Data product for "Effects of water and nitrogen availability on nitrogen contribution by the legume, Lupinus argenteus Pursh"

Metadata:

Identification_Information
Data_Quality_Information
Entity_and_Attribute_Information
Distribution_Information
Metadata_Reference_Information

Identification_Information:

Citation:

Citation_Information:

Originator: Erin Goergen

Publication_Date: 2009

Title:

Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: tabular digital data

Publication_Information:

Publication_Place: Fort Collins, CO
Publisher: USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station

Online_Linkage: http://www.fs.fed.us/rm/data_archive/dataaccess/NV_H20andN_on_Ncontrib_by_Lupine.shtml

Description:

Abstract:: We conducted a greenhouse experiment to examine the separate and interacting effects of water and nitrogen (N) availability on biomass production, tissue N concentration, nodulation, nodule activity, and rhizodeposition of Lupinus argenteus (Pursh), a legume native to sagebrush steppe. Plants were grown in a replicated, randomized block design with three levels of water and four levels of N. Within treatment, we measured above and belowground biomass, tissue nitrogen concentration, acetylene reduction and 15N as estimates of fixation, and exudation of organic nitrogen into the rhizosphere.
Purpose:: Nitrogen-fixing species contribute to ecosystem nitrogen budgets, but background resource levels influence nodulation, fixation, and plant growth. Understanding how the native lupine, L. argenteus, responds to varying water and nitrogen (N) availability can provide insights into its influence on species interactions and community functioning under different environmental conditions and following disturbances such as fire or increased N deposition. Therefore, we examined the separate and interacting effects of water and N availability on N contribution by the native sagebrush legume L. argenteus.
Supplemental_Information:: Publication currently in progress. This metadata document will be updated when publication is available.

Time_Period_of_Content:

Time_Period_Information:

Range_of_Dates/Times:

Beginning_Date: 2006
Ending_Date: 2006

Currentness_Reference:

ground condition

Status:

Progress: Complete
Maintenance_and_Update_Frequency: As needed

Spatial_Domain:

Description_of_Geographic_Extent:

Plants were grown in the University of Nevada - Reno greenhouses, Reno, NV.

Bounding_Coordinates:

West_Bounding_Coordinate: -119.805833333
East_Bounding_Coordinate: -119.805555555
North_Bounding_Coordinate: 39.5380555555
South_Bounding_Coordinate: 39.5377777777
Bounding_Altitudes:

Keywords:

Theme:

Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: None
Theme_Keyword: nitrogen fixation
Theme_Keyword: rhizodeposition

Place:

Place_Keyword_Thesaurus: None
Place_Keyword: sagebrush steppe
Place_Keyword: Reno
Place_Keyword: Nevada

Taxonomy:

Keywords/Taxon:
Taxonomic_System:
Taxonomic_Classification:

Access_Constraints: None

Use_Constraints:

These data were collected by USDA Forest Service researchers and can be used without additional permissions or fees. If you use these data in a publication, presentation, or other research product please use the citation below when citing the dataset:

Goergen, Erin. 2009. Data product for "Effects of Water and Nitrogen Availability on Nitrogen Contribution by the Legume, Lupinus argenteus Pursh". [Online]. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/rm/data_archive [2009, May 14].

Cross_Reference:

Citation_Information:

Originator: Goergen, E., et al.

Publication_Date: 2009

Title:

Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: journal article

Series_Information:

Series_Name: Appl. Soil Ecol.
Issue_Identification:

Other_Citation_Details:

doi:10.1016/j.apsoil.2009.04.001

Data_Quality_Information:

Attribute_Accuracy:

Attribute_Accuracy_Report:: unknown

Logical_Consistency_Report:

Data were entered and manually verified for accuracy. Data were plotted to look for outliers.

Completeness_Report:

Data for ARA, 15N, and root nodule weight are from a subset of all treatments.

