Consequences of N Deposition to Forest Ecosystems - Recent Results and Future Research Needs

Wet and dry deposition of atmospheric nitrogen (N) compounds into forest ecosystems and their effect on physical, chemical and microbial processes in the soil has attracted considerable attention for many years. Still the consequences of atmospheric N deposition on N metabolism of trees and its interaction with soil microbial processes has only recently been studied. Atmospheric N deposited to the leaves is thought to enter the general N metabolism of the leaves, but the processes involved, the interaction with different metabolic pathways, and the connection between injury by atmospheric N and its metabolic conversion are largely unknown.