Importance of Foliar Nitrogen Concentration to Predict Forest Productivity in the Mid-Atlantic Region

• DOI: 10.1093/forestscience/50.3.279
• Publication Date: 2024-04-10T10:01:24Z
• Authors: Yude Pan; John Hom; Jennifer Jenkins; Richard Birdsey
• Keywords: Atlantic forest

Abstract To assess what difference it might make to include spatially defined estimates of foliar nitrogen in the regional application a forest ecosystem model (PnET-II), we composed predictions wood production from extensive ground-based inventory analysis data across Mid-Atlantic region. Spatial variation N concentration was assigned based on correlation with mean July temperature for deciduous forests and latitude coniferous forests. Although slight observed conifers had little effect predicted production, large differences trees increased agreement field surveys by 12–59% individual states 17% The validation revealed need develop equations that represent spatial variations improve PnET-II's predictions. FOR. SCI. 50(3):279–289.