Lineage:

Methodology:

Methodology_Type: Lab
Methodology_Description:: We conducted a greenhouse experiment to examine the effects of water and nitrogen (N) on L. argenteus growth, tissue concentration, nodulation, nodule activity and root exudation. A factorial experiment with three levels of water and four levels of N was used. The study was implemented as a complete randomized block design with 12 replications of each treatment combination, although mortality over the course of the experiment resulted in lower sample sizes for some treatments (n = 6-12).

In spring 2006 Lupinus argenteus (hereafter Lupinus) seeds were obtained from a local Sierran source (Comstock Seeds, Gardnerville, NV). Seeds were scarified with sandpaper to promote germination. Scarified seeds were then coated with a commercial inoculum (Nitragin, Lupine inoculum H) and allowed to dry before planting. Seeds were planted in 0.1 meter (m) diameter by 0.35 m tall PVC tubes (3 seeds/tube) containing washed sand (#16 mesh size). The bottom of each PVC tube was covered with mesh and pots were placed on an elevated platform to allow free drainage. Pots were watered with deionized (DI) water until the seedlings had emerged and had their first true leaf. Seedlings were then thinned to one plant per pot. Plants were grown in the University of Nevada - Reno greenhouses under natural light with a climate controlled maximum daily temperature of 27 degrees Celcius and minimum nightly temperature of 7 degrees Celcius.

Plants were randomly assigned to one of the 12 water and N combinations. Plants received the assigned nutrient solution during each regular watering session. All nutrient solutions were based on a modified 1/4 strength Hoagland's nutrient solution with only N varying. Concentration of N used was based on the range of N (as NH4NO3) found in soil extracts under field conditions: 0 N, 5 millimolar = millimoles per liter (mM) N (end of season conditions), 20 mM N (early season conditions), and 100 mM N (extreme post-fire conditions). To prevent accumulation of nutrients in the dried sand, pots were flushed with 1 liter (L) of DI at each scheduled watering and allowed to freely drain prior to receiving 200 ml of fertilizer. The water holding capacity of the sand filled pots was approximately 400 milliliter (ml), and preliminary tests indicated that flushing pots with this amount was more than sufficient to remove any residual nutrient solution. This method allowed plants to be exposed to a more consistent nutrient environment throughout the experiment.

For water response, preliminary trials were conducted to determine the volume of water needed to bring pots to field capacity and at what frequency of watering plants exhibited different degrees of water stress. Pots were watered to field capacity (400 ml) and allowed to freely drain. The number of days required for plant wilt to occur was recorded and served as the watering interval for the low water treatment. Water stress was verified by comparing stomatal conductance using a LI-6400 (LI-COR Lincoln, NE) between droughted and well watered plants. Based on these results, plants assigned the high water treatment were flushed and received the 200 ml nutrient solution twice a week, plants under the moderate water treatment once a week, and plants in the low water treatment once every two weeks. PVC tubes without any seedlings were also set up and watered with DI water (n = 6) to determine any background N. Plants were grown under their respective treatments for three months (March - May 2006) and were randomized every two weeks to reduce edge and neighbor effects. To account for potential size bias at the conclusion of the experiment, height and number of leaves of all seedlings was recorded at initiation of the experiment.

Root Exudation
Before harvesting, all plants were flushed with 2 L of DI water and allowed to drain. Plants were then watered with the 0 N nutrient solution and incubated for 24 hours to examine root exudation. The incubation period was chosen to avoid any possible effect of diurnal fluctuations in root exudation. At the conclusion of incubation, all pots were flushed 3 times with 400 ml DI. The volume of water that drained after each flush was recorded and a 50 ml subsample was collected and immediately frozen for later analysis. The three subsamples for each pot were composited and divided into 2 samples: one for analysis of inorganic N and one for total N. Samples were centrifuged for 2 minutes at 5000 RPM before analysis (Sorvall RC 5C) to allow any particulates to settle. Amounts of inorganic N (NH4+ + NO3-) were quantified using a LACHAT QuikChem (registered trademark) Flow Injection Analysis System (Milwaukee WI). Dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) was determined by subtracting total inorganic N from total N obtained via persulfate digestion. In addition, for plants receiving the 0 N treatment for the duration of the experiment, amounts of organic N present in the rhizosphere was compared to N fixed to determine percentage of fixed N being exuded.

