Waterlogging and fire impacts on nitrogen availability and utilization in a subtropical wet heathland (wallum)

Abstract

Protein, amino acids and ammonium were the main forms of soluble soil nitrogen in the soil solution of a subtropical heathland (wallum). After fire, soil ammonium and nitrate increased 90- and 60-fold, respectively. Despite this increase in nitrate availability after fire, wallum species exhibited uniformly low nitrate reductase activities and low leaf and xylem nitrate. During waterlogging soil amino acids increased, particularly γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) which accounted for over 50% of amino nitrogen. Non-mycorrhizal wallum species were significantly (P < 0.05) 15N-enriched (0.3-4.3‰) compared to species with mycorrhizal associations (ericoid, type, ecto-, va-mycorrhizal) which were strongly depleted in 15N (-6.3 to -1.8‰). Lignotubers and roots had δ15N signatures similar to that of the leaves of respective species. The exceptions were fine roots of ecto-, ecto/va-, and ericoid type mycorrhizal species which were enriched in 15N (0.1-2.4‰). The δ15N signatures of δ15N(total) soil N and δ15N(soil) N4/+ were in the range 3.7-4.5‰, whereas δ15N(soil) NO3/- was significantly (P< 0.05) more enriched in 15N (9.2-9.8‰). It is proposed that there is discrimination against 15N during transfer of nitrogen from fungal to plant partner. Roots of selected species incorporated nitrogen sources in the order of preference: ammonium > glycine > nitrate. The exception were proteoid roots of Hakea (Proteaceae) which incorporated equal amounts of glycine and ammonium.