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Nitrate Nitrogen Addition Promotes Soil Aggregate Stability in Larix olgensis Forest
Tongbao Qu1, Yushan Liu1, Shilong Xie1
1College of Forestry and Grassland, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China.
Microorganisms
|May 4, 2026
Summary
Sodium nitrate (NaNO3) effectively improves soil aggregate stability in Larix olgensis forests by enhancing nutrients and promoting macroaggregate formation. It also positively influences microbial diversity, unlike other nitrogen forms.
Area of Science:
- Forest Ecology
- Soil Science
- Environmental Microbiology
Background:
- Nitrogen addition impacts soil aggregate stability by altering the microenvironment.
- Research on nitrogen's effects on soil aggregates in Larix olgensis forests is limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate the effects of different nitrogen forms (urea, ammonium chloride, sodium nitrate) on soil aggregate stability in Larix olgensis forest understories.
- Analyze the influence of nitrogen addition on soil physicochemical properties, aggregate stability, and microbial community composition.
Main Methods:
- Applied nitrogen at 20 kg N·ha⁻¹·yr⁻¹ using urea, ammonium chloride, and sodium nitrate.
- Determined soil physicochemical properties, aggregate stability, and microbial community composition.
- Analyzed changes in aggregate formation, nutrient content, and microbial diversity.
Main Results:
- Sodium nitrate significantly increased soil nutrients, promoted macroaggregate formation, and enhanced aggregate stability.
- Ammonium chloride decreased bacterial diversity in microaggregates; sodium nitrate increased fungal diversity in macroaggregates.
- Nitrogen forms altered microbial community composition, with sodium nitrate showing broad positive effects.
Conclusions:
- Sodium nitrate is more effective than urea or ammonium chloride in improving soil aggregate stability in Larix olgensis forest soils.
- Nitrogen addition, particularly sodium nitrate, significantly influences soil microbial community structure and function.
- Findings provide a basis for understanding forest soil aggregate responses to nitrogen deposition.
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