Comparative analysis of the influence of climate change and nitrogen deposition on carbon sequestration in forest ecosystems in European Russia: simulation modelling approach

A. S. Komarov,V. N. Shanin

doi:10.5194/bg-9-4757-2012

Abstract

Abstract. An individual-based simulation model, EFIMOD, was used to simulate the response of forest ecosystems to climate change and additional nitrogen deposition. The general scheme of the model includes forest growth depending on nitrogen uptake by plants and mineralization of soil organic matter. The mineralization rate is dependent on nitrogen content in litter and forest floor horizons. Three large forest areas in European Central Russia with a total area of about 17 000 km2 in distinct environmental conditions were chosen. Simulations were carried out with two climatic scenarios (ambient climate and climate change) and different levels of nitrogen deposition (ambient value and increase by 6 and 12 kg N ha−1 yr−1). The simulations showed that increased nitrogen deposition leads to increased productivity of trees, increased organic matter content in organic soil horizons, and an increased portion of deciduous tree species. For the climate change scenario, the same effects on forest productivity and similar shifts in species composition were predicted but the accumulation of organic matter in soil was decreased.

Highlights

It is well known that nitrogen is a limiting nutrient for tree growth and carbon sequestration in boreal and temperate zones, starting at least from Liebig (1843), and last summaries in Sutton et al (2008, 2011) and Butterbach-Bahl et al (2011)
On the other hand, the increased rate of mineralization negatively affected the accumulation of carbon, which was calculated as net primary production (NPP) minus soil hetretrophic respiration
Comparison of the simulation results for 100-yr simulations for the different areas under study shows that net primary production www.biogeosciences.net/9/4757/2012/

Summary

Introduction

It is well known that nitrogen is a limiting nutrient for tree growth and carbon sequestration in boreal and temperate zones, starting at least from Liebig (1843), and last summaries in Sutton et al (2008, 2011) and Butterbach-Bahl et al (2011). Different tree species may have different responses to nitrogen deposition even in the same region (Komarov et al, 2007; Thomas et al, 2010) These facts highlight a need for more research on the various major forest species in the boreal zone. Russian forests are widespread in the northwest and northeast of European Russia, and their response to nitrogen deposition in different climatic zones has not previously been studied The effects of both climate change and various management options on forest ecosystem dynamics in Central Russia have been studied using simulation modelling (Mikhailov et al, 2004; Palosuo et al, 2008; Verkerk et al, 2006; Shanin et al, 2011, 2012; Zamolodchikov et al, 2008)

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Results

Conclusion