J. For. Sci., 2005, 51(10):468-475 | DOI: 10.17221/4580-JFS

Isotope ratios and concentration of N in needles, roots and soils of Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst.) stands as influenced by atmospheric deposition of N

S. P. Sah
Department of Forest Ecology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland

This study aims to investigate the changes in isotope ratios in foliage and soils of two Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst.) forests greatly differing in their atmospheric N deposition and climatic conditions. As expected, both N concentrations and δ15N values in needles and roots were found to be significantly higher in the Solling stand (N-saturated) compared to the Hyytialä stand (N-poor). For both stands a typical vertical gradient of the soil 15N-enrichment was observed. As expected, the soil of N-polluted site (Solling) was 15N-enriched significantly more than that of N-limited site (Hyytialä) and this is explained by the presence of marked NO3- leaching at the Solling site. Although the annual trends (1990-1994) of N concentration in the foliage of spruce trees remained almost constant, their δ15N values significantly decreased with the increasing years of sampling. The 15N-depletion in spruce needle litter from 1990 to 1995 was by 2.0‰. This is explained by a slight decrease in N deposition at Solling site during this period.

Keywords: N-deposition; 15N; nitrogen; spruce; soil

Published: October 31, 2005  Show citation

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Sah SP. Isotope ratios and concentration of N in needles, roots and soils of Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst.) stands as influenced by atmospheric deposition of N. J. For. Sci. 2005;51(10):468-475. doi: 10.17221/4580-JFS.
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