Nitrogen input together with ecosystem nitrogen enrichment predict nitrate leaching from European forests

The IFEF database (Indicators of Forest Ecosystem Functioning), consisting of nitrogen deposition, nitrate leaching fluxes, and soil and ecosystem characteristics, is analysed to evaluate the C/N ratio in the organic horizon as an indicator of nitrate leaching. One hundred and eighty one forests are examined, from countries across Europe ranging from boreal to Mediterranean regions, encompassing broadleaf and coniferous sites and plot and catchment studies. N input in throughfall ranges from less than 1 kg N ha^?1 y^?1 in northern Norway and Finland to greater than 60 kg N ha^?1 y^?1 in the Netherlands and Czech Republic. The amount of NO₃^– leached covers a smaller range, between 1 and 40 kg N ha^?1 y^?1. Nitrate leaching is strongly dependent on the amount of nitrogen deposited in throughfall (N input) and simply adding the C/N ratio in the organic horizon to a regression equation does not improve this relationship. However, when the data are stratified based on C/N ratios less than or equal to 25 and greater than 25, highly significant relationships (P < 0.05) are observed between N input and NO₃^– leached. The slope of the relationship for those sites where C/N ratio is ≤ 25 (′nitrogen enriched′ sites) is twice that for those sites where C/N ratio is > 25. These empirical relationships may be used to identify which forested ecosystems are likely to show elevated rates of nitrate leaching under predicted future nitrogen deposition scenarios. Elevated NO₃^– leaching also shows a relationship with soil pH, with high rates of NO₃^– leaching only observed at sites with a pH < 4.5 and N inputs > 30 kg N ha^?1 y^?1. Tree age and species have no significant impact on the ecosystem response to N input at a regional scale.     

Nonlinear responses of ecosystem carbon fluxes to nitrogen deposition in an old-growth boreal forest

Nitrogen (N) deposition is known to increase carbon (C) sequestration in N-limited boreal forests. However, the long-term effects of N deposition on ecosystem carbon fluxes have been rarely investigated in old-growth boreal forests. Here we show that decade-long experimental N additions significantly stimulated net primary production (NPP) but the effect decreased with increasing N loads. The effect on soil heterotrophic respiration (Rh) shifted from a stimulation at low-level N additions to an inhibition at higher levels of N additions. Consequently, low-level N additions resulted in a neutral effect on net ecosystem productivity (NEP), due to a comparable stimulating effect on NPP and Rh, while NEP was increased by high-level N additions. Moreover, we found nonlinear temporal responses of NPP, Rh and NEP to low-level N additions. Our findings imply that actual N deposition in boreal forests likely exerts a minor contribution to their soil C storage.     

The globalization of N deposition: ecosystem consequences in tropical environments

Human activities have more than doubled the inputs of nitrogen (N) into terrestrial systems globally. The sources and distribution of anthropogenic N, including N fertilization and N fixed during fossil fuel combustion, are rapidly shifting from the temperate zone to a more global distribution. The consequences of anthropogenic N deposition for ecosystem processes and N losses have been studied primarily in N-limited ecosystems in the temperate zone; there is reason to expect that tropical ecosystems, where plant growth is most often limited by some other resource, will respond differently to increasing deposition. In this paper, we assess the likely direct and indirect effects of increasing anthropogenic N inputs on tropical ecosytem processes. We conclude that anthropogenic inputs of N into tropical forests are unlikely to increase productivity and may even decrease it due to indirect effects on acidity and the availability of phosphorus and cations. We also suggest that the direct effects of anthropogenic N deposition on N cycling processes will lead to increased fluxes at the soilwater and soil-air interfaces, with little or no lag in response time. Finally, we discuss the uncertainties inherent in this analysis, and outline future research that is needed to address those uncertainties.     

Transformation and retention of nitrogen in a coastal forest ecosystem

Transformations and fluxes of N were examined in three forested sites located along a gradient of soil texture in the coastal forests of the Waquoit Bay watershed on Cape Cod. Total N leaching losses to ground water were 0.5 kg ha^-1 yr^-1 in the loamy sand site and 1.5 kg ha^-1 yr^-1 in the fine sand site. Leaching loss to groundwater was not measured in the coarse sand site due to the prohibitive depth of the water table but total N leaching loss to 1m depth in the mineral soil was 3.9 kg ha^-1 yr^-1. DON accounted for most of the leaching losses below the rooting zone (77–89%) and through the soil profile to ground water (60%–80%). Differences in DON retention capacity of the mineral soil in the sites along the soil texture gradient were most likely related to changes in mineral soil particle surface area and percolation rates associated with soil texture. Forests of the watershed functioned as a sink for inorganic N deposited on the surface of the watershed in wet and dry deposition but a source of dissolved organic N to ground water and adjoining coastal ecosystems.     

