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Teglia A, Di Baccio D, Matteucci G, Scartazza A, De Cinti B, Mazzenga F, Ravaioli D, Muzzi E, Marcolini G, Magnani F. Effects of simulated nitrogen deposition on the nutritional and physiological status of beech forests at two climatic contrasting sites in Italy. Sci Total Environ 2022; 834:155362. [PMID: 35460784 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.155362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2021] [Revised: 03/31/2022] [Accepted: 04/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Anthropogenic activities have resulted in a significant increase of reactive nitrogen (N) compounds in the atmosphere and a rise in N deposition on forest ecosystems. Increasing N loads impact forest productivity and health, altering tree physiological status and nutrient balance with possible beneficial and detrimental consequences. The impact of N deposition has received considerable attention by scientific research, covering medium and high latitudes, while experimental studies in the Mediterranean area are almost absent. The present study used a manipulative approach, through replicated N additions (background deposition, 30, 60 kg N ha-1yr-1) to simulate the cumulative effects of N deposition in two beech (Fagus sylvaticaL.) forests located in contrasting climatic regions of Italy. Leaf nutrients and photosynthetic pigments were tested as monitoring indicators after four years of N fertilization. Foliar N and pigment concentrations indicated not limiting N conditions at both forest sites, although changes in chlorophylls and carotenoids showed an early response of the canopy to N additions. N-to-phosphorus (P) and sulfur (S) ratios increased under elevated N fertilization, which could be partly related to the relative enhancement of foliar N concentration, and partly associated with the reduction of foliar P and S. The two eutrophic beech forests monitored were not severely affected by chronic N addition, not showing critical nutritional and physiological impairments over the short to medium period. However, the modifications in leaf nutrient and pigment compositions showed an incipient stress response and accentuated the differences induced by climatic and soil characteristics at the two sites. The potential use of nutrients and photosynthetic pigments in monitoring forest N deposition under contrasting climatic conditions and the eventual limits of manipulative experiments are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra Teglia
- Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences, University of Bologna, Viale Fanin 44, Bologna, Italy.
| | - Daniela Di Baccio
- National Research Council of Italy, Research Institute on Terrestrial Ecosystems (CNR-IRET), Via Giuseppe Moruzzi 1, Pisa, Italy
| | - Giorgio Matteucci
- National Research Council of Italy, Institute of BioEconomy (CNR-IBE), Via Madonna del Piano, 10, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, FI, Italy
| | - Andrea Scartazza
- National Research Council of Italy, Research Institute on Terrestrial Ecosystems (CNR-IRET), Via Giuseppe Moruzzi 1, Pisa, Italy
| | - Bruno De Cinti
- National Research Council of Italy, Institute for Terrestrial Ecosystems (CNR-IRET), Via Salaria km 29,300, Montelibretti, RM, Italy
| | - Francesco Mazzenga
- National Research Council of Italy, Institute of BioEconomy (CNR-IBE), via dei Taurini 19, 00185, Rome
| | - Dario Ravaioli
- Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences, University of Bologna, Viale Fanin 44, Bologna, Italy
| | - Enrico Muzzi
- Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences, University of Bologna, Viale Fanin 44, Bologna, Italy
| | - Graziella Marcolini
- Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences, University of Bologna, Viale Fanin 44, Bologna, Italy
| | - Federico Magnani
- Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences, University of Bologna, Viale Fanin 44, Bologna, Italy
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