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Accelerated nitrogen inputs — A new problem or a new perspective?

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Abstract

This paper considers whether new problems are arising in forest ecosystems due to increased levels of inorganic N deposition from the atmosphere, or whether there are no new problems, just a change of perception. Deposition of N has indeed increased. Wet deposition rates are reasonably quantified, but the rates of dry deposition to forests are largely unknown. Current transport and deposition models are probably under-estimating N deposition to forests. Consideration of possible effects of enhanced N deposition reveals with varying degrees of certainty that there may be effects due to high N in biomass, high uptake rates, leaching of nitrate and consequent acidification, and an overall increase in N availability. Forest ecosystems are not well-enough understood to set a “critical load” for N deposition, but enough is known to define some upper limits.

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Skeffington, R.A. Accelerated nitrogen inputs — A new problem or a new perspective?. Plant Soil 128, 1–11 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00009391

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