Underappreciated role of canopy nitrogen deposition for forest productivity.

ABSTRACT: Atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition is generally expected to stimulate plant carbon (C) sequestration and promote tree growth, thereby mitigating atmospheric CO₂ accumulation. Yet, the magnitude of N deposition contribution to forest productivity remains contentious. While correlative studies suggest substantial plant growth enhancement, controlled fertilization experiments typically demonstrate a limited impact. This discrepancy may arise from whether or not to consider canopy N uptake processes. Here, we conducted a 10-y field experiment comparing canopy addition of N (CAN) with understory addition of N (UAN) at the rate of 0, 25, and 50 kg N ha^-1 y^-1 in a temperate deciduous forest in central China. We show that CAN significantly enhanced net primary pro

SUBMITTER: Li X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12403098 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature