Soil fertility limits carbon sequestration by forest ecosystems in a CO2-enriched atmosphere

Ram Oren (), David S. Ellsworth, Kurt H. Johnsen, Nathan Phillips, Brent E. Ewers, Chris Maier, Karina V.R. Schäfer, Heather McCarthy, George Hendrey, Steven G. McNulty and Gabriel G. Katul
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Ram Oren: Nicholas School of the Environment and Earth Sciences, Duke University
David S. Ellsworth: School of Natural Resources and Environment, University of Michigan
Kurt H. Johnsen: Southern Research Station, US Forest Service
Nathan Phillips: Boston University
Brent E. Ewers: Nicholas School of the Environment and Earth Sciences, Duke University
Chris Maier: Southern Research Station, US Forest Service
Karina V.R. Schäfer: Nicholas School of the Environment and Earth Sciences, Duke University
Heather McCarthy: Nicholas School of the Environment and Earth Sciences, Duke University
George Hendrey: Brookhaven National Laboratory
Steven G. McNulty: Southern Global Climate Change Program, US Forest Service
Gabriel G. Katul: Nicholas School of the Environment and Earth Sciences, Duke University

Nature, 2001, vol. 411, issue 6836, 469-472

Abstract: Abstract Northern mid-latitude forests are a large terrestrial carbon sink1,2,3,4. Ignoring nutrient limitations, large increases in carbon sequestration from carbon dioxide (CO2) fertilization are expected in these forests5. Yet, forests are usually relegated to sites of moderate to poor fertility, where tree growth is often limited by nutrient supply, in particular nitrogen6,7. Here we present evidence that estimates of increases in carbon sequestration of forests, which is expected to partially compensate for increasing CO2 in the atmosphere, are unduly optimistic8. In two forest experiments on maturing pines exposed to elevated atmospheric CO2, the CO2-induced biomass carbon increment without added nutrients was undetectable at a nutritionally poor site, and the stimulation at a nutritionally moderate site was transient, stabilizing at a marginal gain after three years. However, a large synergistic gain from higher CO2 and nutrients was detected with nutrients added. This gain was even larger at the poor site (threefold higher than the expected additive effect) than at the moderate site (twofold higher). Thus, fertility can restrain the response of wood carbon sequestration to increased atmospheric CO2. Assessment of future carbon sequestration should consider the limitations imposed by soil fertility, as well as interactions with nitrogen deposition.

Date: 2001
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DOI: 10.1038/35078064

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