Case, Michael (REU Student). 1999. Nitrification Rates in Soils from a Mid Successional and Late Successional Ecosystem
I examined the effects of adding ammonium nitrate fertilizer in late successional and mid successional ecosystems in Southwestern Michigan. Fertilizer was added to two plots in replicate communities over the course of five years (1994-1999) at levels of 10 kg/ha/yr and 30kg/ha/yr, respectively. Potential nitrification rates were measured using an enzyme inhibition method. I was not able to detect any difference between fertilizer levels. However, I found a significant difference between the potential nitrification rates of mid-successional and late successional ecosystems. The mid-successional ecosystem had a significantly (p<0.05) lower amount of mean potential nitrification (0.0176 (μg/g dry soil/day) occurring in the top 16cm of soil than did the late successional ecosystem (0.0869 (μg/g dry soil/day). This result suggests that successional lands may serve as a valuable pollution buffer that sequesters atmospheric deposition
Treatments used: T8 DF
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