Historical drainage legacy effects on denitrification in upland soils

Topographically depressed areas in upland soils experience ponding in response to large rain events. This leads to large fluctuations in soil O₂ concentrations compared to surrounding well-drained areas. These fluctuations facilitate changes to soil properties that are important controls over the production and consumption of nitrous oxide (N₂O), a potent greenhouse gas. We have shown that soils in different drainage classes have different controls over N₂O production, likely due to an altered microbial community or changes to soil structure. Understanding these controls is important in understanding how soil N₂O emissions will respond to an amplified global hydrological cycle.