Plant harvesting and tissue analysis
At the conclusion of the experiment, above and belowground (roots + nodules) plant tissue was harvested, dried at 65 degrees Celcius for 48 hours, and weighed to determine biomass. Above and belowground tissue were milled separately (UDY Corp, Fort Collins, CO) and analyzed for total N and carbon (C) concentrations using a LECO TruSpec CN analyzer (St. Joseph MI). Carbon and N concentrations were multiplied with plant biomass to determine C and N content. A small portion of total plant N originates from seed, thus the average amount of N present in a subsample Lupinus seeds was determined.

A subsample of aboveground plant tissue from each treatment also was analyzed for natural abundance 15N and 13C (UC Davis Stable Isotope Facility). The delta 15N signature reflects the N acquired over the life of the plant, and is the sum of N in the seed and N obtained from the soil plus any atmospheric N acquired through fixation. Therefore, in addition to analyzing leaf tissue from each treatment for natural abundance 15N, a subsample of Lupinus seeds were analyzed for 15N to determine the baseline signature (delta 15 N seed = -0.92 0/00). In order to identify uptake of fertilizer-derived N in the 5 mM, 20 mM and 100 mM N treatments, the signature of the NH4NO3 fertilizer was also determined (delta 15 N fertilizer = -0.65 0/00).

Tissue 13C was used to verify plant stress according to water treatment, and also as an estimation of water use efficiency (WUE) under the different treatments. Leaf delta13 C signature revealed that plants under low water experienced greater water stress than moderate or high water treatments, indicating that our treatment had the desired effect. Further, across all water treatments, plants increased WUE (leaf delta 13 C became more positive) as N increased (data not shown), indicating that Lupinus responds to water and N as would be expected for a plants from a cold desert environment .

Nodulation and Acetylene Reduction Activity
At harvest, the number of nodules was recorded for each plant, and a subsample of nodules was weighed to determine mean specific nodule weight in each treatment. In addition, on a subsample of plants from each treatment, the acetylene reduction technique was used to determine treatment effect on acetylene reduction activity (ARA) as a measure of nodule activity. Although this method does not provide a direct measure of N2 fixation or nitrogenase activity, it is a valuable tool to assess differences in fixation potential among treatments (Vessey 1994). Further, whereas natural abundance 15N analysis provides a measure of fixation over the life of the plant, ARA provides a snapshot of nodule activity over a given period of time. A segment of root with intact nodules was cut and placed in a 40-cc vial filled with a 10% acetylene atmosphere. Airtight vials were incubated for 1 hour in ambient temperatures and shielded from light. Vials containing nodulated root segments without acetylene and vials with only acetylene also were included to examine any exogenous production of ethylene from root nodules and any contamination of ethylene in the acetylene. After the incubation period, a subsample of gas was removed with a syringe and placed in an evacuated container. 250 microliter (ul) gas samples were analyzed for ethylene content using a gas chromatograph (Shimadzu GC Mini Z) equipped with a hydrogen-flame ionization detector to determine the amount of ethylene evolved from nodulated root segments. Ultra high purity nitrogen (Sierra Airgas) was used as the carrier gas and was passed through an 8 foot column packed with 50-80 mesh Porapak "T". Column and injector temperatures were held at 80 and 100 degrees Celcius respectively. Dry weight of nodules assayed was recorded, as well as number of nodules present to provide an estimate of acetylene reduced per nodule weight.

Process_Step:

Process_Description:: No process steps have been described for this data set.
Process_Date: Unknown

Entity_and_Attribute_Information:

Overview_Description:

Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:: Common unit abbreviations used below are: mM=millimolar=millimoles per liter, mL=milliliter, ul = microliter, and ug=microgram.

