Nitrogen dynamics in managed boreal forests: Recent advances and future research directions

Sammanfattning

Nitrogen (N) availability plays multiple roles in the boreal landscape, as a limiting nutrient to forest growth, determinant of terrestrial biodiversity, and agent of eutrophication in aquatic ecosystems. We review existing research on forest N dynamics in northern landscapes and address the effects of management and environmental change on internal cycling and export. Current research foci include resolving the nutritional importance of different N forms to trees and establishing how tree-mycorrhizal relationships influence N limitation. In addition, understanding how forest responses to external N inputs are mediated by above-and belowground ecosystem compartments remains an important challenge. Finally, forestry generates a mosaic of successional patches in managed forest landscapes, with differing levels of N input, biological demand, and hydrological loss. The balance among these processes influences the temporal patterns of stream water chemistry and the long-term viability of forest growth. Ultimately, managing forests to keep pace with increasing demands for biomass production, while minimizing environmental degradation, will require multi-scale and interdisciplinary perspectives on landscape N dynamics.

Nyckelord

Boreal forests; Clear cutting; Forest management; Nitrogen fixation; Plant-soil interactions; Watersheds

Publicerad i

AMBIO: A Journal of the Human Environment
2016, volym: 45, nummer: Suppl 2, sidor: S175-S187

SLU författare

• Sponseller, Ryan

  • Umeå Universitet

• Gundale, Michael

  • Institutionen för skogens ekologi och skötsel, Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet
    

• Futter, Martyn

  • Institutionen för vatten och miljö, Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet
    

• Nordin, Annika

  • Institutionen för skoglig genetik och växtfysiologi, Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet
    

• Näsholm, Torgny

  • Institutionen för skogens ekologi och skötsel, Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet
    

• Laudon, Hjalmar

  • Institutionen för skogens ekologi och skötsel, Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet
    

Associerade SLU-program

SLU Future Forests
SLU Nätverk växtskydd

UKÄ forskningsämne

Skogsvetenskap

Publikationens identifierare

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13280-015-0755-4

Permanent länk till denna sida (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/69707