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Title: TRACE GAS EMISSIONS AND SOIL C AND N TRANSFORMATIONS FOLLOWING MOISTURE PULSES IN SAGEBRUSH: EFFECTS OF INVASIVE AND NATIVE COMPANION PLANT SPECIES

Author
item NORTON, URSZULA - SEPARATED POST-DOC
item Morgan, Jack
item Mosier, Arvin
item Derner, Justin

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/1/2004
Publication Date: 12/13/2004
Citation: Norton, U., Morgan, J.A., Mosier, A.R., Derner, J.D. 2004. Trace gas emissions and soil c and n transformations following moisture pulses in sagebrush: effects of invasive and native companion plant species. p. 358. In: Proceedings of the American Geophphysical Union Fall Meeting Abstracts.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Simulating water pulses is an important tool for understanding biogeochemical processes in semi arid environments. Global change triggered shifts in plant species composition exert significant control over belowground C and N transformations. They also affect the ecosystem resiliency and its ability to withstand exotic weed invasion. We monitored effects of water additions on trace gas emissions and soil C and N in sagebrush soils, both canopy and shrub interspace, on sites dominated by either native bunchgrass, western wheatgrass, or an exotic annual, cheatgrass. Our results indicate that long-term cheatgrass establishment affects not only soil under its own thatch, but also soil under shrubs within cheatgrass stand. Overall, soil total N and total organic C on cheatgrass sites were lower than these of western wheatgrass. Trace gas measurements of non-wetted soils showed greater N2O and smaller CH4 fluxes compared to western wheatgrass sites. Upon water pulse, cheatgrass soils demonstrated greater CO2 production rates, relative to pre-wet conditions, greater N2O flux per unit soil total N, and more rapid soil microbial biomass C and dissolved organic C response compared to western wheatgrass. Possible mechanisms include faster turnover of microbial biomass and greater nitrification potential of cheatgrass soils.