RTI uses cookies to offer you the best experience online. By clicking “accept” on this website, you opt in and you agree to the use of cookies. If you would like to know more about how RTI uses cookies and how to manage them please view our Privacy Policy here. You can “opt out” or change your mind by visiting: http://optout.aboutads.info/. Click “accept” to agree.
Impacts of nitrogen and sulfur deposition on the growth of red spruce and sugar maple in the United States
Phelan, J., Sinha, P., Van Houtven, G., Deerhake, M., Waite, R., Rea, A., & Tennant, G. (2012). Impacts of nitrogen and sulfur deposition on the growth of red spruce and sugar maple in the United States. In R. S. Morin, & G. C. Liknes (Eds.), Moving from status to trends: Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) symposium (pp. 367-370). U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station. https://www.fs.usda.gov/treesearch/pubs/42779
Total nitrogen (N) and sulfur (S) deposition in forest systems can have either positive or negative impacts on tree growth. The growth of many forests in North America is limited by N availability. Therefore, N fertilization is often a key component of forest management, and in areas of N deposition, tree growth may be stimulated. However, N additions can sometimes be greater than what trees require and can negatively impact tree health and growth. Systems where atmospheric deposition of N and S is greater than the critical load may be examples of such forest conditions. When critical loads are exceeded, tree health and growth may be compromised both directly and indirectly due to soil nutrient imbalances caused by leaching of base cations from the soil.
