scholarly journals Soil Nitrogen and Sulfur Leaching in a Subtropical Forest at a Transition State under Decreasing Atmospheric Deposition

Forests ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (12) ◽  
pp. 1798
Author(s):  
Piaopiao Ke ◽  
Gaoyue Si ◽  
Yao Luo ◽  
Zhenglin Cheng ◽  
Qian Yu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Transition State ◽  
Soil Layer ◽  
N Deposition ◽  
Subtropical Forest ◽  
N Leaching ◽  
N Saturation ◽  
Subtropical Forests ◽  
Net Flux ◽  
Throughfall Deposition

Anthropogenic emissions of nitrogen- (N) and sulfur (S)-containing pollutants have declined across China in recent years. However, the responses of N and S depositions and dynamics in soil remain unclear in subtropical forests. In this study, the wet and throughfall depositions of dissolved inorganic N (DIN) and SO42− were continuously monitored in a mildly polluted subtropical forest in Southeast China in 2017 and 2018. Moreover, these solutes in soil water along the soil profile were monitored in 2018. Throughfall deposition of DIN and S decreased by 59% and 53% in recent 3 years, respectively, which can be majorly attributed to the decreases in wet depositions of NO3− and SO42−. Meanwhile, NH4+ deposition remained relatively stable at this site. Even though N deposition in 2018 was below the N saturation threshold for subtropical forests, significant N leaching still occurred. Excess export of N occurred in the upper soil layer (0–15 cm), reaching 6.86 ± 1.54 kg N/ha/yr, while the deeper soil (15–30 cm) was net sink of N as 8.29 ± 1.71 kg N/ha/yr. Similarly, S was excessively exported from the upper soil with net flux of 14.7 ± 3.15 kg S/ha/yr, while up to 6.37 ± 3.18 kg S/ha/yr of S was retained in the deeper soil. The significant N and S leaching under declined depositions suggested that this site possibly underwent a transition state, recovering from historically high acid deposition. Furthermore, the rainfall intensity remarkably regulated leaching and retention of SO42− and DIN at this site. The impacts of climate changes on N and S dynamics require further long-term monitoring in subtropical forests.

scholarly journals Nitrogen leaching from natural ecosystems under global change: a modelling study

2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 1121-1139 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maarten C. Braakhekke ◽  
Karin T. Rebel ◽  
Stefan C. Dekker ◽  
Benjamin Smith ◽  
Arthur H. W. Beusen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
N Deposition ◽  
Atmospheric Co2 ◽  
N Leaching ◽  
N Saturation ◽  
Natural Ecosystems ◽  
Deposition Rates ◽  
Vegetation Productivity ◽  
Growing Season Length ◽  
Terrestrial Ecosystem Model ◽  
N Status

Abstract. To study global nitrogen (N) leaching from natural ecosystems under changing N deposition, climate, and atmospheric CO2, we performed a factorial model experiment for the period 1901–2006 with the N-enabled global terrestrial ecosystem model LPJ-GUESS (Lund–Potsdam–Jena General Ecosystem Simulator). In eight global simulations, we used either the true transient time series of N deposition, climate, and atmospheric CO2 as input or kept combinations of these drivers constant at initial values. The results show that N deposition is globally the strongest driver of simulated N leaching, individually causing an increase of 88 % by 1997–2006 relative to pre-industrial conditions. Climate change led globally to a 31 % increase in N leaching, but the size and direction of change varied among global regions: leaching generally increased in regions with high soil organic carbon storage and high initial N status, and decreased in regions with a positive trend in vegetation productivity or decreasing precipitation. Rising atmospheric CO2 generally caused decreased N leaching (33 % globally), with strongest effects in regions with high productivity and N availability. All drivers combined resulted in a rise of N leaching by 73 % with strongest increases in Europe, eastern North America and South-East Asia, where N deposition rates are highest. Decreases in N leaching were predicted for the Amazon and northern India. We further found that N loss by fire regionally is a large term in the N budget, associated with lower N leaching, particularly in semi-arid biomes. Predicted global N leaching from natural lands rose from 13.6 Tg N yr−1 in 1901–1911 to 18.5 Tg N yr−1 in 1997–2006, accounting for reductions of natural land cover. Ecosystem N status (quantified as the reduction of vegetation productivity due to N limitation) shows a similar positive temporal trend but large spatial variability. Interestingly, this variability is more strongly related to vegetation type than N input. Similarly, the relationship between N status and (relative) N leaching is highly variable due to confounding factors such as soil water fluxes, fire occurrence, and growing season length. Nevertheless, our results suggest that regions with very high N deposition rates are approaching a state of N saturation.

scholarly journals Winter climate affects long-term trends in stream water nitrate in acid-sensitive catchments in southern Norway

2007 ◽  
Vol 4 (5) ◽  
pp. 3055-3085 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. A. de Wit ◽  
A. Hindar ◽  
L. Hole
Keyword(s):  
Snow Depth ◽  
Stream Water ◽  
N Deposition ◽  
Climatic Changes ◽  
N Leaching ◽  
Forested Catchments ◽  
Discharge Temperature ◽  
Long Term Trends ◽  
Southern Norway

Abstract. Controls of stream water NO3 in mountainous and forested catchments are not thoroughly understood. Long-term trends in stream water NO3 are positive, neutral and negative, often apparently independent of trends in N deposition. Here, time series of NO3 in four small acid-sensitive catchments in southern Norway were analysed in order to identify likely drivers of long-term changes in NO3. In two sites, stream water NO3 export declined ca 50% over a period of 25 years while in the other sites NO3 export increased with roughly 20%. Discharge and N deposition alone were poor predictors of these trends. The most distinct trends in NO3 were found in winter and spring. Empirical models explained between 45% and 61% of the variation in weekly concentrations of NO3, and described both upward and downward seasonal trends tolerably well. Key explaining variables were snow depth, discharge, temperature and N deposition. All catchments showed reductions in snow depth and increases in winter discharge. In two inland catchments, located in moderate N deposition areas, these climatic changes appeared to drive the distinct decreases in winter and spring concentrations and fluxes of NO3. In a coast-near mountainous catchment in a low N deposition area, these climatic changes appeared to have the opposite effect, i.e. lead to increases in especially winter NO3. This suggests that the effect of a reduced snow pack may result in both decreased and increased catchment N leaching depending on interactions with N deposition, soil temperature regime and winter discharge.

scholarly journals Winter climate affects long-term trends in stream water nitrate in acid-sensitive catchments in southern Norway

2008 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 393-403 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. A. de Wit ◽  
A. Hindar ◽  
L. Hole
Keyword(s):  
Snow Depth ◽  
Stream Water ◽  
N Deposition ◽  
Climatic Changes ◽  
N Leaching ◽  
Forested Catchments ◽  
Discharge Temperature ◽  
Long Term Trends ◽  
Southern Norway

Abstract. Controls of stream water NO3 in mountainous and forested catchments are not thoroughly understood. Long-term trends in stream water NO3 are positive, neutral and negative, often apparently independent of trends in N deposition. Here, time series of NO3 in four small acid-sensitive catchments in southern Norway were analysed in order to identify likely drivers of long-term changes in NO3. In two sites, stream water NO3 export declined ca 50% over a period of 25 years while in the other sites NO3 export increased with roughly 20%. Discharge and N deposition alone were poor predictors of these trends. The most distinct trends in NO3 were found in winter and spring. Empirical models explained between 45% and 61% of the variation in weekly concentrations of NO3, and described both upward and downward seasonal trends tolerably well. Key explaining variables were snow depth, discharge, temperature and N deposition. All catchments showed reductions in snow depth and increases in winter discharge. In two inland catchments, located in moderate N deposition areas, these climatic changes appeared to drive the distinct decreases in winter and spring concentrations and fluxes of NO3. In a coast-near mountainous catchment in a low N deposition area, these climatic changes appeared to have the opposite effect, i.e. lead to increases in especially winter NO3. This suggests that the effect of a reduced snow pack may result in both decreased and increased catchment N leaching depending on interactions with N deposition, soil temperature regime and winter discharge.

scholarly journals Present and potential nitrogen outputs from Norwegian soft water lakes – an assessment made by applying the steady-state First-order Acidity Balance (FAB) model

2002 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 101-112 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ø. Kaste ◽  
A. Henriksen ◽  
M. Posch
Keyword(s):  
Steady State ◽  
Critical Loads ◽  
N Deposition ◽  
Soft Water ◽  
N Leaching ◽  
First Order ◽  
Fab Model ◽  
The Future ◽  
N Immobilisation

Abstract. The steady-state First-order Acidity Balance (FAB) model for calculating critical loads of sulphur (S) and nitrogen (N) is applied to 609 Norwegian soft-water lakes to assess the future nitrate (NO3‾) leaching potential under present (1992-96) S and N deposition. The lakes were separated into five groups receiving increasing levels of N deposition (<25, 25-49, 50-74, 75-99 and 100-125 meq m-2yr-1). Using long-term sustainable N sink rates presently recommended for FAB model applications, N immobilisation, net N uptake in forests, denitrification and in-lake N retention were estimated for each group of lakes. Altogether, the long-term N sinks constituted 9.9 ± 3.2 to 40.5 ± 11.4 meq m-2yr-1 in the lowest and highest N deposition categories, respectively. At most sites, the current N deposition exceeds the amount of N retained by long-term sustainable N sinks plus the NO3‾ loss via the lake outlets. This excess N, which is currently retained within the catchments may, according to the FAB model, leach as acidifying NO3‾ in the future. If these predictions are fulfilled, NO3‾ leaching at sites in the various N deposition categories will increase dramatically from present (1995) mean levels of 1-20 meq m-2yr-1, to mean levels of 7-70 meq m-2yr-1 at future steady state. To illustrate the significance of such an increase in NO3‾ leaching, the mean Acid Neutralising Capacity (ANC) at sites in the highest N deposition category may decrease from -18 ± 15 μeq L-1 at present, to -40 ± 20 μeq L-1. Under present S and N deposition levels, the FAB model predicts that 46% of the Norwegian lakes may experience exceedances of critical loads for acidifying deposition. In comparison, the Steady-State Water Chemistry model (SSWC), which considers only the present N leaching level, estimates critical load exceedances in 37% of the lakes under the same deposition level. Thus far, there are great uncertainties regarding both the time scales and the extent of future N leaching, and it is largely unknown whether the FAB model predictions will ever be fulfilled. Hence, long-term monitoring and further studies on N immobilisation processes under varying N deposition levels and ecosystem types seem necessary to make better predictions of future NO3‾ leaching. Keywords: Lakes, hydrochemistry, nitrogen, nitrate, sinks, leaching, acidification, critical loads, FAB model

scholarly journals Species Differences in Nitrogen Acquisition in Humid Subtropical Forest Inferred From 15N Natural Abundance and Its Response to Tracer Addition

Forests ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 991 ◽  
Author(s):  
Geshere Abdisa Gurmesa ◽  
Xiankai Lu ◽  
Per Gundersen ◽  
Qinggong Mao ◽  
Yunting Fang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Plant Species ◽  
N Uptake ◽  
N Deposition ◽  
Subtropical Forest ◽  
Species Variation ◽  
N Addition ◽  
Subtropical Forests ◽  
The Impact ◽  
N Acquisition ◽  
Leaf N

