Abstract
We used an acetylene reduction assay to measure rates of nitrogen fixation on a 38-year-oldAlnus hirsuta plantation in central Korea. The diurnal pattern of acetylene reduction changed significantly during May, August, and October, typically varying by 3-fold throughout the course of the day. Maximum rates occurred at 3 p.m. in May and October, but at 6 p.m. in August. Increasing trends were evident during the early growing season, with sustained high rates from mid-May through late September; July had the highest rates, averaging 7.2 µmole g-1 dry nodule h-1. The average nodule biomass for this plantation was 220 kg ha ’. Rates of acetylene reduction were related to soil temperature, but not to soil moisture content. Combining these nodule biomass calculations with seasonal average acetylene reduction rates yielded an estimate of current annual nitrogen fixation of 60 kg N ha-1 for the plantation. This rate of annual nitrogen addition was very large in relation to the yearly nitrogen requirements of coniferous and deciduous forests in central Korea.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Explore related subjects
Discover the latest articles, news and stories from top researchers in related subjects.Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
Literature cited
Anderson MD, Ruess RW, Uliassi DD, Mitchell JS (2004) Estimating N2 fixation in two species ofAlnus in interior Alaska using acetylene reduction and N15 uptake. Eco Science11: 102–112
Binkley D (1981) Nodule biomass and acetylene reduction rates of red alder and Sitka alder on Vancouver Island, B.C. Can J For Res11: 281–286
Binkley D, Cromack K, Baker DD (1994) Nitrogen fixation by red alder: Biology, rates, and controls.In DE Hibbs, DS DeBell, RF Tarrant, eds, The Biology and Management of Red Alder. Oregon State University Press, Corvallis, pp 57–72
Binkley D, Sollins P, Bell R, Sachs D, Myrold D (1992) Biogeochemistry of adjacent conifer and alder-conifer stands. Ecology73: 2022–2033
Bormann BT, Gordon JC (1984) Stand density effects in young red alder plantations: Productivity, photosynthate partitioning, and nitrogen fixation. Ecology65: 394–402
Chae Ml, Kim JH (1977) Comparison of biomass, productivity and productive structure between Korean alder and oak stands. Kor J Ecol1: 57–65
Dawson JO, Gordon JC (1979) Nitrogen fixation in relation to photosynthesis inAlnus glutinosa. Bot Gaz140S: 70–75
Deal RL, Hennon PE, Orlikowska EH, D’Amore DV (2004) Stand dynamics of mixed red alder-conifer forests of southeast Alaska. Can J For Res34: 969–980
Ekblad A, Lundquist PO, Sjostrom M, Huss-Danell K (1994) Day-to-day variation in nitrogenase activity ofAlnus incana explained by weather variables: A multivariate time series analysis. Plant Cell Environ17: 319–325
Fisher DF, Binkley D (2000) Ecology and Management of Forest Soils, Ed 3. Wiley, New York, pp 352–353
Hardy RWF, Burns RC, Holsten RD (1973) Application of the acetylene-ethylene assay for measurement of nitrogen fixation. Soil Biol Biochem5: 47–81
Hibbs DE, DeBell DS, Tarrant RF (1994) The Biology and Management of Red Alder. Oregon State University Press, Corvallis
Hurd TM, Raynal DJ, Schwintzer CR (2001) Symbiotic N2 fixation ofAlnus incana spp.rugosa in shrub wetlands of the Adirondack Mountains, New York, USA. Oecologia126: 94–103
Huss-Danell K, Lundquist PO, Ohlsson H (1992) N2 fixation in a youngAlnus incana stand, based on seasonal and diurnal variation in whole plant nitrogenase activity. Can J For Res70: 1537–1544
Johnsrud SC (1978) Nitrogen fixation by root nodules ofAlnus incana in a Norwegian forest ecosystem. Oikos30: 475–479
Knowles R (1987) Free-living dinitrogen-fixing bacteria.In AL Page, RH Miller, DR Keeney eds, Methods of Soil Analysis. Part 2. Chemical and Microbiological Properties, Ed 2. Soil Science Society of America, Madison, pp 1072–1092