森林土壤氮素转换及其对氮沉降的响应

近几十年人类活动向大气中排放的含氮化合物激增 ,并引起大气氮沉降也成比例增加。目前 ,氮沉降的增加使一些森林生态系统结构和功能发生改变 ,甚至衰退。近 2 0 a欧洲和北美有关氮沉降及其对森林生态系统的影响方面的研究较多 ,而我国少有涉及。森林土壤氮素转换是森林生态系统氮素循环的一个重要的组成部分 ,而矿化、硝化和反硝化作用是其核心过程 ,氮沉降作为驱动因子势必改变森林土壤氮素转换速度、方向和通量。根据国外近 2 0 a有关研究 ,首先介绍了森林土壤氮素转换过程和强度 ,论述森林土壤氮素在生态系统氮素循环中的作用 ,然后在此基础上 ,介绍了氮沉降对森林土壤氮素循环的研究途径 ,探讨了氮沉降对森林土壤氮素矿化、硝化和反硝化作用的影响及其机理     

Dissolved inorganic nitrogen concentrations and fluxes in three British Sitka Spruce plantations

A catchment approach was used to estimate mean dissolved inorganic-N concentrations and fluxes through three mature Sitka spruce plantations at Beddgelert (north Wales), Plynlimon (mid-Wales) and Kershope (Cumbria). Dissolved inorganic-N in bulk precipitation, throughfall, stemflow, soil water at 4 or 5 depths, and streamwater was measured every two weeks for periods of 1 or 2 years at all three sites. Bulk precipitation inputs at the three sites varied from 6 to 10.4 kg N ha^-1 a^-1 and stream outputs varied from 6.4 to 13.6 kg N ha^-1 a^-1. Beddgelert Forest had the highest inputs and outputs and is Nitrogen saturated according to certain Scandinavian criteria (Nilsson, 1986). All three sites had much higher outputs than might be expected from the magnitude of the inputs, since conifer forests are normally regarded as being conservative with respect to N. Only at Plynlimon were reductions in dissolved inorganic N flux or concentration observed from bulk precipitation to throughfall and soil waters. At the other two sites, the tree canopies did not assimilate N in incoming rainfall, and active nitrification resulted in high concentrations of nitrate in soil and streamwater. It is proposed that many mature western upland Sitka spruce plantations may behave in a similar manner with respect to dissolved N, in contrast to sites in eastern Scotland where rates of nitrification are slower and nitrogen appears to be less available to plantation trees.     

Effects of nitrogen deposition on forest biodiversity

Humans have altered global and regional cycles of nitrogen (N) more than any other elements. Increasing N emissions to the atmosphere from accelerating industrialization and production and use of fertilizer N now make N deposition significant not only in densely populated regions of Europe and North America, but also in other parts of the world (e.g., Asia and Latin America). Increased atmospheric N deposition is known to be able to reduce biodiversity in natural and semi-natural ecosystems. It is suggested that N deposition will be the third greatest driver of biodiversity loss on the global scale in this century, after land use and climate change. Based on published study results, we reviewed the impacts of N deposition on forest biodiversity by emphasizing 3 aspects: (1) plant diversity, including arborous plants, understory plants and cryptogam plants; (2) soil microorganism diversity; (3) animal diversity, including underground soil fauna and aboveground herbivores. In general, it was found that N deposition could alter species diversity, and excessive N could reduce species diversity, such as richness and abundance, and even lose special species. We also identified specific mechanisms on how excessive N deposition affected forest biodiversity. Finally, we summarized the current status of research on N deposition in China and in other countries, and proposed potential research activities and recommendations.     

长白山森林生态系统大气氮素湿沉降通量和组成的季节变化特征

2009—2010年期间,利用雨量计收集法在长白山森林生态系统定位站开展定位观测,分析降水中氮素浓度,研究了该区域大气氮素湿沉降通量和组成的季节变化特征。结果表明,各形态氮素月均浓度之间差别较大,具有明显的季节性;其降水中浓度主要受降水量和降水频次的影响。全年氮素湿沉降中TN、TIN和TON的沉降量分别为27.64 kg N hm-2a-1、11.05 kg N hm-2a-1和16.59 kg N hm-2a-1,TON为沉降主体,占60.02%;其大气氮沉降量主要由降水量和降水中氮素浓度共同决定。该地区氮湿沉降量已处于我国中等水平,考虑到氮素的干湿沉降比例,本区域的年氮沉降量已接近或超过本区域的营养氮沉降临界负荷,存在一定的环境风险。该地区生长季(5—10月)的氮沉降量(16.59 kg N hm-2a-1)占全年氮沉降量的比例达到73.20%。生长季的氮沉降对于促进植物生长直接生态意义重大,而非生长季的氮沉降对于大量补充次年植物生长初期所需养分的间接生态意义明显。     

