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Nitrogen transformations following tropical forest felling and burning on a volcanic soilNitrogen transformations and loss were measured following forest clearing in a relatively fertile tropical forest site. Nitrogen mineralization, nitrification, and amounts of ammonium and nitrate increased substantially in surface soils during the 6 mo following burning, then returned to background levels. The nitrogen content of microbial biomass declined to half its original value 6 mo after clearing and remained low in the cleared sites. Plant uptake of nitrogen was substantial on cleared plots (50 g/sq m), but it accounted for only 18 percent of N-15 label added to field plots. MIcrobial immobilization of N-15 was small relative to that in a cleared temperate site, and measurements of denitrification potentials suggested that relatively little mineralized nitrogen was lost to the atmosphere. Substantial amounts of nitrogen (40-70 g/sq m) were retained as exchangeably bound nitrate deep in the soils of a cleared plot on which revegetation was prevented; this process accounted for 12 percent of the N-15 label added to field plots.
Document ID
19880039395
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Matson, Pamela A.
(NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA, United States)
Vitousek, Peter M.
(Stanford University CA, United States)
Ewel, John J.
(Florida, University Gainesville, United States)
Mazzarino, Maria Julia
(Centro Agronomico Tropical de Investigacion y Ensenanza Turrialba, Costa Rica)
Robertson, G. Philip
(Michigan State University Hickory Corners, United States)
Date Acquired
August 13, 2013
Publication Date
June 1, 1987
Publication Information
Publication: Ecology
Volume: 68
ISSN: 0012-9658
Subject Category
Geosciences (General)
Accession Number
88A26622
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NSF DEB-80-11136
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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