Consequences of nitrate leaching following stem-only harvesting of Swedish forests are dependent on spatial scale

Futter, M. N. and Ring, E. and Hogbom, L. and Entenmann, S. and Bishop, K. H. (2010) Consequences of nitrate leaching following stem-only harvesting of Swedish forests are dependent on spatial scale. Environmental Pollution, 158 (12). pp. 3552-3559. ISSN 0269-7491

PDF Futter et al. 2010.pdf Restricted to Repository staff only Download (380kB)

Abstract

Short-term increases in soil solution nitrate (NO(3)(-)) concentration are often observed after forest harvest, even in N-limited systems. We model NO(3)(-) leaching below the rooting zone as a function of site productivity. Using national forest inventories and published estimates of N attenuation in rivers and the riparian zone, we estimate effects of stem-only harvesting on NO(3)(-) leaching to groundwater, surface waters and the marine environment. Stem-only harvesting is a minor contributor to NO(3)(-) pollution of Swedish waters. Effects in surface waters are rapidly diluted downstream, but can be locally important for shallow well-waters as well as for the total amount of N reaching the sea. Harvesting adds approximately 8 Gg NO(3)-N to soil waters in Sweden, with local concentrations up to 7 mg NO(3)-N 1(-1). Of that, similar to 3.3 Gg reaches the marine environment. This is similar to 3% of the overall Swedish N load to the Baltic. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Actions (login required)

View Item