Effect of nitrogen deposition on CH4 uptake in forest soils in Hokkaido, Japan

Abstract It has been well documented by short-term artificial experiments that the CH4 uptake is inhibited by N input, especially NH4 p+-N input. To investigate the effect of the natural N input by throughfall and other factors on the CH4 uptake in forest soils, we measured the CH4 uptake rates for 6 months during the snow-free period of the year and N input by throughfall throughout the year at 10 sites in Hokkaido, Japan, from 1997 to 2002. Water filled pore space (WFPS) and pH values in the soils varied widely among the sites (38-93% and 3.9-6.2, respectively). The rates of NH4 p+-N and NH3 p--N inputs ranged from 1.3 to 6.9 kg N hap-1 yearp-1 and from 0.8 to 2.9 kg N hap-1 yearp-1, respectively. The NH4 p+-N input was generally higher than the NH3 p--N input. Total N input by throughfall amounted to 2.3-9.4 kg N hap-1 yearp-1. The highest CH4 uptake rate occurred within the period from July to September (41-215 μg CH4 mp-2 hp-1) each year at most sites. CH4 uptake rate was relatively low (~50 μg CH4 M...