Spatial and Temporal Variation in Soil Nitrous Oxide Emissions from a Rehabilitated and Undisturbed Riparian Forest

Riparian zones enhance water quality and provide wildlife habitat, but high nutrient input in agricultural landscapes causes nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions, potentially negating their benefits of C sequestration. The objectives of this study were to quantify spatiotemporal N2O emissions in a rehabilitated and undisturbed natural riparian forest. We also determined soil and vegetation characteristics, and their role in driving spatiotemporal N2O emissions. Mean N2O‐N emissions were not significantly (p < 0.05) different between rehabilitated (7.62 μg m−2 h−1) and undisturbed (5.93 μg m−2 h−1) riparian forests. The greatest (p < 0.05) N2O‐N emissions in both riparian forests were observed during the summer. Soil moisture, temperature, and N were significantly correlated to N2O‐N emissions. Our results show that soil and vegetation characteristics varied between the two riparian forests, but differences in N2O‐N emissions were negligible. We also found that N2O emissions were influenced by soil characteristics and seasonality, rather than vegetation characteristics or spatial position. Core Ideas N2O emissions are influenced temporally rather than spatially in riparian zones. Rehabilitated and undisturbed riparian forests have similar N2O emissions. Seasonality and soil characteristics had a greater influence on N2O emissions than vegetation. Riparian systems generated hot moments rather than hot spots of N2O emissions.