Abstract
Increases in N deposition (wet and dry) have been associated with a decline in semi-natural plant communities, adapted for growth on nutrient poor soils in the UK and Europe. The impacts of N deposition applied as either wet NH4 + or gaseous NH3 on vegetation (7 species) from acid moorland in SE Scotland were compared in a dose-response study. Wet N deposition at 0, 8, 16, 32, 64, 128 kg N ha−1 y−1 was applied as NH4Cl, and dry deposition as gaseous NH3 (2, 6, 20, 50, 90 µg NH3 m−3) under controlled conditions in open-top chambers. A strong linear dose-response relationship (p<0.05) was found between foliar N content in all seven plant species and applied NH4−N. However, in the NH3 treatment, only C. vulgaris and P. commune showed a significant response to increasing N additions. NH3 was found to increase the rate of water loss in Calluna in both autumn and winter by comparison with wet deposition. For Eriophorum vaginatum, the NH3 and NH4 + treatments showed significant N dose response relationships for biomass. A significant increase in above ground biomass, proportional to the added N, was found for Narthecium ossifragum when N was applied as NH3 compared to NH4 +.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bobbink, R., Hornung, M. and Roelofs, J.G.M. (1996). In: Manual of Methodologies and Criteria for Mapping Critical Levels/Loads and Geographical Areas where they are Exceeded. UN-ECE Convention on Long-Range Transboundary air pollution, Federal Environmental Agency, Berlin.
Caporn, S.J.M., Risager, M. and Lee, J.A.: 1994, New Phytologist 128, 461.
Carroll, J.A., Caporn, S.J.M., Cawley. L., Read, D.J. and Lee, J.A.: 1999, New Phytologist 141, 423.
Erisman, J.W., van Elzakker, B.G., Mennen, M.G., Hogenkamp, J Zwart, E., van den Beld, L., Romer, F.G., Bobbink, R., Heil, G., Raessen, J.H., Duyzer, J.H., Verhage, H., Wyers, G.P., Otjes, R.P. and Mols, J.J.: 1994, Atmospheric Pollution 28, 487.
Flechard, C.R and Fowler, D.: 1998, Quartery Journal Royal Meteorological Society, 124, 733.
Fowler, D., Pitcairn, C.E.R., Sutton, M.A., Flechard, C., Loubet, B., Cape, J.N. and Munro, R.C 1998, Environmental Pollution 102,S1, 41.
Fowler, D., Cape, N.J., Deans, J.D., Leith, I.D., Murray, M.B., Smith, R.I., Sheppard, L.J and Unsworth, M.H.: 1989, New Phytologist 113, 321
Grimshaw, H.M., Allen, S.E. and Parkinson, J.A. 1989. Nutrient elements. In: Chemical analysis of ecological materials (2nd ed.), edited by S.E. Allen, 81–159. Blackwell Scientific Publications: Oxford.
Leith, I.D., Hicks, W.K., Fowler, D. and Woodin, S.J.: 1999, New Phytologist 141, 277.
Pitcairn, C.E.R., Fowler, D. and Grace, J.: 1995, Environmental Pollution 88, 193.
Pitcairn, C.E.R., Leith, I.D., Sheppard, L.J., Sutton, M.A., Fowler, D., Munro, R.C., Tang, S. and Wilson, D.: 1998, Environmental Pollution. 102,S1, 41.
Power, S.A., Ashmore, M.R. and Cousins, D.A.: 1998, New Pytologist 138, 663.
Sutton, M.A., Pitcairn, C.E.R. and Fowler, D.: 1993, Advances in Ecological Resources, 24, 301
Sutton, M.A., Fowler, D., Burkhardt, J.K. and Milford, C.: 1995, Water, Air and Soil Pollution 85, 2057.
Sutton, M.A. Tang, Y.S., Miners, B.P., Coyle, M., Smith, R.I., and Fowler, D.; 1998, Final Report to DETR. Results of National Ammonia Monitoring Network. London, UK.
Thijsse, G and Baas, P.: 1990, Trees 4, 111.
Van der Eerden, L.J., Dueck, T.A., Berdowski, J.J.M, Gevan, H. and van Dobben, H.F.: 1991, Acta Botanica Neerlandica 40, 281.
Verhoeven, J.T.A, Koerselman, W. and Meuleman, A.F.M.: 1996, Trees 11, 494.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Leith, I.D., Sheppard, L.J., Pitcairn, C.E. et al. Comparison of the Effects of Wet N Deposition (NH4Cl) and Dry N Deposition (NH3) on UK Moorland Species. Water, Air, & Soil Pollution 130, 1043–1048 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1013960329208
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1013960329208