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Does exceeding the critical loads for nitrogen alter nitrate leaching, the nutrient status of trees and their crown condition at Swiss Long-term Forest Ecosystem Research (LWF) sites?

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Abstract

Nitrogen (N) deposition exceeds the critical loads for this element in most parts of Switzerland apart from the Alps. At 17 sites (8 broadleaved stands, 8 coniferous stands, and 1 mixed stand) of the Swiss Long-term Forest Ecosystem Research network, we are investigating whether N deposition is associated with the N status of the forest ecosystems. N deposition, assessed from throughfall measurements, was related to the following indicators: (1) nitrate leaching below the rooting zone (measured on a subset of 9 sites); (2) the N nutrition of the forest stand based on foliar analyses (16 sites); and (3) crown defoliation, a non specific indicator of tree vitality (all 17 sites). Nitrate leaching ranging from about 2 to 16 kg N ha−1 a−1 was observed at sites subjected to moderate to high total N deposition (>10 kg ha−1 a−1). The C/N ratio of the soil organic layer, or, when it was not present, of the upper 5 cm of the mineral soil, together with the pool of organic carbon in the soil, played a critical role, as previous studies have also found. In addition, the humus type may need to be considered as well. For instance, little nitrate leaching (<2 kg N ha−1 a−1) was recorded at the Novaggio site, which is subjected to high total N deposition (>30 kg ha−1 a−1) but characterized by a C/N ratio of 24, large organic C stocks, and a moder humus type. Foliar N concentrations correlated with N deposition in both broadleaved and coniferous stands. In half of the coniferous stands, foliar N concentrations were in the deficiency range. Crown defoliation tended to be negatively correlated with N concentrations in the needles. In the majority of the broadleaved stands, foliar N concentrations were in the optimum nutritional range or, on one beech plot with high total N deposition (>25 kg ha−1 a−1), above the optimum values. There was no correlation between the crown defoliation of broadleaved trees and foliar concentrations.

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Acknowledgments

We are grateful to A. Brechbühl, N. Hajjar, O. Schramm, Y.Y. Cheung-Tang, D. Christen, A. Zürcher and former laboratory staff for sample handling in the field and in the laboratory; the staff from the forest services for collecting the samples on the LWF sites; C. Hug and the Sanasilva field crew; P. Suter for foliage sampling; D. Pezzotta and his team of the WSL central laboratory for analysing the samples, P. Jakob for the data-base support, F. Sutter for generating Fig. 1; M. Rebetez and G. Schneiter for climatic data; and S. Dingwall for editing the English. We gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN).

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  1. WSL-Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research, Zürcherstrasse 111, 8903, Birmensdorf, Switzerland

    Anne Thimonier, Elisabeth Graf Pannatier, Maria Schmitt, Peter Waldner, Lorenz Walthert, Patrick Schleppi, Matthias Dobbertin & Norbert Kräuchi

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  1. Anne Thimonier
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Correspondence to Anne Thimonier.

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Communicated by R. Matyssek.

This publication originated from the conference on “Impacts of Air Pollution and Climate Change on Forest Ecosystems” with emphasis on “Air Pollution and Climate Change at Contrasting Altitude and Latitude”, held 7–12 September 2008 in Murten Switzerland; organized by IUFRO & Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL).

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Thimonier, A., Graf Pannatier, E., Schmitt, M. et al. Does exceeding the critical loads for nitrogen alter nitrate leaching, the nutrient status of trees and their crown condition at Swiss Long-term Forest Ecosystem Research (LWF) sites?. Eur J Forest Res 129, 443–461 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10342-009-0328-9

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