Differences in nitrogen (N) acquisition patterns between plant species are often reflected in the natural 15N isotope ratios (δ15N) of the plant tissues, however, such differences are poorly understood for co-occurring plants in tropical and subtropical forests. To evaluate species variation in N acquisition traits, we measured leaf N concentration (%N) and δ15N in tree and understory plant species under ambient N deposition (control) and after a decade of N addition at 50 kg N ha−1 yr−1 (N-plots) in an old-growth subtropical forest in southern China. We also measured changes in leaf δ15N after one-year of 15N addition in both the control and N-plots. The results show consistent significant species variation in leaf %N in both control and N-plots, but decadal N addition did not significantly affect leaf %N. Leaf δ15N values were also significantly different among the plant species both in tree and understory layers, and both in control and N-plots, suggesting differences in N acquisition strategies such as variation in N sources and dominant forms of N uptake and dependence on mycorrhizal associations among the co-occurring plant species. Significant differences between the plant species (in both control and N-plots) in changes in leaf δ15N after 15N addition were observed only in the understory plants, indicating difference in access (or use) of deposited N among the plants. Decadal N addition had species-dependent effects on leaf δ15N, suggesting the N acquisition patterns of these plant species are differently affected by N deposition. These results suggest that co-occurring plants in N-rich and subtropical forests vary in their N acquisition traits; these differences need to be accounted for when evaluating the impact of N deposition on N cycling in these ecosystems.

scholarly journals Nitrogen leaching from natural ecosystems under global change: a modelling study

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maarten C. Braakhekke ◽  
Karin T. Rebel ◽  
Stefan C. Dekker ◽  
Benjamin Smith ◽  
Arthur H. W. Beusen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
N Deposition ◽  
Atmospheric Co2 ◽  
N Leaching ◽  
N Saturation ◽  
Natural Ecosystems ◽  
Deposition Rates ◽  
Vegetation Productivity ◽  
Growing Season Length ◽  
Terrestrial Ecosystem Model ◽  
N Status

Abstract. In order to study global nitrogen (N) leaching from natural ecosystems under changing N deposition, climate, and atmospheric CO2, we performed a factorial model experiment for the period 1901–2006 with the N-enabled global terrestrial ecosystem model LPJ-GUESS. In eight global simulations we used either the true transient time series of N deposition, climate, and atmospheric CO2 as input, or kept combinations of these drivers constant at initial values. The results show that N deposition is globally the strongest driver of simulated N leaching, individually causing an increase of 88 % by 1997–2006, relative to pre-industrial conditions. Climate change led globally to a 31 % increase in N leaching, but the size and direction of change varied among global regions: leaching generally increased in regions with high soil organic carbon storage or high initial N status, and decreased in regions with a positive trend in vegetation productivity or decreasing precipitation. Rising atmospheric CO2 generally caused decreased N leaching (33 % globally), with strongest effects in regions with high productivity and N availability. All drivers combined resulted in a rise of N leaching by 73 % with strongest increases in Europe, eastern North America and South-East Asia, where N deposition rates are highest. Decreases in N leaching were predicted for the Amazon and Northern India. We further found that N loss by fire regionally is a large term in the N budget, associated lower N leaching, particularly in semi-arid biomes. Predicted global N leaching from natural lands rose from 13.6 Tg N yr−1 in 1901–1911 to 18.5 Tg N yr−1 in 1997–2006, accounting for land-use changes. Ecosystem N status (quantified as the reduction of vegetation productivity due to N limitation) shows a similar positive temporal trend but large spatial variability. Interestingly this variability is more strongly related to vegetation type than N input. Similarly, the relationship between N status and (relative) N leaching is highly variable due to confounding factors such as soil water fluxes, fire occurrence, and growing season length. Nevertheless, our results suggest that regions with very high N deposition rates are approaching a state of N saturation.

scholarly journals Impacts of enhanced nitrogen deposition and soil acidification on biomass production and nitrogen leaching in Chinese fir plantations

