Biomedical subjects

Chris van Kessel

Publications and source records attributed to Chris van Kessel.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2007

Symbiotic nitrogen fixation in a tropical rainforest: 15N natural abundance measurements supported by experimental isotopic enrichment.

* Leguminous trees are very common in the tropical rainforests of Guyana. Here, species-specific differences in N(2) fixation capability among nodulating legumes growing on different soils and a possible limitation of N(2) fixation by a relatively high nitrogen (N) and low phosphorus (P) availability in the forest were investigated. * Leaves of 17 nodulating species and 17 non-nodulating reference trees were sampled and their delta(15)N values measured. Estimates of N(2) fixation rates were calculated using the (15)N natural abundance method. Pot experiments were conducted on the effect of N and P availability on N(2) fixation using the (15)N-enriched isotope dilution method. * Nine species showed estimates of > 33% leaf N derived from N(2) fixation, while the others had low or undetectable N(2) fixation rates. High N and low P availability reduced N(2) fixation substantially. * The results suggest that a high N and low P availability in the forest limit N(2) fixation. At the forest ecosystem level, N(2) fixation was estimated at c. 6% of total N uptake by the tree community. We conclude that symbiotic N(2) fixation plays an important role in maintaining high amounts of soil available N in undisturbed forest.

Ecosystem↗

PubMed2006

Element interactions limit soil carbon storage.

Rising levels of atmospheric CO2 are thought to increase C sinks in terrestrial ecosystems. The potential of these sinks to mitigate CO2 emissions, however, may be constrained by nutrients. By using metaanalysis, we found that elevated CO2 only causes accumulation of soil C when N is added at rates well above typical atmospheric N inputs. Similarly, elevated CO2 only enhances N2 fixation, the major natural process providing soil N input, when other nutrients (e.g., phosphorus, molybdenum, and potassium) are added. Hence, soil C sequestration under elevated CO2 is constrained both directly by N availability and indirectly by nutrients needed to support N2 fixation.

Carbon↗

PubMed2006

Tillage and field scale controls on greenhouse gas emissions.

There is a lack of understanding of how associations among soil properties and management-induced changes control the variability of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from soil. We performed a laboratory investigation to quantify relationships between GHG emissions and soil indicators in an irrigated agricultural field under standard tillage (ST) and a field recently converted (2 yr) to no-tillage (NT). Soil cores (15-cm depth) were incubated at 25 degrees C at field moisture content and 75% water holding capacity. Principal component analysis (PCA) identified that most of the variation of the measured soil properties was related to differences in soil C and N and soil water conditions under ST, but soil texture and bulk density under NT. This trend became more apparent after irrigation. However, principal component regression (PCR) suggested that soil physical properties or total C and N were less important in controlling GHG emissions across tillage systems. The CO2 flux was more strongly determined by microbial biomass under ST and inorganic N content under NT than soil physical properties. Similarly, N2O and CH4 fluxes were predominantly controlled by NO3- content and labile C and N availability in both ST and NT soils at field moisture content, and NH4+ content after irrigation. Our study indicates that the field-scale variability of GHG emissions is controlled primarily by biochemical parameters rather than physical parameters. Differences in the availability and type of C and N sources for microbial activity as affected by tillage and irrigation develop different levels and combinations of field-scale controls on GHG emissions.

Biomass↗

PubMed2005

Vertical gradients of delta15N and delta18O in soil atmospheric N2O--temporal dynamics in a sandy soil.

The greenhouse gas nitrous oxide (N(2)O) can be both formed and consumed by microbial processes in the soil. As these processes fractionate strongly in favour of (14)N and (16)O, delta(15)N and delta(18)O gradients of N(2)O in the soil profile may elucidate patterns of N(2)O formation, consumption or emission to the atmosphere. We present the first in situ data of such gradients over time for a mesic typic Haplaquod seeded with potatoes (Solanum tuberosum L.). On two adjacent fields in 2002 and 2003, topsoil N(2)O fluxes were measured and the soil atmosphere was regularly sampled for N(2)O concentrations, delta(15)N and delta(18)O signatures of N(2)O at depths of 18, 48 and 90 cm during approximately 400 days. During the entire sampling period, the N(2)O concentrations were the highest and the delta(15)N signatures the lowest in the subsoil (48 or 90 cm depth) as compared with the topsoil, indicating production of N(2)O in the subsoil. For delta(15)N, differences greater than 30 per thousand between topsoil and subsoil on the same date were regularly observed. The highest N(2)O concentration of 100385 microL m(-3) at 90 cm depth on 1 July 2003, was preceded by the lowest delta(15)N value of -43.5 per thousand one week earlier. This was followed by a 150-day general decrease of N(2)O concentrations at 90 cm depth to 1723 microL m(-3) and a simultaneous enrichment of delta(15)N to +7.1 per thousand, mostly without a significant topsoil flux. There was a negative logarithmic relationship between N(2)O concentration at 90 cm depth and its delta(15)N signature. This relationship indicated a delta(15)N signature of -40 to -45 per thousand during the production of N(2)O in the subsoil, and a subsequent enrichment during the consumption of N(2)O. We conclude that the isotopic signature of the N(2)O topsoil flux is the result of various processes of consumption and production at different depths in the soil profile. It is therefore not a reliable estimator for the overall delta(15)N signature of N(2)O in the soil atmosphere, nor for indirect losses of N(2)O to the environment. Therefore, these findings will pose a further challenge to ongoing efforts to draw up a global isotopic budget for N(2)O.

Atmosphere↗