Anthropogenic nitrogen deposition enhances carbon sequestration in boreal soils

• DOI: 10.1111/gcb.12904
• Publication Date: 2015-02-24T17:01:44Z
• Authors: Nadia I. Maaroufi; Annika Nordin; Niles J. Hasselquist; Lisbet H. Bach; Kristin Palmqvist; Michael J. Gundale
• Keywords: Soil respiration; Deposition; Soil carbon; Terrestrial ecosystem

Abstract It is proposed that carbon (C) sequestration in response to reactive nitrogen (N r ) deposition boreal forests accounts for a large portion of the terrestrial sink anthropogenic CO 2 emissions. While studies have helped clarify magnitude by which N enhances C forest vegetation, there remains paucity long‐term experimental evaluating how soil pools respond. We conducted experiment, maintained since 1996, consisting three addition levels (0, 12.5, and 50 kg ha −1 yr zone northern Sweden understand atmospheric affects accumulation, microbial communities, respiration. hypothesized will increase, biomass respiration decrease, with disproportionately changes expected compared low addition. Our data showed treatment caused non‐significant increase organic horizon pool ~15% significant ~30% high relative control. The relationship between was linear, slope 10 N. also found concomitant decrease total fungal biomasses ~11% reduction treatment. complement previous from same study system describing aboveground sequestration, indicating ecosystem rate 26 These estimates are far lower than suggested some modeling studies, thus help improve validate current efforts aimed at separating effect multiple global change factors on balance region.