Long-term stabilization of 15N-labeled experimental NH4+ deposition in a temperate forest under high N deposition.

High nitrogen (N) deposition levels, currently present in many industrial and agricultural regions of the world, can strongly affect the functioning of forest ecosystems. In a pine forest with strong N leaching, located in the Netherlands, we studied the long-term fate of a year-long NH4+ deposition cohort labeled with 15N. A high ambient and a low N deposition treatment had been established at the site by means of a roof and sprinklers. Resampling the N pools 19 years after labeling and 11 years after the last sampling, we found similar 15N deltas in needles, twigs and the LF1 organic soil layer of each treatment, indicating intensive N cycling among these pools. In the last 11 years, label recovery decreased in these labile pools, while recovery remained constant in wood and increased in bark. Together these aboveground vegetation pools retained less than 3% of the labeled N. In the organic layers, label recovery after 19 years decreased to 23% in both treatments, while in the mineral soil it increased from 4% to 13% (high N) and from 3% to 29% (low N treatment). Within the mineral soil of the high N treatment the labeled N was mainly found in fine roots, while in the low N treatment most N was incorporated in the two soil density fractions, shifting to the high density fraction with depth. This suggests a low capacity of the mineral soil at high N deposition to incorporate N. After the labeled N had been lost substantially in previous years, especially in the first, its presence remained constant in the last 11 years at 38% (high N) and 54% (low N treatment). Apparently, even in this strongly N leaching ecosystem, N once incorporated, was retained well and did not affect the input-output fluxes of the system.

Ecosystem responses to reduced and oxidised nitrogen inputs in European terrestrial habitats.

While it is well established that ecosystems display strong responses to elevated nitrogen deposition, the importance of the ratio between the dominant forms of deposited nitrogen (NH(x) and NO(y)) in determining ecosystem response is poorly understood. As large changes in the ratio of oxidised and reduced nitrogen inputs are occurring, this oversight requires attention. One reason for this knowledge gap is that plants experience a different NH(x):NO(y) ratio in soil to that seen in atmospheric deposits because atmospheric inputs are modified by soil transformations, mediated by soil pH. Consequently species of neutral and alkaline habitats are less likely to encounter high NH(4)(+) concentrations than species from acid soils. We suggest that the response of vascular plant species to changing ratios of NH(x):NO(y) deposits will be driven primarily by a combination of soil pH and nitrification rates. Testing this hypothesis requires a combination of experimental and survey work in a range of systems.

Long term changes in atmospheric N and S throughfall deposition and effects on soil solution chemistry in a Scots pine forest in the Netherlands.

In a Scots pine forest the throughfall deposition and the chemical composition of the soil solution was monitored since 1984. (Inter)national legislation measures led to a reduction of the deposition of nitrogen and sulphur. The deposition of sulphur has decreased by approximately 65%. The total mineral-nitrogen deposition has decreased by ca. 25%, which is mainly due to a reduction in ammonium-N deposition (-40%), since nitrate-N deposition has increased (+50%). The nitrogen concentration in the upper mineral soil solution at 10 cm depth has decreased, leading to an improved nutritional balance, which may result in improved tree vitality. In the drainage water at 90 cm depth the fluxes of NO3(-) and SO4(2-) have decreased, resulting in a reduced leeching of accompanying base cations, thus preserving nutrients in the ecosystem. It may take still several years, however, before this will meet the prerequisite of a sustainable ecosystem.