氮沉降对森林生物多样性的影响

从3个方面论述了氮沉降对森林生物多样性影响：（1）森林植物多样性,包括乔木层植物、林下层植物和隐花植物;（2）土壤微生物多样性,主要是细菌和真菌;（3）森林动物多样性：主要包括地下土壤动物和地上草食动物。综合来看,氮沉降改变了物种组成,过量氮沉降降低了生物多样性。同时,也对氮沉降影响生物多样性的机理进行了分析。最后,还探讨了当前在氮沉降对森林生物多样性影响的研究方面存在的问题以及今后研究的方向。     

Atmospheric ammonia and impacts of nitrogen deposition: uncertainties and challenges

Dr Willem Asman concluded that the major global sources of atmospheric NH₃ are excreta from domestic animals and fertilizers. A question raised was: how reliable are the emission estimates and extrapolations? The answer was that emission estimates are surrounded by uncertainty, which is a major handicap to sound modelling of NH₃ dry deposition and, consequently, to obtaining good estimates of critical load exceedences.
Major uncertainties in emission estimates seem to be related to the use of simple emission factors, many of which are highly empirical or have been derived from measurements carried out under conditions which deviate considerably from those following modern practices of handling and applying manure and fertilizers. An example is provided by the commonly used emission factors for synthetic fertilizers (see e.g. Bouwman et al . (1997)), which are much higher than recent micrometeorological assessments seem to suggest. Thus, emission from urea, the most widespread fertilizer used in the world (currently around 55% of world N consumption) can be completely avoided if the fertilizer is incorporated into the upper soil layers. Similarly, a growing crop can reduce losses to well below 10% of the applied amount of urea-N, i.e. to less than half of the generally used emission factors of 15% for Europe and 25% for the tropics. The emission factor for NPK-fertilizer is set at 4%, whereas that for pure calcium-ammonium-nitrate, the same N compound as is present in NPK-fertilizers, is assumed to be only 2%.     

Effects of enhanced nitrogen deposition and phosphorus limitation on nitrogen budgets of semi-natural grasslands

Increased reactive atmospheric N deposition has been implicated in floristic changes in species‐rich acidic and calcareous grasslands, but the fate of this pollutant N in these ecosystems is unknown. This paper reports the first analysis of N budgets and N fluxes for two grasslands in the White Peak area of Derbyshire, one of the most heavily N‐polluted locations in the UK. N fluxes were monitored in lysimeter cores (retaining the original turfs) taken from field plots of unimproved acidic and calcareous grasslands that had received (in addition to ambient N deposition) simulated enhanced N deposition treatments of 3.5 and 14 g N m^?2 yr^?1 for 6 years. The influence of reducing phosphorus limitation was assessed by factorial additions of P. Seasonal leached losses of nitrate, ammonia and organic N were monitored in detail along with estimates of N removal through simulated grazing and gaseous losses through denitrification and volatilization. The rates of N fluxes by these pathways were used to create N budgets for the grasslands. Both grasslands were found to be accumulating much of the simulated additional N deposition: up to 89% accumulated in the calcareous grassland and up to 38% accumulated in the acidic grassland. The major fluxes of N loss from these grasslands were by simulated grazing and leaching of soluble organic N (constituting 90% of leached N under ambient conditions). Leached inorganic N (mainly nitrate) contributed significantly to the output flux of N under the highest N treatment only. Loss of N through ammonia volatilization accounted for less than 6% of the N added as simulated deposition, while denitrification contributed significantly to output fluxes only in the acidic grassland during winter. The implications of the results for ecosystem N balances and the likely consequences of N accumulation on these grasslands are discussed.     

