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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 46(7)

Does atmospheric CO2 concentration influence soil nitrifying bacteria and their activity?

Saman Bowatte A B , R. Andrew Carran A , Paul C. D. Newton A and Phil Theobald A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A AgResearch (Grasslands), Private Bag 11008, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand.

B Corresponding author. Email: saman.bowatte@agresearch.co.nz

Australian Journal of Soil Research 46(7) 617-622 https://doi.org/10.1071/SR07214
Submitted: 27 November 2007  Accepted: 1 May 2008   Published: 8 October 2008

Abstract

Ammonia oxidising bacteria (AOB) are important soil microorganisms that carry out the first step in nitrification, the oxidation of ammonia to nitrite. In this paper we investigated the impact of long-term elevated CO2 on soil nitrification and soil AOB community composition. Soil samples were taken from Hakanoa natural CO2 springs, Kamo, Northland, New Zealand. This site has been exposed to elevated CO2 for several decades. Soils were collected from different points near to CO2-emitting vents where the CO2 concentration at canopy height had been characterised. Nitrification activity was measured using a short-term nitrification assay, and AOB community composition was characterised using polymerase chain reaction and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). A principal component analysis of the DGGE banding pattern was carried out to identify the effect of CO2 on AOB community composition. Soil nitrification activity was markedly decreased with increasing CO2. The variation in DGGE banding patterns revealed differences in the composition of the soil AOB community that were related to CO2 concentration. Principal component analysis showed that the changes in community composition and nitrifying activity were linked and that these changes were related to atmospheric CO2 concentration.

Additional keywords: elevated CO2, nitrification, ammonia oxidising bacteria, natural CO2 springs, DGGE.


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