Nitrogen deposition and carbon sequestration (original) (raw)

Nature volume 400, pages 629–630 (1999) Cite this article

Abstract

From their 15N tracer results1 and an estimated deposition rate to forests of 5.1×1012 g nitrogen per year2,3, Nadelhofferet al.conclude that about 0.25×1015 g carbon per year is sequestered by northern temperate forests. Their 15N-tracer measurements are robust but there is a problem with their assumption that they have simulated atmospheric nitrogen deposition at forests by adding 15N tracers systematically to forest floors “in all cases”. Atmospheric nitrogen deposition is actually intercepted by the forest canopy, particularly at the nine closed-canopy forests studied.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Subscribe to this journal

Receive 52 print issues and online access

$199.00 per year

only $3.83 per issue

Buy this article

USD 39.95

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Additional access options:

References

  1. Nadelhoffer, K. J.et al. Nature 398, 145–148 (1999).
    Article ADS CAS Google Scholar
  2. Townsend, A. R., Braswell, B. H., Holland, E. A. & Penner, J. E. Ecol. Appl. 6, 806–814 (1996).
    Google Scholar
  3. Holland, E. A.et al. J. Geophys. Res. 102, 15849–15866 (1997).
    Google Scholar
  4. Johnson, D. W. & Lindberg, S. E. (eds) Atmospheric Deposition and Forest Nutrient Cycling (Springer, New York, 1992).
  5. McLaughlin, J. W., Fernandez, I. J. & Richards, K. J. J. Environ. Qual. 25, 248–259 (1996).
    Google Scholar
  6. Calanni, J.et al. Environ. Pollut. 105, 79–89 (1999).
    Google Scholar
  7. Schlesinger, E. H. & Hartley, A. E. Biogeochemistry 15, 191–211 (1992).
    Google Scholar
  8. Galloway, J. N., Levy, H. & Schlesinger, W. H. Glob. Biogeochem. Cycles 9, 235–252 (1995).
    Google Scholar
  9. Hudson, R., Gherini, S. & Goldstein, R. A. Glob. Biogeochem. Cycles 8, 307–333 (1994).
    Google Scholar

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental Sciences, Geography and Physics, Global Change and Environmental Quality Program, University of Colorado at Denver, Denver, 80217, Colorado, USA
    Herman Sievering

Rights and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Sievering, H. Nitrogen deposition and carbon sequestration.Nature 400, 629–630 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1038/23176

Download citation

This article is cited by