Combined effects of atmospheric deposition, internal acid production, and harvesting on nutrient gains and losses from forest ecosystems.

Atmospheric deposition can cause nutrient gains (N, S) or losses (Ca, Mg, K) from forest ecosystems, whereas harvesting causes only losses. S deposition in polluted regions greatly exceeds S export via whole-tree harvesting, but this is not normally the case for N. Both atmospheric acid deposition and harvesting can cause loss of base cations, but because of tree selectivity in cation uptake, harvesting has a greater impact on the export of scarce or limiting cations than will acid deposition or internal acid generation. However, nutrient losses via harvesting can be minimized by timing harvests and losses can be compensated for by prop fertilization under intensive management regimes.-from STAR, 23(12), 1985

Duke Scholars

Author Daniel D. Richter Earth and Climate Sciences