Koo CD, Lee KJ, Yim KB (1982) Growth stimulation of pines by artificial inoculation with mycorrhizal fungus,Pisolithus tinctorius. J Kor For Soc55: 22–29
Koo CD, Molina RJ, Miller SL, Li CY (1996) Effects of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilization on ectomycorrhiza development, N-fixation and growth of red alder seedlings. J Kor For Soc85: 96–106
Krussmann G (1984) Manual of cultivated broad-leaved trees and shrubs. Timber Press, Beaverton, Vol1: 134
Lee KJ (1984) Growth response ofPinus rigida × P. taeda to mycorrhizal inoculation and efficiency ofPisolithus tinctorius at different soil texture and fertility with organic amendment. J Kor For Soc64: 11–19
Lee KJ (1988) Growth stimulation ofAlnus firma andRobinia pseudoacacia by dual inoculation with VA mycorrhizal fungi and nitrogen-fixing bacteria and their synergistic effect. J Kor For Soc77: 229–234
Mun HT, Kim JM, Kim JH (1977) Distributions and cycling of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in Korean alder and oak stands. Kor J Biol20: 109–118
Razgulin SM, Bogatyrev YG (2004) The nitrogen-fixing activity of gray alder(Alnus incana). Eurasian Soil Sci37: 769–774
Rhoades C, Oskarsson H, Binkley D, Stottlemyer B (2001) Alder(Alnus crispa) effects on soils ecosystems of the Agashashok river valley, northwest Alaska. EcoScience8: 89–95
Rice WA, Olsen PE (1993) Root nodule bacteria and nitrogen fixation.In MR Carter, ed, Soil Sampling and Methods of Analysis. Lewis Publishers, Boca Raton, pp 303–317
Rothe AR, Cromack K, Resh SC, Makineci E, Son Y (2002) Soil carbon and nitrogen changes under Douglas-fir with and without red alder. Soil Sci Soc Am J66: 1988–1995
Rytter L, Arveby AS, Granhall U (1991) Dinitrogen (C2H2) fixation in relation to nitrogen fertilization of gray alder [Alnus incana (L.)] Moench. plantations in a peat bog. Biol Fertil Soils10: 233–240
SAS (1988) SAS/STAT User’s Guide. Ed. 6.03. SAS Institute, Cary NC
Sharma E, Ambasht RS (1984) Seasonal variation in nitrogen fixation by different ages of root nodules ofAlnus nepalensis plantations, in the Eastern Himalayas. J Appl Ecol21: 265–270
Sharma G, Sharma R, Sharma E, Singh KK (2002) Performance of an age series ofAlnus Cardamom plantation in the Sikkim Himalaya: Nutrient dynamics. Ann Bot89: 273–282
Son Y, Lee IK (1997) Soil nitrogen mineralization in adjacent stands of larch, pine, and oak in central Korea. Ann For Sci54: 1–8
Teklehaimanot Z, Martin R (1999) Diurnal and seasonal patterns of nitrogenase activity of red alder in comparison with white clover in silvopastoral agroforestry systems. Biol Fertil Soils28: 267–270
Trappe JM, Franklin JF, Tarrant RF, Hansen GM (1968) Biology ofAlder. Pacific Northwest Forest and Range Experiment Station, Portland
Tripp LN, Bezdicek DF, Heilman PE (1979) Seasonal and diurnal patterns and rates of nitrogen fixation by young red alder. For Sci25: 371–380
Weaver RW, Frederick LR (1987)Rhizobium.In AL Page, RH Miller, DR Keeney, eds, Methods of Soil Analysis. Part 2. Chemical and Microbiological Properties, Ed 2. Soil Science Society of America, Madison, pp 1043- 1070
Wheeler CT (1969) The diurnal fluctuation in nitrogen fixation in the nodules ofAlnus glutinosa andMyrica gale. New Phytol68: 675–682
Wheeler CT (1971) The causation of the diurnal changes in nitrogen fixation in the nodules ofAlnus glutinosa. New Phytol70: 487–495
Yamanaka T, Akama A, Li CY, Okabe H (2005) Growth, nitrogen fixation and mineral acquisition ofAlnus sieboldiana after inoculation ofFrankia together withGigaspora margarita andPseudomonas putida. J For Res10: 21–26
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Lee, Y.Y., Son, Y. Diurnal and seasonal patterns of nitrogen fixation in analnus hirsuta plantation of central Korea. J. Plant Biol. 48, 332–337 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03030531
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03030531