几种海南岛热带雨林优势种植物挥发性有机物排放对模拟氮沉降的短期响应

BVOCs(Biogenic Volatile Organic Compounds)是植物向大气释放的一类重要气态化合物,能参与大气化学过程和陆地生态系统碳素循环。分析环境因子对BVOCs排放的影响,对科学认识未来气候变化具有重要意义。氮素作为植物生长、发育所需的大量营养元素之一,其沉降增加是当前全球气候变化的主要驱动因素之一,但学者对BVOCs如何应对氮沉降增加知之甚少。因此以海南岛热带雨林树种：木荷(Schima superba)、厚壳桂(Cryptocarya chinensis)和线枝蒲桃(Syzygium araiocladum)为研究对象,通过温室盆栽实验模拟氮沉降对3个树种BVOCs释放的短期效应。主要结论如下：(1)自然状态下,从木荷、厚壳桂和线枝蒲桃的枝叶中鉴定出14、34和24种挥发性有机化合物,包括异戊二烯、单萜烯、倍半萜烯和其他挥发性有机化合物(烷烃、羰基、醛、醇、酯、醚和酸),此外三个阔叶树种释放BVOCs的速率呈厚壳桂>木荷>线枝蒲桃;(2)外源施氮均促进了三种植物幼苗VOCs释放,其中总VOCs释放速率和成分数量均随施氮浓度的升高而增加,且叶面...     

Qualitative and quantitative changes in plant nitrogen acquisition induced by anthropogenic nitrogen deposition

Because nitrogen is the mineral nutrient needed in largest amounts by plants, it is usually also the limiting factor for plant growth in terrestrial ecosystems (Vitousek & Howarth, 1991). Consequently, the deposition of oxidized and reduced N compounds will almost invariably have large effects in these systems, and because N availability not only regulates plant growth but also that of organisms at other trophic levels, disturbances of several ecosystem processes might occur. The alternations introduced by deposition of atmospheric N compounds are both of a quantitative and of a qualitative nature. Moreover, N deposition can have phytotoxic as well as growth-stimulating effects.
This short commentary gives a personal view of some of the possible consequences of N deposition on plants. It refers particularly to the oral presentations given by Professor Heinz Rennenberg and Dr Marta Peréz-Soba, and to the discussions held after their talks where appropriate. Separate attention is given to four different consequence of anthropogenic N-deposition: N-availability; N-form, N-uptake by the shoot, and the period of N-uptake. Finally, I have tried to adopt an ecosystem perspective and discuss briefly the concept of critical loads of N.     

氮沉降对森林植物的影响

综述了氮沉降对森林植物的影响。氮沉降对森林植物的影响主要表现在以下6个方面：(1)在一定量范围内的氮沉降有利于植物的光合作用,但过量后则会引起植物的光合速率下降;(2)当植物生长受氮限制时,在一定程度上的氮沉降增加植物生产力,但当氮过量后,氮沉降则使植物的生产力下降;(3)过量的氮沉降导致植物体各种营养元素含量的比例失衡;(4)氮沉降会改变植物的形态结构,集中表现为根／冠比减小;(5)氮沉降会增加植物对天然胁迫如干旱、病虫害和风的敏感性,减少其抵御能力;(6)氮沉降会改变植物组成和降低森林植物的多样性。     

离子树脂法测定森林穿透雨氮素湿沉降通量——以千烟洲人工针叶林为例

穿透雨是大气氮素输入森林生态系统的重要途径之一,穿透雨中氮素含量的定量评估在森林生态系统氮素循环研究中的作用不可忽视。穿透雨中氮沉降通量的空间异质性很强,传统降水收集法工作量大,且容易带来测定误差。分析了国产离子树脂测定大气氮素湿沉降的可行性,并以千烟洲人工针叶林为例探讨离子树脂法测定森林穿透雨的适用性。结果表明,离子交换树脂法和传统降水收集法测定值之间的相关性显著,离子交换树脂法可以很好的反映大气氮沉降通量和季节变化特征,并且在采样周期较长时也能准确测定氮沉降组分,是适用于野外站点林内穿透雨氮沉降通量的观测方法。千烟洲人工针叶林穿透雨的氮沉降通量为9.19 kgN?hm-2?a-1,夏季的5—7月份和冬季的1—2月份出现氮沉降通量高峰。夏季穿透雨氮沉降以铵态氮为主,而冬季以硝态氮为主。千烟洲人工针叶林的氮沉降通量与附近地区针叶林穿透雨氮沉降通量近似,低于临近区域阔叶林穿透雨的氮沉降通量水平,但已可能接近森林生态系统氮输出出现强烈反应的氮沉降临界值。     

