The interactive effects of mowing and N addition did not weaken soil net N mineralization rates in semi-arid grassland of Northern China

Abstract

As the largest portion of the terrestrial ecosystems, the arid and semi-arid grassland ecosystem is relatively sensitive and vulnerable to nitrogen (N) deposition. Mowing, the main management in Inner Mongolia grassland also has deep direct and indirect effect on N transformation by removing the nutrient from soils. However, the interaction effect of N addition and mowing on N transformation is still unclear, especially in semi-arid grassland. Here, we conducted a field-manipulated experiment to assess N addition (10 g N m−2 y−1) and mowing (in the middle of August) effects on soil net N mineralization rate across 4 growing seasons (2006–2009) in a semi-arid grassland in Inner Mongolia of northern China. We found that N addition with or without mowing led to significant effect on soil ammonification rate and net N mineralization rate, but had no significant effect on nitrification rates. Furthermore, mowing had no significant effect on soil net N mineralization, ammonification and nitrification rates. N addition and Mowing decreased microbial respiration and metabolic quotient, whereas the interaction of N addition and mowing had no significant effect on microbial respiration and metabolic quotient. Our results indicated that the effects of mowing and N addition did not interactively weaken soil net N mineralization rates in a semi-arid grassland of Northern China. Therefore, the anthropic management (i.e. mowing for hay once a year) with N addition may be a sustainable approach for restoration and reconstruction of vegetation in the abandoned grassland of Northern China.