Filename: 13_Carbon_isotope.csv
This comma-delimited ASCII text file contains 13 Carbon isotope values of L. argenteus shoot and root tissue in each treatment. Samples were processed at UC Davis Stable Isotope Facility. Data include:
NAME = sample id
POT = individual pot number
TRMT = 0, 5, 20, or 100 mM N as NO3NH4 in 1/4 strength Hoaglands
H20 = water level (1= Low water (200mL nutrient solution 1x every 2 weeks) 2= Moderate (200mL nutrient solution 1x every week) 3 = High (200mL nutrient solution 2x every week) All pots were flushed with 1 liter of deionized (DI) water before watering with nutrient solution. (milliliters)
A_B = above or below ground tissue (A=above, B=below)
C_migro_g = carbon content of sample (microgram)
DELTA_PDB = delta 13 carbon value
NOTES = some pots are marked as SEED or FERTILIZER, which means the signature of the actual fertilizer used or a representative sample of seed used to grow the plants. These values were used to help in the interpretation of the data from the experimental pots.

Filename: 15_Nitrogen_isotope.csv
This comma-delimited ASCII text file contains 15 nitrogen isotope values of L. argenteus shoot and root tissue in each treatment. Samples processed at UC Davis Stable Isotope Facility. Data include:
POT = individual pot number
TRMT = 0, 5, 20, or 100 mM N as NO3NH4 in 1/4 strength Hoaglands
H20 = water level (1= Low water (200mL nutrient solution 1x every 2 weeks) 2= Moderate (200mL nutrient solution 1x every week) 3 = High (200mL nutrient solution 2x every week) All pots were flushed with 1 liter of deionized (DI) water before watering with nutrient solution. (milliliters)
A_B = above or below ground tissue (A=above, B=below)
N_migro_g = nitrogen content of sample (microgram)
DELTA_AIR = delta 15 nitrogen value
NOTES = some pots are marked as SEED or FERTILIZER, which means the signature of the actual fertilizer used or a representative sample of seed used to grow the plants. These values were used to help in the interpretation of the data from the experimental pots.

Filename: Acetylene_reduction.csv
This comma-delimited ASCII text file contains Acetylene Reduction Assay (ARA) data (conducted at Desert Research Institute in Reno, NV) on subsample of L. argenteus root/nodule segments. Data include:
POT = individual pot number
TRMT = 0, 5, 20, or 100 mM N as NO3NH4 in 1/4 strength Hoaglands
H20 = water level (1= Low water (200mL nutrient solution 1x every 2 weeks) 2= Moderate (200mL nutrient solution 1x every week) 3 = High (200mL nutrient solution 2x every week) All pots were flushed with 1 liter of deionized (DI) water before watering with nutrient solution. (milliliters)
BLOCK = 1-6 based on location within greenhouse
AMT_ul = amount of sample injected into GC = gas chromatograph (microliter)
ETHYLENE = peak height of ethylene from GC print-out
ETHYLENE-CONT = ETHYLENE in the sample minus the value of ETHYLENE in the control (used to help verify there was no contamination of jars or gas by ethylene and that the value recoreded for each plant is actually due to fixation.
ETHYLENE_CONC_g_L = concentration of ethylene based on standards (grams per Liter)
ETHYLENE_CONC_uM = concentration of ethylene (micro Molar)
HEADSPACE_ml = headspace in vials used for ARA trial (milliliters)
NODULE_WT_mg = weight of nodules used in ARA trial (milligrams)
ARA_mg = index of nodule activity based on amount of ethylene evolved over 1h incubation of nodules with 10% acetylene atmosphere (milligrams per milligrams nodule dry weight per hour)

