Nitrogen deposition in Mediterranean forests.

TitleNitrogen deposition in Mediterranean forests.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2002
AuthorsRoda, F., Avila a., & Rodrigo A.
JournalEnvironmental pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987)
Volume118
Issue2
Pagination205 - 213
Date Published2002///
KeywordsAir Pollutants, Air Pollutants: analysis, Biological Availability, Ecosystem, Environmental Monitoring, Gases, Geologic Sediments, Geologic Sediments: chemistry, Mediterranean Region, nitrogen, Nitrogen: analysis, Particle Size, Trees, Trees (citation)
Abstract

Atmospheric deposition of inorganic nitrogen was studied at two forested sites in the Montseny mountains (northeast Spain), peripheral to the Barcelona conurbation, and at a nearby lowland town, using bulk deposition, wet-only deposition, throughfall, and dry deposition inferred from branch-washes and surrogate surfaces (metacrylate plates). Bulk deposition inputs of ammonium and nitrate did not show significant temporal trends over a 16-year period. Bulk inputs of inorganic N were moderate, ranging from 6 to 10 kg N ha(-1) year(-1) depending on the time period considered and the degree of site exposure to polluted air masses from the Barcelona conurbation. Large dry-sedimented particles played a minor role, since wet-only inputs were virtually identical to bulk inputs. On the contrary, branch- and plate-washes indicated substantial dry inputs of N gases and small particles. Total atmospheric deposition was estimated at 15-22 kg N ha(-1) year(-1), most of it being retained within the studied broadleaved evergreen forests. Ecosystem N availability is thus likely to be increasing in these forests.

URLhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11939283