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Nutrient limitation in terrestrial ecosystems is often accompanied with maintaining a nearly closed vegetation-soil nutrient cycle. The ability to retain nutrients in an ecosystem requires the capacity of the plant-soil system to draw down nutrient levels in soils effectually such that export concentrations in soil solutions remain low. Here we address the physical constraints of plant nutrient uptake that may be limited by the diffusive movement of nutrients in soils, by the uptake at the root/mycorrhizal surface, and from interactions with soil water flow. We derive an analytical framework of soil nutrient transport and uptake and predict levels of plant available nutrient concentration and residence time. Our results, which we evaluate for nitrogen, show that the physical environment permits plants to lower soil solute concentration substantially. Our analysis confirms that plant uptake capacities in soils are considerable, such that water movement in soils is generally too small to significantly erode dissolved plant-available nitrogen. Inorganic nitrogen concentrations in headwater streams are congruent with the prediction of our theoretical framework. Our framework offers a physical-based parameterization of nutrient uptake in ecosystem models and has the potential to serve as an important tool toward scaling biogeochemical cycles from individual roots to landscapes.

Organic matter retention is an integral ecosystem process affecting C and nutrient dynamics and biota in streams. Influences of discharge (Q), reach-scale channel form, and riparian vegetation on coarse particulate organic matter (CPOM) retention were analyzed in 2 headwater streams in northeastern Oregon. Ginkgo biloba leaves were released in coniferous forest reaches and downstream floodplain meadow reaches during spring high flow and summer baseflow. Transitional reaches were also analyzed during summer baseflow. Paper strips, simulating sedge blade retention, were released in meadow reaches during high flow. Mean transport distances (Sp) were calculated as the inverse of the longitudinal loss rate (k) of leaves in transport. The metrics Sp, width-specific discharge (Qw = Q/stream width), and the mass transfer coefficient (vdep = Qw/Sp) were used to investigate retention. Values of Sp (0.9–97 m) were 2 to 11 times longer during high flow than baseflow. Mean Sp in forest reaches (29.3 m) was sig...