Rainfall limit of the N cycle on Earth
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Abstract
In most climates on Earth, biological processes control soil N. In the Atacama Desert of Chile, aridity severely limits biology, and soils accumulate atmospheric NO3−. We examined this apparent transformation of the soil N cycle using a series of ancient Atacama Desert soils (>2 My) that vary in rainfall (21 to <2 mm yr−1). With decreasing rainfall, soil organic C decreases to 0.3 kg C m−2 and biological activity becomes minimal, while soil NO3− and organic N increase to 4 kg N m−2 and 1.4 kg N m−2, respectively. Atmospheric NO3− (Δ17O = 23.0‰) increases from 39% to 80% of total soil NO3− as rainfall decreases. These soils capture the transition from a steady state, biologically mediated soil N cycle to a dominantly abiotic, transient state of slowly accumulating atmospheric N. This transition suggests that oxidized soil N may be present in an even more arid and abiotic environment: Mars.
| Publication type | Article |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Title | Rainfall limit of the N cycle on Earth |
| Series title | Global Biogeochemical Cycles |
| DOI | 10.1029/2006GB002838 |
| Volume | 21 |
| Issue | 3 |
| Year Published | 2007 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | American Geophysical Union |
| Contributing office(s) | Toxic Substances Hydrology Program |
| Description | GB3009, 12 p. |
| Google Analytic Metrics | Metrics page |