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The influence of N load and harvest intensity on the risk of P limitation in Swedish forest soils

Akselsson, Cecilia LU ; Olle, Westling ; Alveteg, Mattias LU orcid ; Gunnar, Thelin ; Ann-Mari, Fransson and Sofie, Hellsten (2008) In Science of the Total Environment 404. p.284-289
Abstract
Nitrogen (N) is often considered to be the major factor limiting tree growth in northern forest

ecosystems. An increased N availability, however, increases the demand for other nutrients

such as base cations and phosphorous (P) which in turn may change which nutrient is the

limiting factor. If P or base cations become limiting, N will start to leach which means a risk

of increased eutrophication of surface waters. As many studies focus on base cations, this

study instead aims at estimating P budgets on a regional scale for different harvesting

scenarios relevant for Swedish conditions.

P budget calculations were carried out for 14,550 coniferous sites from the Swedish... (More)
Nitrogen (N) is often considered to be the major factor limiting tree growth in northern forest

ecosystems. An increased N availability, however, increases the demand for other nutrients

such as base cations and phosphorous (P) which in turn may change which nutrient is the

limiting factor. If P or base cations become limiting, N will start to leach which means a risk

of increased eutrophication of surface waters. As many studies focus on base cations, this

study instead aims at estimating P budgets on a regional scale for different harvesting

scenarios relevant for Swedish conditions.

P budget calculations were carried out for 14,550 coniferous sites from the Swedish National

Forest Inventory, as weathering+deposition–harvesting–leaching. Three scenarios with

different harvest intensities were used: 1) no harvesting, 2) stem harvesting and 3) wholetree

harvesting. The input data were derived from measurements and model results.

The P budget estimates indicate that harvesting, especially whole-tree harvesting, result in

net losses of P in large parts of Sweden. The highest losses were found in southern Sweden

due to high growth rate in this area. In the whole-tree harvesting scenario the losses

exceeded 1 kg ha−1 y−1 on many sites. N budget calculations on the same sites indicate that

N generally accumulates in the whole country and especially in the southern parts.

Consequently, the N and P budget calculations indicate that the forests in southern Sweden

are in a transition phase from N-to P-limitation to growth. This transition will proceed as

long as the accumulation of N continues. These results are important in a sustainable

forestry context, as a basis for assessing the risk of future N leaching, and in designing

recommendations for abatement strategies of N deposition and for application of wood ash

recycling and N fertilization. (Less)
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author
; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Phosphorous, Nitrogen, Budget, Forest soils, Sweden, Harvesting, Weathering
in
Science of the Total Environment
volume
404
pages
284 - 289
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • scopus:52949122187
ISSN
1879-1026
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
20d14f73-85b1-4e55-8b60-c975946d39f3 (old id 3567813)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 12:37:24
date last changed
2023-11-12 07:36:09
@article{20d14f73-85b1-4e55-8b60-c975946d39f3,
  abstract     = {{Nitrogen (N) is often considered to be the major factor limiting tree growth in northern forest<br/><br>
ecosystems. An increased N availability, however, increases the demand for other nutrients<br/><br>
such as base cations and phosphorous (P) which in turn may change which nutrient is the<br/><br>
limiting factor. If P or base cations become limiting, N will start to leach which means a risk<br/><br>
of increased eutrophication of surface waters. As many studies focus on base cations, this<br/><br>
study instead aims at estimating P budgets on a regional scale for different harvesting<br/><br>
scenarios relevant for Swedish conditions.<br/><br>
P budget calculations were carried out for 14,550 coniferous sites from the Swedish National<br/><br>
Forest Inventory, as weathering+deposition–harvesting–leaching. Three scenarios with<br/><br>
different harvest intensities were used: 1) no harvesting, 2) stem harvesting and 3) wholetree<br/><br>
harvesting. The input data were derived from measurements and model results.<br/><br>
The P budget estimates indicate that harvesting, especially whole-tree harvesting, result in<br/><br>
net losses of P in large parts of Sweden. The highest losses were found in southern Sweden<br/><br>
due to high growth rate in this area. In the whole-tree harvesting scenario the losses<br/><br>
exceeded 1 kg ha−1 y−1 on many sites. N budget calculations on the same sites indicate that<br/><br>
N generally accumulates in the whole country and especially in the southern parts.<br/><br>
Consequently, the N and P budget calculations indicate that the forests in southern Sweden<br/><br>
are in a transition phase from N-to P-limitation to growth. This transition will proceed as<br/><br>
long as the accumulation of N continues. These results are important in a sustainable<br/><br>
forestry context, as a basis for assessing the risk of future N leaching, and in designing<br/><br>
recommendations for abatement strategies of N deposition and for application of wood ash<br/><br>
recycling and N fertilization.}},
  author       = {{Akselsson, Cecilia and Olle, Westling and Alveteg, Mattias and Gunnar, Thelin and Ann-Mari, Fransson and Sofie, Hellsten}},
  issn         = {{1879-1026}},
  keywords     = {{Phosphorous; Nitrogen; Budget; Forest soils; Sweden; Harvesting; Weathering}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  pages        = {{284--289}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{Science of the Total Environment}},
  title        = {{The influence of N load and harvest intensity on the risk of P limitation in Swedish forest soils}},
  volume       = {{404}},
  year         = {{2008}},
}