Nitrogen and phosphorus mineralization in three wetland types in Southeast Alaska, USA

Jason Fellman, D.V. D'Amore

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    34 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    To improve our ability to predict how different wetland soils cycle nutrients, it is necessary togain an understanding of N and P net mineralization rates. Since information on mineralization rates insoutheast Alaska is limited, this study will improve our ability to predict how different wetlands affectsoil nutrient processing. Net N and P mineralization rates were measured both in situ and via labincubations to evaluate both actual and potential mineralization rates in three wetland types: bogs;forested wetlands; and riparian wetlands. Soil pH was an important controlling variable for both net Nand P mineralization rates and soil phosphorus content significantly influenced net P mineralizationrates. In situ net mineralization rates ranged from 410–1,710 mg N kg soil21 day21 for N and from 2–27 mg P kg soil21 day21 for P after 56 days. Lab incubations revealed mineralization potentials were 2–3times greater than in situ rates. Net N and P mineralization potentials were greatest in the riparianwetlands and were significantly different from the bogs and forested wetlands. In contrast, the bogsmineralized a greater proportion of the total N and P soil pool (mg nutrient mineralized per gramnutrient) and indicates greater internal nutrient cycling within bogs. These results suggest that differentwetland types of southeast Alaska process N and P differently and these wetland types should beevaluated separately in future evaluations of wetland ecosystem function.
    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)44-53
    JournalWetlands
    Volume27
    Issue number1
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2007

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