2012 ◽  
Vol 42 (3) ◽  
pp. 437-450 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juan A. Blanco ◽  
Xiaohua Wei ◽  
Hong Jiang ◽  
Cheng-Yue Jie ◽  
Zan-Hong Xin
Keyword(s):  
Biomass Production ◽  
Atmospheric Pollution ◽  
Soil Acidification ◽  
N Deposition ◽  
Chinese Fir ◽  
N Leaching ◽  
Long Term Effects ◽  
Pollution Effects ◽  
Deposition Rates

Atmospheric pollution levels in China are increasing quickly. Experience from other polluted regions shows that tree growth could be affected, but long-term effects of N deposition and soil acidification on Chinese forests remain mostly unknown. Soil acidification and N deposition were simulated for Chinese fir ( Cunninghamia lanceolata (Lamb.) Hook.) plantations managed for three consecutive 20-year rotations in southeastern China. A factorial experiment combined four rain pH levels (2.5, 4.0, 5.6, and 7.0), four N deposition rates (1, 7.5, 15, and 30 kg N·ha–1·year–1), and two site qualities (poor and rich). Results indicate that atmospheric pollution effects are not immediate, but after one to two rotations, soil acidification effects could reduce ecosystem C pools significantly (–25% and –11% in poor and rich sites, respectively). N deposition rates above 15 kg N·ha–1·year–1 could offset some of the negative effects of soil acidification and lead to more ecosystem C (19 and 28 Mg C·ha–1 more in poor and rich sites, respectively, than in low N deposition). However, at high N deposition rates (>15 kg N·ha–1·year–1), N leaching losses could greatly increase, reaching 75 kg N·ha–1·year–1. Moderate N deposition could increase tree biomass production and soil organic mass, resulting in increased ecosystem C, but these gains could be associated with important N leaching. Atmospheric pollution could also result in the long term in nutrient imbalances and additional ecological issues (i.e., biodiversity loss, eutrophication, etc.) not studied here.

Nitrate in soil water in three Norway spruce stands in southwest Sweden as related to N-deposition and soil, stand, and foliage properties

1996 ◽  
Vol 26 (5) ◽  
pp. 836-848 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hans-Örjan Nohrstedt ◽  
Ulf Sikström ◽  
Eva Ring ◽  
Torgny Näsholm ◽  
Peter Högberg ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Water ◽  
Norway Spruce ◽  
N Deposition ◽  
Forest Growth ◽  
Soil Conditions ◽  
N Leaching ◽  
N Saturation ◽  
Potential Nitrification ◽  
Nitrate Concentrations ◽  
The Difference

N-cycling was studied at three Norway spruce (Piceaabies (L.) Karst.) sites located within a distance of 30 km in southwest Sweden. Nitrate concentrations in soil water at 50-cm depth differed substantially between the three sites, annual site means being 0, 1, and 9 mg N•L−1. Using simulated runoff, the leaching of inorganic N from the two sites with the highest concentrations was estimated at, respectively, 7–8 and 19–30 kg•ha−1 during the hydrological year 1991–1992. The N-deposition measured as throughfall was 31 kg•ha−1 on the second site, suggesting that it was close to being N-saturated. The differences in nitrate concentration and estimated leaching across sites were not related to differences in forest growth or suggested symptoms of forest decline, such as canopy defoliation and nutrient deficiency. Nitrate concentrations were unrelated to N-deposition in an open field, but positively related to N-deposition in throughfall. However, the difference in N-leaching between the two main sites was much larger than the difference in N-deposition in throughfall. The difference in leaching seemed related to soil conditions. The soil with the highest leaching had the largest potential nitrification and a low C/N ratio (17–20) in the upper part of the profile. Nitrate concentrations in the soil water were positively related to the concentrations of arginine and 15N in foliage, which supports the use of these two variables as indicators of forests approaching N-saturation.

scholarly journals Trends in nitrogen deposition and leaching in acid-sensitive streams in Europe

2001 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 299-310 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. F. Wright ◽  
C. Alewell ◽  
J. M. Cullen ◽  
C. D. Evans ◽  
A. Marchetto ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Surface Waters ◽  
Nitrogen Saturation ◽  
Inorganic Nitrogen ◽  
N Deposition ◽  
N Saturation ◽  
The Past ◽  
Run Off ◽  
Nitrate Concentrations ◽  
Long Term Trends