Filename: Biomass.csv
This comma-delimited ASCII text file contains aboveground and belowground biomass of L. argenteus in each treatment. Data include:
POT = individual pot number
TRMT = 0, 5, 20, or 100 mM N as NO3NH4 in 1/4 strength Hoaglands
H20 = water level (1= Low water (200mL nutrient solution 1x every 2 weeks) 2= Moderate (200mL nutrient solution 1x every week) 3 = High (200mL nutrient solution 2x every week) All pots were flushed with 1 liter of deionized (DI) water before watering with nutrient solution. (milliliters)
ABOVE_g = leaf tissue (grams)
BELOW_g = root tissue (grams)
ACETYL_g = weight of root tissue used for acetylene reduction (ARA) trial (grams)
TOTAL_BELOW_g = weight of root tissue plus wt of tissue used in ARA trial (grams)
ROOT_SHOOT = weight of total root divided by total above

Filename: Lupine_seed_wt.csv
This comma-delimited ASCII text file contains average weight of L. argenteus seeds used in experiment. Data include:
SAMPLE = number of seed weighed
SEED_WT_g = weight of individual Lupinus argenteus seed (grams)

Filename: Nodule_wt.csv
This comma-delimited ASCII text file contains average weight of nodules on a subsample of plants. Data include:
POT = individual pot number
TRMT = 0, 5, 20, or 100 mM N as NO3NH4 in 1/4 strength Hoaglands
H20 = water level (1= Low water (200mL nutrient solution 1x every 2 weeks) 2= Moderate (200mL nutrient solution 1x every week) 3 = High (200mL nutrient solution 2x every week) All pots were flushed with 1 liter of deionized (DI) water before watering with nutrient solution. (milliliters)
BLOCK = 1-6 based on location within greenhouse
NUM_NODULES = number of nodules weighed
NODULE_WT_g = weight of nodules (grams)
NODULE_WT_mg = weight of nodules (milligrams)
AVG_DRY_WT_mg = weight of nodules divided by number of nodules to get average dry weight (milligrams)

Filename: Nodules.csv
This comma-delimited ASCII text file contains number of nodules per plant in each treatment. Data include:
POT = individual pot number
H20 = water level (1= Low water (200mL nutrient solution 1x every 2 weeks) 2= Moderate (200mL nutrient solution 1x every week) 3 = High (200mL nutrient solution 2x every week) All pots were flushed with 1 liter of deionized (DI) water before watering with nutrient solution. (milliliters)
TRMT = 0, 5, 20, or 100 mM N as NO3NH4 in 1/4 strength Hoaglands
NODULE_COUNT = total number of nodules weighed

Filename: Organic_N_Exudation.csv
This comma-delimited ASCII text file contains exudation of organic nitrogen (N) by L. argenteus in each treatment over 24 hours. Data include:
POT = individual pot number
TRMT = 0, 5, 20, or 100 mM N as NO3NH4 in 1/4 strength Hoaglands
H20 = water level (1= Low water (200mL nutrient solution 1x every 2 weeks) 2= Moderate (200mL nutrient solution 1x every week) 3 = High (200mL nutrient solution 2x every week) All pots were flushed with 1 liter of deionized (DI) water before watering with nutrient solution. (milliliters)
BLOCK = 1-6 based on location within greenhouse
FLUSH_VOL_ml = total volume that drained from pots after 3 flushes of 400 mL (milliliters)
INORGANIC_NH4_BLNK_ug_ml = amount of NH4 in sample before digest (microgram per milliliter)
INORGANIC_NO3_BLNK_ug_ml = amount of NO3 in sample before digest (microgram per milliliter)
DIGEST_NH4_BLNK_ug_ml = amount of NH4 in sample after digest (microgram per milliliter)
DIGEST_NO3_BLNK_ug_ml = amount of NO3 in sample after digest (microgram per milliliter)
INORGANIC_N_ug = sum of inorganic N (NH4+ NO3 before digest) in total flush volume (microgram)
TOTAL_N_ug = sum of total N (NH4+NO3 + organic N) after digest in total flush volume (microgram)
ORG_N_ug = difference between Total N and inorganic N (microgram)
ORG_N_as_NO3_g = difference between Total N and inorganic N (grams)
ORG_N_as_N_g = organic N values multiplied by molecular weight of NO3 (0.78) to get amount of organic N as N (grams)
NOTES = some pots are marked as BLANK, which means it is a pot without plants used as a control for background levels of N in the absence of plant uptake

