From, Fredrik
- Department of Forest Genetics and Plant Physiology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
Abstract
Modelling studies have suggested that atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition will increase forest carbon sequestration by stimulating tree growth. However, few long-term experiments studying N deposition effects on tree growth in boreal forests have been reported. This study empirically explores the relation between application rates of N, simulating levels of N deposition relevant for Europe, and the growth of Picea abies (L.) Karst. and Pinus sylvestris L. in a low N deposition area (<2 kg N.ha(-1).year(-1)), we manually added 0, 12.5, and 50 kg N.ha(-1).year(-1) to a forest site dominated by P. abies for 19 years and 0, 3, 6, 12.5, and 50 kg N.ha(-1).year(-1) to a forest site dominated by P. sylvestris for 10 years. On both sites, linear regression analyses displayed significant relations between mean annual tree growth and N additions: P. abies relative growth rate increased by 1.2% per kg N added and that of P. sylvestris increased by 1.6% per kg N added. The growth response, however, varied over time, highlighting the necessity for long-term experiments to apprehend effects of eutrophication on forests. Generally, our study confirms the results of previous modelling studies assessing forest growth responses to N deposition over Europe.
Keywords
anthropogenic nitrogen (N) deposition; repeated N addition; forest growth; Norway spruce; Scots pine
Published in
Canadian Journal of Forest Research
2016, volume: 46, number: 11, pages: 1396-1403
Publisher: CANADIAN SCIENCE PUBLISHING, NRC RESEARCH PRESS
SLU Authors
Lundmark, Tomas
- Department of Forest Ecology and Management, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
- Department of Forest Ecology and Management, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
Mörling, Tommy
- Department of Forest Ecology and Management, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
- Department of Forest Ecology and Management, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
Pommerening, Arne
- Department of Forest Resource Management, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
- Department of Forest Resource Management, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
Nordin, Annika
- Department of Forest Genetics and Plant Physiology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
- Department of Forest Genetics and Plant Physiology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
Associated SLU-program
SLU Future Forests
UKÄ Subject classification
Forest Science
Publication identifier
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1139/cjfr-2016-0201
Permanent link to this page (URI)
https://res.slu.se/id/publ/77961