Abstract. Long-term records of nitrogen in deposition and streamwater were analysed at 30 sites covering major acid sensitive regions in Europe. Large regions of Europe have received high inputs of inorganic nitrogen for the past 20 - 30 years, with an approximate 20% decline in central and northern Europe during the late 1990s. Nitrate concentrations in streamwaters are related to the amount of N deposition. All sites with less than 10 kgN ha-1 yr-1 deposition have low concentrations of nitrate in streamwater, whereas all sites receiving > 25 kgN ha-1 yr-1 have elevated concentrations. Very few of the sites exhibit significant trends in nitrate concentrations; similar analyses on other datasets also show few significant trends. Nitrogen saturation is thus a process requiring many decades, at least at levels of N deposition typical for Europe. Declines in nitrate concentrations at a few sites may reflect recent declines in N deposition. The overall lack of significant trends in nitrate concentrations in streams in Europe may be the result of two opposing factors. Continued high deposition of nitrogen (above the 10 kgN ha-1 yr-1 threshold) should tend to increase N saturation and give increased nitrate concentrations in run-off, whereas the decline in N deposition over the past 5 – 10 years in large parts of Europe should give decreased nitrate concentrations in run-off. Short and long-term variations in climate affect nitrate concentrations in streamwater and, thus, contribute "noise" which masks long-term trends. Empirical data for geographic pattern and long-term trends in response of surface waters to changes in N deposition set the premises for predicting future contributions of nitrate to acidification of soils and surface waters. Quantification of processes governing nitrogen retention and loss in semi-natural terrestrial ecosystems is a scientific challenge of increasing importance. Keywords: Europe, acid deposition, nitrogen, saturation, recovery, water

scholarly journals Long-term modelling of nitrogen turnover and critical loads in a forested catchment using the INCA model

2002 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 395-402 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.-J. Langusch ◽  
E. Matzner
Keyword(s):  
Steady State ◽  
Critical Load ◽  
Mass Balance ◽  
Critical Loads ◽  
Forest Ecosystems ◽  
N Deposition ◽  
N Saturation ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
Hydrological Conditions

Abstract. Many forest ecosystems in Central Europe have reached the status of N saturation due to chronically high N deposition. In consequence, the NO3 leaching into ground- and surface waters is often substantial. Critical loads have been defined to abate the negative consequences of the NO3 leaching such as soil acidification and nutrient losses. The steady state mass balance method is normally used to calculate critical loads for N deposition in forest ecosystems. However, the steady state mass balance approach is limited because it does not take into account hydrology and the time until the steady state is reached. The aim of this study was to test the suitability of another approach: the dynamic model INCA (Integrated Nitrogen Model for European Catchments). Long-term effects of changing N deposition and critical loads for N were simulated using INCA for the Lehstenbach spruce catchment (Fichtelgebirge, NE Bavaria, Germany) under different hydrological conditions. Long-term scenarios of either increasing or decreasing N deposition indicated that, in this catchment, the response of nitrate concentrations in runoff to changing N deposition is buffered by a large groundwater reservoir. The critical load simulated by the INCA model with respect to a nitrate concentration of 0.4 mg N l–1 as threshold value in runoff was 9.7 kg N ha–1yr–1 compared to 10 kg ha–1yr–1 for the steady state model. Under conditions of lower precipitation (520 mm) the resulting critical load was 7.7 kg N ha–1yr–1 , suggesting the necessity to account for different hydrological conditions when calculating critical loads. The INCA model seems to be suitable to calculate critical loads for N in forested catchments under varying hydrological conditions e.g. as a consequence of climate change. Keywords: forest ecosystem, N saturation, critical load, modelling, long-term scenario, nitrate leaching, critical loads reduction, INCA

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