Organic and inorganic nitrogen in precipitation and in forest throughfall at Bílý Kříž site (Beskydy Mts., Czech Republic)

Abstract

Organic nitrogen is an important but yet not very well explored component of nitrogen deposition. In this study concentrations and fluxes of organic and inorganic nitrogen in bulk precipitation in an open field (BOF) and in throughfall (THR) were evaluated at the Bílý Kříž experimental site (Moravian-Silesian Beskydy Mts., Czech Republic, 908 m a.s.l.) with a young Norway spruce stand. The results of a two-year study (2008 and 2009) were compared with the results obtained during the same time period on forest plots included in ICP Forests Programme in the Czech Republic. Total nitrogen deposition in BOF at the Bílý Kříž site amounted to about 918 mg·m<sup>–2</sup>·a<sup>–1</sup>, the contribution of organic nitrogen was about 8%. Total nitrogen flux with THR at Bílý Kříž was about 1,305 mg·m<sup>–2</sup>·a<sup>–1</sup> during the studied years and organic N accounted for 12% of this amount. The ranges of the two-year average values found for total nitrogen flux on ICP Forests plots throughout the Czech Republic were as follows: 759–1,857 mg N·m<sup>–2</sup>·a<sup>–1</sup> with 7–38% contribution of organic N in BOF and 928–3,816 mg N·m<sup>–2</sup>·a<sup>–1</sup> with 7–20% contribution of organic N in THR. The share of organic nitrogen in THR nitrogen fluxes at Bílý Kříž proved clear seasonality with maxima in July. A highly significant correlation between N-NH<sub>4</sub><sup>+</sup>   and N-NO<sub>3</sub><sup>–</sup>   concentrations in BOF suggested the common anthropogenic source of these substances at the Bílý Kříž site. No significant correlation was found either between organic N and N-NH<sub>4</sub><sup>+</sup> or between organic N and N-NO<sub>3</sub><sup>–</sup> concentrations in BOF. Cumulative deposition charts showed different behaviour of particular nitrogen deposition components while passing through the canopy.    

Relationship between site-specific nitrogen concentrations in mosses and measured wet bulk atmospheric nitrogen deposition across Europe

“…Analysis for Finland, France, Germany and Slovenia only indicates that there is no further improvement in fit using total nitrogen concentration in precipitation. In Germany and France, the average contribution of DON to the total wet bulk deposition ranged from 6 to 28% respectively, which is similar to the range reported for the Czech Republic (Drápelová, 2012).…”

Spatial distribution of PAH concentrations and stable isotope signatures (δ13C, δ15N) in mosses from three European areas – Characterization by multivariate analysis

“…Finally, the common trends between N content and heavy PAH concentrations may be explained by their important deposition in urban areas (industry, road and domestic emissions.). Nevertheless, it should be noted that the forest canopy may also have contributed to the N content and d 15 N values in the European mosses, by enriching throughfall deposition in organic nitrogen (Cape et al, 2010;Drápelová, 2012).…”