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HERO ID
3851572
Reference Type
Journal Article
Title
Long-term nitrogen deposition increases heathland carbon sequestration
Author(s)
Field, CD; Evans, CD; Dise, NB; Hall, JR; Caporn, SJ
Year
2017
Is Peer Reviewed?
1
Journal
Science of the Total Environment
ISSN:
0048-9697
EISSN:
1879-1026
Volume
592
Page Numbers
426-435
Language
English
PMID
28340453
DOI
10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.03.059
Web of Science Id
WOS:000400082100045
Abstract
The large increases in reactive nitrogen (N) deposition in developed countries since the Industrial Revolution have had a marked impact on ecosystem functioning, including declining species richness, shifts in species composition, and increased N leaching. A potential mitigation of these harmful effects is the action of N as a fertiliser, which, through increasing primary productivity (and subsequently, organic matter production), has the potential to increase ecosystem carbon (C) storage. Here we report the response of an upland heath to 10years of experimental N addition. We find large increases in plant and soil C and N pools, with N-driven C sequestration rates in the range of 13-138kgCkg(-)(1). These rates are higher than those previously found in forest and lowland heath, mainly due to higher C sequestration in the litter layer. C sequestration is highest at lower N treatments (10, 20, and 40kgNha(-1)yr(-1) above ambient), with evidence of saturation at the highest N treatment, reflecting a physiologically aged Calluna vulgaris (Calluna) canopy. To maintain these rates of sequestration, the Calluna canopy should be managed to maximise it's time in the building phase. Scaling our results across UK heathlands, this equates to an additional 0.77Mt CO2e per annum extra C sequestered into plant litter and the top 15cm of heathland soil as a result of N deposition. The bulk of this is found in the litter and organic soil horizons that hold an average of 23% and 54% of soil C, respectively. This additional C represents around 0.44% of UK annual anthropogenic GHG emissions. When considered in the context of falling biodiversity and altered species composition in heathland, policy focus should remain on reducing N emissions.
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NAAQS
•
ISA NOxSOxPM Ecology (2018)
Cited in the Second Draft
Appendix 6
•
ISA NOxSOxPM Ecology (2020- Final Project Page)
Cited
Appendix 6
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