In the second half of the 20^th century, humans have drastically increased the global quantities of “fixed” reactive nitrogen. This increase in reactive nitrogen is primarily due to the use of inorganic N fertilizers and activities associated with the production of energy. In the atmosphere, anthropogenic reactive N can be deposited to terrestrial ecosystems via wet or dry deposition. Increasing available soil N through anthropogenic deposition can alter soil biogeochemical processes involved in nutrient cycling and the breakdown of soil organic matter. In this study we examine soil biogeochemical response to N enrichment. The Carlsbad Caverns National Park (CAVE) in New Mexico USA is currently experiencing augmented levels of N deposition possibly due to rise in oil and gas activity immediately adjacent to the park. In the summer of 2018, we established a short term (2.5 year) manipulative nutrient addition experiment in three CAVE Chihuahuan desert semi-arid grasslands. All three grasslands contain four nutrient addition treatments applied once before the monsoon season rainfall (July): Control (C) ambient N deposition ca. 4 kg N ha^-1 yr^-1, 1.5x N background (1.5 N) ambient + 2 kg N ha^-1 yr^-1, 2x N background (2N) ambient + 4 kg N ha^-1 yr^-1 and one carbon (sucrose) addition treatment (S) included to stimulate uptake and immobilization of N by microbes in attempt to reduce N in soils. Soil samples are taken three times per year during the monsoon (August), winter (February) and pre-monsoon (June) season. In the first year of sampling, treatment effects were dependent on sampling date and site. During the monsoon sampling there were no differences in soil nutrients between treatments that were consistent across sites, but during the winter sampling available soil nitrate (NO₃^-) accumulated under our highest N (N2) treatment. There were no treatment effects on Ammonium or Phosphate.  Despite the effects on available soil nutrients, soil microbial functioning has yet to respond: Soil microbial extracellular enzyme activity and soil microbial biomass carbon, N and did not differ between treatments. With limited N addition studies conducted in dryland ecosystems, this study will provide insight on how N enrichment can impact dryland ecosystem function. This research will also provide useful information that will help manage and conserve ecosystems within national parks.