The effect of nitrogen fertilization on tree growth, soil organic carbon and nitrogen leaching—a modeling study in a steep nitrogen deposition gradient in Sweden
(2021) In Forests 12(3).- Abstract
Nitrogen (N) fertilization in forests has the potential to increase tree growth and carbon (C) sequestration, but it also means a risk of N leaching. Dynamic models can, if the important processes are well described, play an important role in assessing benefits and risks of nitrogen fertili-zation. The aim of this study was to test if the ForSAFE model is able to simulate correctly the effects of N fertilization when considering different levels of N availability in the forest. The model was applied for three sites in Sweden, representing low, medium and high nitrogen deposition. Simulations were performed for scenarios with and without fertilization. The effect of N fertilization on tree growth was largest at the low deposition site,... (More)
Nitrogen (N) fertilization in forests has the potential to increase tree growth and carbon (C) sequestration, but it also means a risk of N leaching. Dynamic models can, if the important processes are well described, play an important role in assessing benefits and risks of nitrogen fertili-zation. The aim of this study was to test if the ForSAFE model is able to simulate correctly the effects of N fertilization when considering different levels of N availability in the forest. The model was applied for three sites in Sweden, representing low, medium and high nitrogen deposition. Simulations were performed for scenarios with and without fertilization. The effect of N fertilization on tree growth was largest at the low deposition site, whereas the effect on N leaching was more pro-nounced at the high deposition site. For soil organic carbon (SOC) the effects were generally small, but in the second forest rotation SOC was slightly higher after fertilization, especially at the low deposition site. The ForSAFE simulations largely confirm the N saturation theory which state that N will not be retained in the forest when the ecosystem is N saturated, and we conclude that the model can be a useful tool in assessing effects of N fertilization.
(Less)
- author
- Lucander, Klas LU ; Zanchi, Giuliana LU ; Akselsson, Cecilia LU and Belyazid, Salim LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2021
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- Boreal forests, Carbon sequestration, Eutrophication, ForSAFE
- in
- Forests
- volume
- 12
- issue
- 3
- article number
- 298
- publisher
- MDPI AG
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:85102974345
- ISSN
- 1999-4907
- DOI
- 10.3390/f12030298
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- 763793a4-c3be-46cd-83ef-0fb45058069a
- date added to LUP
- 2021-03-31 10:12:20
- date last changed
- 2022-08-26 18:33:43
@article{763793a4-c3be-46cd-83ef-0fb45058069a,
abstract = {{<p>Nitrogen (N) fertilization in forests has the potential to increase tree growth and carbon (C) sequestration, but it also means a risk of N leaching. Dynamic models can, if the important processes are well described, play an important role in assessing benefits and risks of nitrogen fertili-zation. The aim of this study was to test if the ForSAFE model is able to simulate correctly the effects of N fertilization when considering different levels of N availability in the forest. The model was applied for three sites in Sweden, representing low, medium and high nitrogen deposition. Simulations were performed for scenarios with and without fertilization. The effect of N fertilization on tree growth was largest at the low deposition site, whereas the effect on N leaching was more pro-nounced at the high deposition site. For soil organic carbon (SOC) the effects were generally small, but in the second forest rotation SOC was slightly higher after fertilization, especially at the low deposition site. The ForSAFE simulations largely confirm the N saturation theory which state that N will not be retained in the forest when the ecosystem is N saturated, and we conclude that the model can be a useful tool in assessing effects of N fertilization.</p>}},
author = {{Lucander, Klas and Zanchi, Giuliana and Akselsson, Cecilia and Belyazid, Salim}},
issn = {{1999-4907}},
keywords = {{Boreal forests; Carbon sequestration; Eutrophication; ForSAFE}},
language = {{eng}},
number = {{3}},
publisher = {{MDPI AG}},
series = {{Forests}},
title = {{The effect of nitrogen fertilization on tree growth, soil organic carbon and nitrogen leaching—a modeling study in a steep nitrogen deposition gradient in Sweden}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/f12030298}},
doi = {{10.3390/f12030298}},
volume = {{12}},
year = {{2021}},
}