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Updated: Dec 29, 2025

Single-throughput Complementary High-resolution Analytical Techniques for Characterizing Complex Natural Organic Matter Mixtures
Published on: January 7, 2019
Chronic nitrogen addition promotes dissolved organic carbon accumulation in a temperate freshwater wetland
Rong Mao1, Xin-Hou Zhang2, Chang-Chun Song3
1Key Laboratory of State Forestry and Grassland Administration on Forest Ecosystem Protection and Restoration of Poyang Lake Watershed, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, 330045, China; Key Laboratory of Wetland Ecology and Environment, Northeast Institute of Geography and Agroecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun, 130102, China.
Abstract:
Temperate wetlands have been undergoing increased nitrogen (N) inputs in the past decades, yet its influence on dissolved organic carbon (DOC) dynamics is still elusive in these ecosystems. Here, using a field multi-level N addition (0, 6, 12, and 24 g N m-2 year-1) experiment, we investigated the changes in aboveground plant biomass, DOC production from plant litters, DOC biodegradation, and DOC concentration in surface water and soil pore water (0-15 cm depth) following 10 years of N addition in a freshwater marsh of Northeast China. We observed that, irrespective of N addition levels, N addition caused an increase in DOC production from plant litters under both non-flooded and flooded conditions. Conversely, DOC biodegradation was inhibited by N addition in both surface water and soil pore water. Because of enhanced DOC production from plant litters and declined DOC biodegradation, N addition elevated DOC concentration in surface water and soil pore water across the growing season. In addition, long-term N addition increased aboveground plant biomass, but decreased species richness. Our results suggest that long-term N enrichment promotes DOC accumulation through the contrasting effects on litter-derived DOC production and microbial decomposition of DOC in temperate wetlands.
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