Effects of increased deposition of atmospheric nitrogen on an upland moor: leaching of N species and soil solution chemistry

Pilkington, Michael; Caporn, S. J. M.; Carroll, Jacqueline A.; Cresswell, Neil; Lee, J.A.; Ashenden, T.W.; Brittain, S. A.; Reynolds, B.; Emmett, Bridget A.

doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2004.10.016

Cited by 57 publications

(41 citation statements)

References 39 publications

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“…Analysis of O horizon leachate after 10 years (Pilkington et al 2005a, b) showed high N retention, but NO 3 -concentrations increased significantly from 3 leq l -1 in the controls to 37 leq l -1 under the highest treatment. Mineral (E) horizon leachate showed smaller, but still significant, increases in NO 3 -(0.5-17 leq l -1 ).…”

Section: Ruabon North Wales Uk (Nh 4 No 3 )mentioning

confidence: 89%

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Does elevated nitrogen deposition or ecosystem recovery from acidification drive increased dissolved organic carbon loss from upland soil? A review of evidence from field nitrogen addition experiments

et al. 2008

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Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations have risen in upland waters across large areas of Europe and North America. Two proposed drivers of these increases are (1) deposition of atmospheric pollutant nitrogen (N) with consequent effects on plant and decomposer carbon dynamics, and (2) soil recovery from acidification associated with decreasing sulphur deposition. Examination of 12 European and North American field N addition experiments showed inconsistent (positive, neutral, and negative) responses of DOC to N addition. However, responses were linked to the form of N added and to resulting changes in soil acidity. Sodium nitrate additions consistently increased DOC, whereas ammonium salts additions usually decreased DOC. Leachate chemistry was used to calculate an index of ''ANC forcing'' of the effect of fertilization on the acid-base balance, which showed that DOC increased in response to all de-acidifying N additions, and decreased in response to all but three acidifying N additions. Exceptions occurred at two sites where N additions caused tree mortality, and one experiment located on an older, unglaciated soil with high anion adsorption capacity. We conclude that collectively these experiments do not provide clear support for the role of N deposition as the sole driver of rising DOC, but are largely consistent with an acidity-change mechanism. It is however possible that the unintended effect of acidity change on DOC mobility masks genuine effects of experimental N enrichment on DOC production and degradation. We suggest that there is a need, more generally, for interpretation of N manipulation experiments to take account of the effects that experimentally-induced changes in acidity, rather than elevated N per se, may have on ecosystem biogeochemistry.

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Section: Ruabon North Wales Uk (Nh 4 No 3 )mentioning

confidence: 89%

“…N addition led to significant pH reductions in both horizons, and increased Al concentrations in the E horizon. ANC forcing, calculated from the data of Pilkington et al (2005a), was negative but small in both horizons (O horizon -13 leq l -1 , E horizon -16 leq l -1 in the highest treatment).…”

Section: Ruabon North Wales Uk (Nh 4 No 3 )mentioning

confidence: 98%

Does elevated nitrogen deposition or ecosystem recovery from acidification drive increased dissolved organic carbon loss from upland soil? A review of evidence from field nitrogen addition experiments

et al. 2008

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“…Matzner and Ulrich 1980). This may indicate an early stage of N saturation (Kaste and Skjelkvåle 2002;Pilkington et al 2005). However, according to Evans et al (2006a) it may take decades for N saturation to be achieved.…”

Section: Input-output Comparison and Retention Rates Of Nutrientsmentioning

confidence: 93%

“…Effects of deposition and management on seepage water and leaching Nutrient leaching may be controlled by several parameters, such as nutrient deposition, sorption behaviour of nutrients and nutrient immobilisation, exchange capacity of humus horizons, nutrient uptake by plants and type of nutrient limitation, as well as internal nutrient turnover (Nielsen et al 2000;Pilkington et al 2005). In our study, deposition and leaching in the controls were only moderately correlated and correlation coefficients only slightly or not at all increased (at least for some of the nutrients) for the treatments (Table 4).…”

Section: Soil Ph H 2 Omentioning

confidence: 99%

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Nutrient leaching in dry heathland ecosystems: effects of atmospheric deposition and management

