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Research article - Peer-reviewed, 2007

The likely impact of elevated [CO2], nitrogen deposition, increased temperature and management on carbon sequestration in temperate and boreal forest ecosystems: a literature review

Hyvonen R, Agren GI, Linder S, Persson T, Cotrufo MF, Ekblad A, Freeman M, Grelle A, Janssens IA, Jarvis PG, Kellomaki S, Lindroth A, Loustau D, Lundmark T, Norby RJ, Oren R, Pilegaard K, Ryan MG, Sigurdsson BD, Stromgren M, van Oijen M, Wallin G

Abstract

Temperate and boreal forest ecosystems contain a large part of the carbon stored on land, in the form of both biomass and soil organic matter. Increasing atmospheric [CO2], increasing temperature, elevated nitrogen deposition and intensified management will change this C store. Well documented single-factor responses of net primary production are: higher photosynthetic rate (the main [CO2] response); increasing length of growing season (the main temperature response); and higher leaf-area index (the main N deposition and partly [CO2] response). Soil organic matter will increase with increasing litter input, although priming may decrease the soil C stock initially, but litter quality effects should be minimal (response to [CO2], N deposition, and temperature); will decrease because of increasing temperature; and will increase because of retardation of decomposition with N deposition, although the rate of decomposition of high-quality litter can be increased and that of low-quality litter decreased. Single-factor responses can be misleading because of interactions between factors, in particular those between N and other factors, and indirect effects such as increased N availability from temperature-induced decomposition. In the long term the strength of feedbacks, for example the increasing demand for N from increased growth, will dominate over short-term responses to single factors. However, management has considerable potential for controlling the C store

Published in

New Phytologist
2007, Volume: 173, number: 3, pages: 463-480
Publisher: BLACKWELL PUBLISHING

      SLU Authors

    • Hyvönen, Riitta

      • Department of Ecology and Environmental Research, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
      • Ågren, Göran

        • Department of Ecology and Environmental Research, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
          • Persson, Tryggve

            • Department of Ecology and Environmental Research, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
              • Grelle, Achim

                • Department of Ecology and Environmental Research, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
                  • Strömgren, Monika

                    • Department of Forest Soils, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences

                  UKÄ Subject classification

                  Environmental Sciences related to Agriculture and Land-use

                  Publication identifier

                  DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-8137.2007.01967.x

                  Permanent link to this page (URI)

                  https://res.slu.se/id/publ/11182