Dynamic nitrogen deposition thresholds during forest stand development in a Douglas fir forest analysed with two nitrogen models SMART2 and MERLIN.docVIP

Hydrology and Earth SysDynamictem Sciennitrogences, 6(3),deposition375–382 thresholds(2002) ?duringEGS forest stand development in a Douglas fir forest Dynamic nitrogen deposition thresholds during forest stand development in a Douglas fir forest analysed with two nitrogen models SMART2 and MERLIN A. Tietema , J.P. Mol-Dijkstra , J. Kros and W. De Vries 1 2 2 2 1 Centre for Geo-ecological Research (ICG), Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics (IBED)-Physical Geography, University of Amsterdam, Nieuwe Achtergracht 166, 1018 WV Amsterdam, The Netherlands Alterra-Green World Research, P.O. Box 47, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands 2 Email for corresponding author: atietema@science.uva.nl Abstract In contrast to the classical critical load (CL) concept, based on long-term steady state conditions, a dynamic deposition threshold (DDT) is introduced. This DDT takes into account all relevant dynamic aspects of vegetation development/forest growth, mineralisation, immobilisation and denitrification, depending on the successional stage of the forest. DDT values for nitrogen were determined for a Douglas fir rotation by two process-based nitrogen models SMART2 and MERLIN using three different criteria for critical nitrogen leaching. During most of the rotation time, the predicted DDT values were higher than the corresponding traditional CL. SMART2 and MERLIN predicted a maximum DDT of 4.9 and 4.6 kmol N ha yr (69 and 64 kg N ha yr ), respectively, when accepting a critical N leaching level of 1.73 kmol N -1 -1 -1 -1 related to impacts on ground water quality. This is due mainly to relatively high tree uptake