title: Effects of Fe oxide on N transformations in subtropical acid soils.
abstract: Subtropical ecosystems are often characterized by high N cycling rates, but net nitrification rates are often low in subtropical acid soils. NO3(-)-N immobilization into organic N may be a contributing factor to understand the observed low net nitrification rates in these acid soils. The effects of Fe oxide and organic matter on soil N transformations were evaluated using a (15)N tracing study. Soil net nitrification was low for highly acidic yellow soil (Ferralsols), but gross ammonia oxidation was 7 times higher than net nitrification. In weakly acidic purple soil (Cambisols), net nitrification was 8 times higher than in Ferralsols. The addition of 5% Fe oxide to Cambisols, reduced the net nitrification rate to a negative rate, while NO3(-)-N immobilization rate increased 8 fold. NO3(-)-N immobilization was also observed in Ferralsols which contained high Fe oxides levels. A possible mechanism for these reactions could be stimulation of NO3(-)-N immobilization by Fe oxide which promoted the abiotic formation of nitrogenous polymers, suggesting that the absence of net nitrification in some highly acid soils may be due to high rates of NO3(-)-N immobilization caused by high Fe oxide content rather than a low pH.
authors.affiliation: College of Resources and Environment, Southwest University, 2 Tiansheng Road, Beibei, Chongqing 400715, China.
authors.forename: Xianjun
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.affiliation: College of Resources and Environment, Southwest University, 2 Tiansheng Road, Beibei, Chongqing 400715, China.
authors.forename: Xiaoping
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Xin
authors.affiliation: College of Resources and Environment, Southwest University, 2 Tiansheng Road, Beibei, Chongqing 400715, China.
authors.forename: Shiwei
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: College of Resources and Environment, Southwest University, 2 Tiansheng Road, Beibei, Chongqing 400715, China.
authors.forename: Junchao
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: 1] School of Geography Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210047, China [2] Key Laboratory of Reservoir Aquatic Environment, Chongqing Institute of Green and Intelligent Technology, Chinese Academy of Science, Chongqing 400714, China.
authors.forename: Tongbin
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: 1] Department of Plant Ecology (IFZ), Justus-Liebig University Giessen, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 26, 35392 Giessen, Germany [2] School of Biology and Environmental Science, University College Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Müller
authors.affiliation: School of Geography Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210047, China.
authors.forename: Zucong
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.affiliation: Everglades Research &Education Center, University of Florida, Belle Glade, FL 33430, United States.
authors.forename: Alan L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Wright