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Dissolved organic matter (DOM) is operationally defined as soluble/colloidal material passing through a 0.45mum filter paper. The importance of DOM in soils relies on its role in soil formation and weathering processes, plant and microbial assimilation and soil and water acidification. However, the scientific community studying DOM still disagrees on whether fresh or humified material is the major source of DOM within the forest floor. One of the factors that could influence the overall importance of DOM production by organic horizons is its potential for biodegradability. In addition, the interaction occurring between the nutrients (i.e. nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P)) and carbon (C) substrate is believed to be of major importance. / To acquire more knowledge on the production and biodegradation of dissolved C, N and P during decomposition of organic matter (OM), I performed laboratory incubations to evaluate rates of production and transformation, the influence of the degree of OM decomposition and stand type on these rates, and the stoichiometric relationships of the different quotients during the incubations. First, I performed a 30-day incubation of coniferous and deciduous OM from 10 Canadian forest floors representing various degrees of OM decomposition and subsequently measured the amount of: dissolved organic carbon (DOC), total dissolved nitrogen (TDN), nitrate (NO3-N), ammonium (NH4-N), dissolved organic nitrogen (DON), total dissolved phosphorus (TOP) and carbon dioxide (CO2-C). I performed water extractions with the same set of samples to evaluate the biodegradability of DOC and DON and the transformations of TDN, NO3-N and NH4-N. / Fresh material produces more DOM than humified material; material in the midpoint of decomposition (F horizon) produced the largest amount of DIN. Coniferous and deciduous samples did not display different rates of DOM production, most likely because of the overshadowing effect of OM degree of decomposition. I found strong links between the organic matter and dissolved phase C and N content and C:N quotient. The biodegradation, measured as DOC disappearance and mineralization of CO2-C, showed a discrepancy, reflecting the importance of increasing microbial biomass at the beginning of the incubation in response to priming effect. The sharp decrease of TDN and DON observed in the first few days of the incubation, in addition to increasing amount of dissolved inorganic N as waste products during decomposition of DON, supports this hypothesis. A better understanding of the dynamics of dissolved C, N and P in soil is essential to further understand their role in global elemental cycles, including climate change, forest management and pollution.

Dissolved organic matter (DOM) is operationally defined as soluble/colloidal material passing through a 0.45~m filter paper. The importance of DOM in soils relies on its role in soil formation and weathering processes, plant and microbial assimilation and soil and water acidification. However, the scientific community studying DOM still disagrees on whether fresh or humified material is the major source of DOM within the forest floor.[...] / La matière organique dissoute (DOM) est composée de particules dissoutes et colloïdales passant au travers un filtre de 0.45 Ilm. L'importance de DOM dans les sols est liée à son rôle dans la pédogenèse, les processus d'altération des minéraux, l'assimilation par les plantes et microbes, ainsi que l'acidification des plans d'eau et des sols.[...]

Thesis (M.S.)--Michigan State University. Dept. of Fisheries and Wildlife, 2006. / Title from PDF t.p. (viewed on June 19, 2009) Includes bibliographical references (p. 39-40). Also issued in print.

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Includes bibliographical references

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