Nitrate leaching in forest ecosystems is related to forest floor CN ratios

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Abstract

Relationships between nitrogen (N) output with seepage water and forest floor CN ratios were analysed by use of three independent datasets: (i) a compilation of input-output studies in temperate forest ecosystems in Europe; (ii) a seven-year national Danish survey of nitrate concentrations in forest soils; and (iii) a similar one year Dutch survey. Nitrate leaching and nitrate concentrations were negatively correlated with forest floor CN ratios in all three datasets, though the correlation was weak in the Dutch dataset. Sites with a CN ratio below 25 leached nitrate or had elevated nitrate concentration in the three datasets. Nitrate was not present in the subsoil at sites with CN ratios above 30 in the European and Danish data. In the less intensively monitored Dutch forest soils nitrate concentrations at CN ratios above 30 were variable. Forest floor CN ratios may be used to assess risk for nitrate leaching in conifer stands using >30, 25 to 30, and <25 to separate low, moderate, and high nitrate leaching risk, respectively.

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