Evolution of nitrogen cycling in regrowing Amazonian rainforest.

ABSTRACT: Extensive regions of tropical forests are subjected to high rates of deforestation and forest regrowth and both are strongly affect soil nutrient cycling. Nitrogen (N) dynamics changes during forest regrowth and the recovery of forests and functioning similar to pristine conditions depends on sufficient N availability. We show that, in a chronosequence of Amazonian forests, gross nitrification and, as a result, nitrate-to-ammonium (NO₃^-: NH₄⁺) ratio were lower in all stages of regrowing forests (10 to 40 years) compared to pristine forest. This indicates the evolution of a more conservative and closed N cycle with reduced risk for N leaking out of the ecosystem in regrowing forests. Furthermore, our results indicate that mineralization and nitrif

SUBMITTER: Figueiredo V 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6561906 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature