nitrogen-deposition
Nitrogen deposition refers to the accumulation of reactive nitrogen compounds—released from agricultural, industrial, and vehicle emissions—onto soil and plant surfaces via rainfall, dust, or direct gas absorption. This influx alters soil nutrient availability, often favoring fast-growing, nitrogen-loving species while disadvantaging others, which can shift community composition and reduce biodiversity over time. For plant scientists, studying nitrogen deposition helps reveal how ecosystems respond to human-driven changes in nutrient cycling, informing conservation and land management strategies.
open_in_new WikipediaPubMed · 2026-06-30
Adding nitrogen and water to forest canopies does not simply speed up or slow down the seasonal timing of trees and shrubs — it produces opposite effects depending on the plant type, sometimes delaying spring leafing by days and shifting autumn color by nearly two weeks.
Canopy nitrogen addition delayed spring bud swelling in large trees by ~0.83 days and budburst in shrubs by ~1.50 days.
Water addition alone advanced spring bud swelling in small trees by 12.50 days, but combining it with nitrogen produced an antagonistic effect that partially reversed that advance.
Combined nitrogen and water addition synergistically delayed autumn leaf coloration and fall in large trees, while advancing peak and end of leaf coloration in shrubs by roughly 9-11 days.