Filename: Sub_CN.csv
This comma-delimited ASCII text file contains carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) concentrations for subsample of weighed seeds. Data include:
SAMPLE = number of sample analyzed
C_pct = carbon concentration (%)
N_pct = nitrogen concentration (%)

Filename: Tissue_CN.csv
This comma-delimited ASCII text file contains above and belowground tissue carbon and nitrogen concentration and content. Data include:
POT = individual pot number
TRMT = 0, 5, 20, or 100 mM N as NO3NH4 in 1/4 strength Hoaglands
H20 = water level (1= Low water (200mL nutrient solution 1x every 2 weeks) 2= Moderate (200mL nutrient solution 1x every week) 3 = High (200mL nutrient solution 2x every week) All pots were flushed with 1 liter of deionized (DI) water before watering with nutrient solution. (milliliters)
C_pct = carbon concentration (%)
N_pct = nitrogen concentration (%)
BIOMASS_WT_g = weight of aboveground biomass (grams)
C_CONTENT_g = carbon content of leaf tissue (grams)
N_CONTENT_g = nitrogen content of leaf tissue (grams)
A_B = above or below ground tissue (above or below)

Filename: Treatments.csv
This comma-delimited ASCII text file contains a list of each pot and the assigned water and nitrogen treatment. Data include:
POT = individual pot number
TRMT = 0, 5, 20, or 100 mM N as NO3NH4 in 1/4 strength Hoaglands
H20 = water level (1= Low water (200mL nutrient solution 1x every 2 weeks) 2= Moderate (200mL nutrient solution 1x every week) 3 = High (200mL nutrient solution 2x every week) All pots were flushed with 1 liter of deionized (DI) water before watering with nutrient solution. (milliliters)
BLOCK = 1-6 based on location within greenhouse
Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation:: publication currently in progress

Distribution_Information:

Distributor:

Contact_Information:

Contact_Organization_Primary:

Contact_Organization: USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station

Contact_Position: Station Archivist

Contact_Address:

Address_Type: mailing and physical
Address: 240 West Prospect Road
City: Fort Collins
State_or_Province: Colorado
Postal_Code: 80526

Contact_Voice_Telephone: 970-498-1206

Contact_Voice_Telephone: 970-498-1100

Distribution_Liability:

This metadata document has been reviewed for accuracy and completeness. The data are considered to satisfy the Rocky Mountain Research Station's quality standards relative to the purpose for which the data were collected. However, the Forest Service cannot assure the reliability or suitability of these data for a particular purpose. The act of distribution shall not constitute any such warranty, and no responsibility is assumed by the Forest Service for a user's application of these data or related materials.

The metadata, data, or related materials may be updated without notification. If a user believes errors are present in the metadata, data or related materials, please use the information in (1) Identification Information: Point of Contact, (2) Metadata Reference: Metadata Contact, or (3) Distribution Information: Distributor to notify the Forest Service of the issues. Additional information is available at http://www.fs.fed.us/qoi.

Standard_Order_Process:

Digital_Form:

Digital_Transfer_Information:

Format_Name: CSV
Format_Version_Date: 2009
File_Decompression_Technique: Files in this data product were zipped with WinZip 11.1.

Digital_Transfer_Option:

Online_Option:

Computer_Contact_Information:

Network_Address:

Network_Resource_Name: http://www.fs.fed.us/rm/data_archive/dataaccess/NV_H20andN_on_Ncontrib_by_Lupine.shtml

Fees: None

Metadata_Reference_Information:

Metadata_Date: 20090514

Metadata_Contact: