson, L (2010) In FEMS Microbiology Ecology 73(3). p.550-562
Abstract
The effects of wood ash application on soil microbial processes were investigated in three drained forested peatlands, which differed in nutrient status and time since application. Measured variables included the concentrations of soil elements and phospholipid fatty acids (PLFAs), net nitrogen (N) mineralization, nitrification and denitrification enzyme activity, potential methane (CH(4)) oxidation, CH(4) production and microbial respiration kinetics. Wood ash application had a considerable influence on soil element concentrations. This mirrored a decrease in the majority of the microbial biomarkers by more than one-third in the two oligotrophic peatlands, although the microbial community composition was not altered. The decreases in... (More)
The effects of wood ash application on soil microbial processes were investigated in three drained forested peatlands, which differed in nutrient status and time since application. Measured variables included the concentrations of soil elements and phospholipid fatty acids (PLFAs), net nitrogen (N) mineralization, nitrification and denitrification enzyme activity, potential methane (CH(4)) oxidation, CH(4) production and microbial respiration kinetics. Wood ash application had a considerable influence on soil element concentrations. This mirrored a decrease in the majority of the microbial biomarkers by more than one-third in the two oligotrophic peatlands, although the microbial community composition was not altered. The decreases in PLFAs coincided with reduced net ammonification and net N mineralization. Other measured variables did not change systematically as a result of wood ash application. No significant changes in microbial biomass or processes were found in the mesotrophic peatland, possibly because too little time (1 year) had elapsed since the wood ash application. This study suggests that oligotrophic peatlands can be substantially affected by wood ash for a period of at least 4 years after application. However, within 25 years of the wood ash application, the microbial biomass seemed to have recovered or adapted to enhanced element concentrations in the soil. (Less)
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author
; ; ; ; ; and
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
methane, microbial response, nitrogen turnover, peat, PLFA, substrate-induced respiration (SIR)
in
FEMS Microbiology Ecology
volume
73
issue
3
pages
550 - 562
publisher
Oxford University Press
external identifiers
  • scopus:77955250511
  • pmid:20550578
ISSN
1574-6941
DOI
10.1111/j.1574-6941.2010.00911.x
language
English
LU publication?
no
id
fa6dff1e-fc10-4550-ab1e-45ec27bd1fe5 (old id 4448793)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 13:22:06
date last changed
2022-03-21 18:13:03
@article{fa6dff1e-fc10-4550-ab1e-45ec27bd1fe5,
  abstract     = {{The effects of wood ash application on soil microbial processes were investigated in three drained forested peatlands, which differed in nutrient status and time since application. Measured variables included the concentrations of soil elements and phospholipid fatty acids (PLFAs), net nitrogen (N) mineralization, nitrification and denitrification enzyme activity, potential methane (CH(4)) oxidation, CH(4) production and microbial respiration kinetics. Wood ash application had a considerable influence on soil element concentrations. This mirrored a decrease in the majority of the microbial biomarkers by more than one-third in the two oligotrophic peatlands, although the microbial community composition was not altered. The decreases in PLFAs coincided with reduced net ammonification and net N mineralization. Other measured variables did not change systematically as a result of wood ash application. No significant changes in microbial biomass or processes were found in the mesotrophic peatland, possibly because too little time (1 year) had elapsed since the wood ash application. This study suggests that oligotrophic peatlands can be substantially affected by wood ash for a period of at least 4 years after application. However, within 25 years of the wood ash application, the microbial biomass seemed to have recovered or adapted to enhanced element concentrations in the soil.}},
  author       = {{Bjork, RG and Ernfors, M and Sikstrom, U and Nilsson, MB and Andersson, MX and Rutting, T and Klemedtsson, L}},
  issn         = {{1574-6941}},
  keywords     = {{methane; microbial response; nitrogen turnover; peat; PLFA; substrate-induced respiration (SIR)}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{3}},
  pages        = {{550--562}},
  publisher    = {{Oxford University Press}},
  series       = {{FEMS Microbiology Ecology}},
  title        = {{Contrasting effects of wood ash application on microbial community structure, biomass and processes in drained forested peatlands}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1574-6941.2010.00911.x}},
  doi          = {{10.1111/j.1574-6941.2010.00911.x}},
  volume       = {{73}},
  year         = {{2010}},
}