Does nitrogen and sulfur deposition affect forest productivity?

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  • Authors: Johnson, Brittany A.; Piatek, Kathryn B.; Adams, Mary Beth; Brooks, John R.
  • Publication Year: 2010
  • Publication Series: Other
  • Source: In: Rentch, James S.; Schuler, Thomas M., eds. 2010. Proceedings from the conference on the ecology and management of high-elevation forests in the central and southern Appalachian Mountains. 2009 May 14-15; Slatyfork, WV. Gen. Tech. Rep. NRS-P-64. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station: 85-93.

Abstract

We studied the effects of atmospheric nitrogen and sulfur deposition on forest productivity in a 10-year-old, aggrading forest stand at the Fernow Experimental Forest in Tucker County, WV. Forest productivity was expressed as total aboveground wood biomass, which included stem and branch weight of standing live trees. Ten years after stand regeneration and treatment initiation, total aboveground wood biomass was compared among three treatments: whole tree harvest (WT), whole tree harvest plus annual nitrogen (N) and sulfur (S) additions at two times ambient deposition rates (WT+NS), and whole tree harvest plus N, S (two times ambient), and dolomitic lime (WT+NS+CA) additions. Furthermore, future stand productivity was estimated for a subsequent 70 years using growth projection simulator SILVAH.

  • Citation: Johnson, Brittany A.; Piatek, Kathryn B.; Adams, Mary Beth; Brooks, John R. 2010. Does nitrogen and sulfur deposition affect forest productivity? In: Rentch, James S.; Schuler, Thomas M., eds. 2010. Proceedings from the conference on the ecology and management of high-elevation forests in the central and southern Appalachian Mountains. 2009 May 14-15; Slatyfork, WV. Gen. Tech. Rep. NRS-P-64. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station: 85-93.
  • Posted Date: August 30, 2010
  • Modified Date: August 30, 2010
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