Oheimb

Niemeyer

et al. 2007

Biogeochemistry

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Atmospheric nutrient deposition has contributed to widespread changes in sensitive seminatural ecosystems throughout Europe. For an understanding of underlying processes it is important to quantify input-output flows in relation to ongoing atmospheric inputs and current management strategies. In this study we quantified losses of N, P, Ca, Mg, and K via leaching in heathland ecosystems (Lüneburger Heide, NW Germany) as a function of current deposition rates and different management measures (mowing, prescribed burning, choppering, sod-cutting) which aim to prevent shrub and tree encroachment. Leaching was only moderately related to atmospheric input rates, indicating that leaching was mostly affected by internal turnover processes. Leaching significantly increased for most of the nutrients after the application of management measures, particularly in the choppered and sod-cut plots. However, atmospheric nutrient inputs exceeded leaching outputs for most of the nutrients, even in the plots subjected to management. Despite high deposition rates (20-25 kg N ha -1 year -1 ), retention of atmospheric N input ranged between 74% and 92% in the control plots. In the treated plots, N retention decreased to 59-80%. However, in the study area mean N leaching in the controls has almost doubled since 1980 and currently amounts to 3.7 kg ha -1 year -1 , indicating an early stage of N saturation. Our study provides evidence that leaching did not compensate for atmospheric nutrient deposition, particularly as regards N. Management, thus, will be an indispensable tool for the maintenance of the low-nutrient status as a prerequisite for the long-term preservation of heathland ecosystems.

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Ecophysiological Responses of Plants to Air Pollution

Caporn

2013

Encyclopedia of Life Sciences

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In industrialised and heavily populated regions of the world, air pollution has an important influence on vegetation, affecting the production, abundance and distribution of plants. The principal primary pollutants are reactive compounds of sulphur, nitrogen and hydrocarbons emitted during the combustion of fossil fuels in industry, transport and from intensive farming. Increasing in importance is the secondary pollutant ozone. The direct effect of pollutants on plants is strongly influenced by the extent of their uptake into the plant tissues. Pollution also affects soils through increasing soil acidity and altering the balance of soil nutrients affecting roots and plant nutrition. Air pollution affects plants interactions with pests and pathogens and the sensitivity of vegetation to cold and drought stress. Understanding the ecophysiological responses and mechanisms by which air pollutants affect plants helps policymakers to set guidelines for air pollution to protect vegetation, crops and ecosystems. Key Concepts: Fossil fuel combustion and intensive agriculture are the main sources of air pollutants, which may be transported over long distances to affect plant life on a global scale. In developed nations, sulphur dioxide, smoke and acid rain were the main acute air pollution concerns in the past, but now ozone and reactive nitrogen may pose the greatest threats. Pollutants are deposited to plants as dry deposition of gases and particles and wet deposition in rain and cloudwater. Stomata and cuticle on plant's surfaces provide an important control on uptake by vascular plants. Bryophytes and lichens are vulnerable to air pollution as they lack a protective cuticle. Acid rain, ozone, SO 2 and other pollutants can directly injure the physiology of above ground plant tissues such as leaf gas exchange, carbon transport or flowering. Soils are affected by increased acidity and nitrogen deposition which have long term effects on plant nutrient uptake, root system health and species competition. Biodiversity and structure of plant communities appears to be damaged by long term nitrogen deposition. Air pollution increases plant attack from pests and pathogens and increases vulnerability to cold and drought stress. More understanding is needed of damage mechanisms to inform air quality guidelines to protect plants and their ecosystems.

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Effects of increased deposition of atmospheric nitrogen on an upland moor: leaching of N species and soil solution chemistry

Cited by 57 publications

References 39 publications

Does elevated nitrogen deposition or ecosystem recovery from acidification drive increased dissolved organic carbon loss from upland soil? A review of evidence from field nitrogen addition experiments

Does elevated nitrogen deposition or ecosystem recovery from acidification drive increased dissolved organic carbon loss from upland soil? A review of evidence from field nitrogen addition experiments

Nutrient leaching in dry heathland ecosystems: effects of atmospheric deposition and management

Ecophysiological Responses of Plants to Air Pollution

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