7 - Nutrient Distribution and Cycling

Abstract

This chapter discusses the effects of nutrition on forest growth. The growth of forests depends on mineral nutrients. Forest nutrition plays an important role that must be considered by forest management. In most cases, the nutrients of the soil depend on the soil type, the kind of fertilizer used, the amount applied, and the timing of the application, as well as other resources such as water, temperature, and light. The factors affecting the structure and function of forest ecosystems is nutrient shortage, susceptibility to leaching losses, and sensitivity to acid rain. Macro nutrients and micronutrients are the two essential mineral elements required for plant growth. There is a brief description on nutrient cycling in the chapter. The nitrogen cycle is strongly controlled by microbially mediated biological processes. Nitrogen fixation, the process of converting atmospheric nitrogen into organic nitrogen by microorganisms in plant roots and free-living organisms, is unique to the nitrogen cycle. The sulfur cycle resembles to both the nitrogen and phosphorus cycles. The nutrient and carbon cycles are linked tightly so that anything that changes the litter quality is likely to cause feedbacks affecting nutrient availability, net primary production, and carbon allocation.