大气氮沉降对阔叶林红壤淋溶水化学模拟研究

在氮饱和的森林生态系统中,氮沉降的增加将导致NO3-淋溶的增加及土壤酸度的提高,从而影响土壤质量及林业的可持续发展。然而,大气氮沉降对我国南方红壤地区森林生态系统中土壤的影响研究还很少,尤其是氮沉降引起的土壤淋溶液化学组成方面。研究中,以中国科学院红壤生态实验站林草生态试验区阔叶林红壤为对象,在恒温(20℃)条件下,通过土壤淋洗柱(直径10cm、高60cm)进行了8个月间隙性淋溶试验,来模拟研究不同氮输入量(0、7.8、26mg月-1.柱-1和52mg月-1柱-1)对阔叶林红壤NO3-、NH4 、SO42-、H 和土壤盐基离子(Ca2 、Mg2 、K 和Na )的淋溶和土壤酸度的影响。结果表明,随氮输入量增加,淋溶液中NO3-、EC、H 和总盐基离子逐渐增加,但淋溶液中无NH4 。不同氮处理时,土壤有机氮总表观矿化量分别为189.6、263.9、372.8mg月-1.柱-1与554.2mg柱-1,氮输入明显促进了土壤有机氮的矿化,且土壤有机氮的表观矿化量与氮输入量间呈正线性相关(R2=0.997**)。无氮(0mg月-1柱-1)、低氮(7.8mg月-1柱-1)、中氮(26mg月-1柱-1)和高氮(52mg月-1柱-1)输入处理下,土壤交换态盐基淋溶总量分别占土壤交换性盐基总量的13.6、18.4、27.7%和48.1%。不同的盐基离子对氮输入的反应不同,Ca2 和Mg2 淋溶量随氮输入量的增加而增加,对Na 和K 则无明显影响。土壤交换态离子中随淋洗液输出最多的为Ca2 (无氮、低氮、中氮和高氮输入处理的土壤交换态输出量占土壤交换态的比例分别为22.6、31.4、46.7%和82.5%),其次为Na (无氮、低氮、中氮和高氮输入处理的土壤交换态输出量占土壤交换态的比例分别为16.0、10.7、17.6%和26.3%),最少的为Mg2 (无氮、低氮、中氮和高氮输入处理的土壤交换态输出量占土壤交换态的比例分别为5.0、6.9、11.1%和16.9%),几乎没有土壤交换性K 输出。与对照相比,有氮处理后土壤中硫酸根离子的淋失量明显减少(p<0.05)。表层土壤pH值随氮输入量的增加而显著下降,各处理间差异极显著(p<0.01)。可见,大气氮沉降的增加将加速阔叶林红壤的养分淋失和土壤酸化的程度。     

Measuring and modelling nitrogen leaching: parallel problems

In studies of nitrate leaching both experimenters and modellers experience problems arising from soil variability. Because of the small-scale heterogeneity that gives rise to mobile and immobile categories of water, both measurements and modelling are easiest in homogeneous sandy soils and most difficult in strongly structured clay soils. There are also parallels at plot and field scale in the problems caused to experimenters by log-normal distributions of nitrate concentrations and those caused to modellers by non-linearity in models. All researchers need to be aware that a reliable estimate of the mean from a set of measurements or a model may necessitate considerations of variances as well as means.     

Nitrogen deposition contributes to soil acidification in tropical ecosystems

Elevated anthropogenic nitrogen (N) deposition has greatly altered terrestrial ecosystem functioning, threatening ecosystem health via acidification and eutrophication in temperate and boreal forests across the northern hemisphere. However, response of forest soil acidification to N deposition has been less studied in humid tropics compared to other forest types. This study was designed to explore impacts of long‐term N deposition on soil acidification processes in tropical forests. We have established a long‐term N‐deposition experiment in an N‐rich lowland tropical forest of Southern China since 2002 with N addition as NH₄NO₃ of 0, 50, 100 and 150 kg N ha^?1 yr^?1. We measured soil acidification status and element leaching in soil drainage solution after 6‐year N addition. Results showed that our study site has been experiencing serious soil acidification and was quite acid‐sensitive showing high acidification (pH_(H2O)<4.0), negative water‐extracted acid neutralizing capacity (ANC) and low base saturation (BS,< 8%) throughout soil profiles. Long‐term N addition significantly accelerated soil acidification, leading to depleted base cations and decreased BS, and further lowered ANC. However, N addition did not alter exchangeable Al³⁺, but increased cation exchange capacity (CEC). Nitrogen addition‐induced increase in SOC is suggested to contribute to both higher CEC and lower pH. We further found that increased N addition greatly decreased soil solution pH at 20 cm depth, but not at 40 cm. Furthermore, there was no evidence that Al³⁺ was leaching out from the deeper soils. These unique responses in tropical climate likely resulted from: exchangeable H⁺ dominating changes of soil cation pool, an exhausted base cation pool, N‐addition stimulating SOC production, and N saturation. Our results suggest that long‐term N addition can contribute measurably to soil acidification, and that shortage of Ca and Mg should receive more attention than soil exchangeable Al in tropical forests with elevated N deposition in the future.