Nitrogen (N) pollution has increased as a result of human activities such as excessive fossil fuel combustion and fertilization of agricultural land. Additional atmospheric N deposition or exogenous N inputs can affect ecosystem greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. However, the response of wetland GHG emissions to long-term N enrichment and its driving mechanisms are controversial. Recently, researchers at the Northeast Institute of Geography and Agroecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, revealed the effects of long-term N enrichment on greenhouse gas emissions from wetlands and its driving mechanisms through field in situ monitoring experiments and metagenomics. This work was published in the journal of Water Research on December, 2024. The researchers found that long-term N enrichment significantly contributed to wetland carbon dioxide (CO2) and nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions but had no significant effect on methane (CH4) emissions. Long-term N enrichment promotes N2O emissions mainly by increasing nitrification gene abundance. The increase in CO2 emissions was attributed to long-term N enrichment that reduced the abundance of soil carbon sequestration genes as well as increased readily decomposable carbon (dissolved organic carbon and microbial biomass carbon) content. Long-term N enrichment did not impact CH4 cycle functional gene abundance. The results of this study provide theoretical support for wetland conservation and achievement of carbon neutrality goals. Protecting natural wetlands and reducing unnecessary fossil fuel burning and fertilization will reduce wetland GHG emissions. Keywords: Greenhouse gas; Nitrogen input; Soil microorganism; Functional gene; Wetland Fig. 1. Effects of long-term N enrichment on GHG emissions from wetlands and its driving mechanisms. Contact: Song Yanyu Northeast Institute of Geography and Agroecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences E-mail: songyanyu@iga.ac.cn Attachment: Microbes drive more carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide emissions from wetland under long-term nitrogen enrichment https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2024.122942
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