Work

Differential Pulse Sensitivity of Nitric and Nitrous Oxide Emissions to Temperature, Carbon, and Nitrogen Following Wetting of Desert Soils

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Infrequent soil wetting in deserts can induce large nitrogen (N) trace gas pulses; however, how other abiotic mechanisms interactively control the timing and magnitude of these pulses are not clear. In particular, production of nitric(NO) and nitrous (N 2 O) oxide may be differentially sensitive to temperature, carbon (C), and N availability. At a desert field site in Southern California, USA, we used an automated sensor system in 4 years of field campaigns to track NO and N 2 O pulse responses to experimental manipulations of C and N across a range of ambient temperatures and shrub fertile islands. We observed rapid onset and shorter duration of N 2 O pulses immediately after wetting compared to lagged and extended pulses of NO, suggesting preferential incorporation of N initially into N 2 O in anoxic microsites and then to NO as soils dry. We identified strong nitrogen limitation and exponential temperature dependence of NO pulses, particularly for soils located under shrubs. N 2 O pulses were less responsive to experimental manipulations but showed evidence of C and N colimitation as well as seasonal temperature differences. As atmospheric N deposition and temperatures continue to increase in desert systems, we can expect larger losses of N from soils as pulse‐based emissions.

Source: Journal of Geophysical Research Biogeosciences

DOI: 10.1029/2025jg009169

Authors: Holly M. Andrews, G. Darrel Jenerette

Institutions: University of California, Riverside, Louisiana State University, Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, Center for Conservation Biology

Language: English

Topic: Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Dynamics

Subfield: Soil Science

Field: Agricultural and Biological Sciences

Domain: Life Sciences

SDGs: Climate action, Life on land

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $4,070