Elevated atmospheric humidity prolongs active growth period and increases leaf nitrogen resorption efficiency of silver birch

Climate models predict increasing amounts of precipitation and relative atmospheric humidity for high latitudes in the Northern Hemisphere. Therefore, tree species must adjust to the new climatic conditions. We studied young silver birches (Betula pendula Roth) in a long-term (2012-2018) free air humidity manipulation experiment, with the aim of clarifying the acclimation mechanisms to elevated relative atmospheric humidity. In 2016-2018, stem radial increment (measured by dendrometers) and leaf abscission were monitored, and the leaf N and P resorption efficiencies were determined. Biomass allocation was estimated, and the seasonal dynamics of foliar NPK storage was assessed. Humidification increased N resorption efficiency by 11%. The annual means of N resorption efficiency varied from 41 to 52% in control and from 50 to 59% in humidified stands. The P resorption efficiency was strongly affected by weather conditions and varied between years from 25 to 66%. Higher foliar NPK storages at the end of growing season and delayed leaf fall allowed to extend the growth period in humidified plots, which resulted in a week longer stem radial growth. Although stem diameter growth of humidified birches recovered after 5 years, tree height retardation persisted over the seven study years, resulting in increased stem taper (diameter to height ratio) under humidification. Additionally, humidification increased the share of the bark in stem biomass and the number of branches per crown length. The acclimation of silver birches to increased air humidity entails changes in forest N cycle and in birch timber quality.

Elevated atmospheric humidity shapes the carbon cycle of a silver birch forest ecosystem: A FAHM study

Processes determining the carbon (C) balance of a forest ecosystem are influenced by a number of climatic and environmental factors. In Northern Europe, a rise in atmospheric humidity and precipitation is predicted. The study aims to ascertain the effect of elevated atmospheric humidity on the components of the C budget and on the C-sequestration capacity of a young birch forest. Biomass production, soil respiration, and other C fluxes were measured in young silver birch (Betula pendula Roth) stands growing on the Free Air Humidity Manipulation (FAHM) experimental site, located in South-East Estonia. The C input fluxes: C sequestration in trees and understory, litter input into soil, and methane oxidation, as well as C output fluxes: soil heterotrophic respiration and C leaching were estimated. Humidified birch stands stored C from the atmosphere, but control stands can be considered as C neutral. Two years of elevated air humidity increased C sequestration in the understory but decreased it in trees. Humidification treatment increased remarkably the C input to the soil. The main reason for such an increase was the higher root litter input into the soil, brought about by the more than two-fold increase of belowground biomass production of the understory in the humidification treatment. Elevated atmospheric humidity increased C sequestration in young silver birch stands, mitigating increasing CO₂ concentration in the atmosphere. However, the effect of elevated atmospheric humidity is expected to decrease over time, as plants and soil organisms acclimate, and new communities emerge.

Nitrous oxide, dinitrogen and methane emission in a subsurface flow constructed wetland

N2O, N2 and CH4 fluxes were measured from a horizontal subsurface flow (HSSF) constructed wetland (CW) for wastewater treatment in Estonia. The closed chamber method was used in the field and the He-O method (intact soil core analyses) in the lab throughout the period from October 2001 to June 2002. The average flux of N2O-N, N2-N and CH4-C from various microsites ranged from 0.1 to 59, 4.1 to 1,458 and -0.04 to 2,094 mg m(-2) d(-1), respectively. A significantly higher flux of N2O was found in chambers installed above the inlet pipes, while the methane flux was higher in the inlet part of the bed with wetter conditions. The groundwater table significantly correlates with gas emission rates of all the gases studied; N2 emission was enhanced by higher temperature of wastewater. PO4(3-) and NH4+ content significantly enhanced, and NO2- and NO3- content inhibited, both N2O and CH4 fluxes. NH4+ showed a negative correlation with N2 flux. Nitrification and denitrification are the main processes of the N removal in the CW covering 42.9%. The specific global warming potential was highest in the wet bed and lowest in the dry bed with lowered water table (32 and 9 g CO2 pe(-1) d(-1), respectively).

Nitrogen and phosphorus variation in shallow groundwater and assimilation in plants in complex riparian buffer zones

The study of purification efficiency and nutrient assimilation in plants was made in two riparian buffer zones with a complex of wet meadow and grey alder (Alnus incana) stand. In the less polluted Porijõgi test site, the 31 m wide buffer zone removed 40% of total nitrogen (total-N) and 78% of total phosphorus (total-P), while a heavily polluted 51 m wide buffer zone in Viiratsi retained 85% of total-N and 84% of total-P. The input of nutrients and purification efficiency displayed a significant relationship. The total-N removal in buffer zone was negative when the input value was less than 0.3 mg l(-1) and the purification efficiency was always positive when the input value exceeded 5 mg l(-1). The purification efficiency of total-P was positive when the input value exceeded 0.15 mg l(-1). Grass vegetation plays an important role in nutrient retention in riparian buffer strips. The maximum phytomass production was measured in Porijõgi site where production of the Filipendula ulmaria community was up to 2,358 g m(-2), assimilation of N 32.1 and of P 4.9 g m(-2), respectively. This is much higher than the biomass production and N and P uptake of the grey alders (Alnus incana) at the same site--1,730, 20.5 and 1.5 g m(-2), respectively.