Publication Details

Year Published

2015

Publication

Forest Ecology and Management. 337: 144-152.

Abstract

Many temperate deciduous forests in the Eastern US are secondary, regrowing forests and have experienced decades of elevated inputs of acidic compounds and biologically available nitrogen (N) from the atmosphere. These young forests play an important role in the global carbon (C) cycle as C sinks, and it is possible that acidic deposition will influence the strength and longevity of this sink. We used the Fernow Experimental Forest Long Term Soil Productivity (LTSP) experiment near Parsons, WV to evaluate how 13 years of experimental N additions has affected ecosystem C storage and stand level dynamics in a young temperate deciduous forest. Specifically we examined whether N additions: (1) directly increased aboveground growth of regenerating trees but did so in a way that was independent of the indirect effects of soil acidification; (2) directly (independent of acidification effects) increased forest floor and soil C pools, and decreased the fine root C pool; and (3) lowered stand density and diversity. We also tested whether tree species were differentially affected by either N fertilization or soil acidification.

Keywords

Citation

Fowler, Zachariah K.; Adams, Mary Beth; Peterjohn, William T. 2015. Will more nitrogen enhance carbon storage in young forest stands in central Appalachia? Forest Ecology and Management. 337: 144-152. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2014.10.023.