N-15 natural abundance in the Amazon forest and Cerrado - implications for nitrogen cycling

Author(s)

Gabriela Bielefeld Nardoto

• Document type: Doctoral Thesis
• Press: Piracicaba.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALA/BC)
• Defense date: 2005-12-02

Examining board members

Luiz Antonio Martinelli; Marcos Pereira Marinho Aidar; Marcos Silveira Buckeridge; Marisa de Cassia Piccolo; Humberto Ribeiro da Rocha

• Advisor: Luiz Antonio Martinelli

Abstract

The Amazon terra-firme forest and Cerrado occur in the Brazilian tropical region characterized by low soil fertility and a quite diverse climatological condition, mainly related to extend and intensity of the dry and wet seasons. Despite the differences in evolutionary character, water economy and strategies in nutrient cycling, these systems are known for a high number of woody legumes. Othe objective of this study was to investigate the nitrogen dynamics, with emphasis on the biological nitrogen fixation, on some types of natural vegetation from Brazil. Areas of terra-firme forest on plateau, terra-firme forest on baixio and campinarana, situated in the Brazilian Amazon region and areas of cerrado sensu stricto submitted to different fire regimes, situated in Central region of Brazil, were investigated. Total N concentration varied from 1.2 to 4.1 g kg-1 at the surface (0-5 cm) to ~ 0.5 g kg-1 at 50 cm depth. Regardless of the site, a large increase in δ15N was observed in the first 50 cm of the soil, although the soil profiles from terra-firme forest in Manaus and Santarém were more enriched in 15N than the other profiles. All terra-firme forests showed higher N, P and Ca concentrations, and δ15N, in the litter, as well as lower C:N ratio compared to the other studied sites. Within-site, foliar δ15N (~ 10 ‰) did not differ between legumes and non-legumes, but legumes had higher foliar N concentrations. Forests on fertile soils were enriched in 15N relative to those on poorer soils. Foliar δ15N was positively correlated with the length of the dry season in terra-firme forests along the Amazon while foliar N did not decrease as precipitation increases. Terra-firme forests are N-rich ecosystems (open N-cycle) compared to the Cerrado where the large range of δ15N reflects mechanisms to sustain such diversity in this nutrient-poor and water-stressed environment. Precipitation seasonality (dry versus wet season), fire frequency and ability to fix atmospheric N (legumes vs non-legumes), did not reflect significant differences in the δ15N values of Cerrado leaves. Both terra-firme forest and cerrado s.s. are limited more by P than by N, although N limitation is higher in the latter. Three aspects ought to be concerned describing the patterns found in this work. First, differences in plant versus soil δ15N; second, differences in the characteristic of the N cycle (the magnitude of inputs and outputs versus the quantity of N within systems); and third, variations on isotopic fractionation during N loss. Therefore, differences in the relative openness of the N cycle seems to contribute most strongly to fertility-related variation in N-15, while differences in fractionation during output contribute more strongly to rainfallassociated variation. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 01/09984-6 - The role of legume plants in two tropical ecosystems - Amazonia and Cerrado - using the isotopic technique
• Grantee: Gabriela Bielefeld Nardoto
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate