Increasing concentrations of nitrogen in the environment, a phenomenon called as nitrogen saturation occurs when the inorganic nitrogen levels exceeds the demand by organisms and plants. Increased concentrations of nitrogen have detrimental impact on the air quality, owing to the oxidizing capacity of nitrogen oxides and their function in the formation of ozone layer .
Excessive nitrogen deposition causes an increase in foliar nitrogen content, which subsequently leads to increase in tree growth . Other negative effects on the ecosystem are frost-hardiness in conifer trees in the presence of large doses of nitrogen. Excessive nitrogen concentrations may also lead to tree death and nitrification. Increased frequency of nitrification has been encountered in forest ecosystems where the nitrogen availability supersedes the plant requirements of nitrogen levels, even in the presence of low pH of soil. The nitrification process may in turn cause several negative consequences such as:
Nitrate leaching from soils. Nitrification leads to increased nitrate concentrations and loss in the soil leachates. This could be accompanied by losses of aluminum leaching into small water bodies surrounding the forests
Excessive release of nitrous oxide. N2O is a crucial greenhouse-effect gas that may be released either in the process of the nitrification process or due to denitrification. How ecosystem The balance of nitrate and nitrous oxide upon nitrogen losses in the ecosystem is an important aspect with policy implications. Nitrate exacerbates the water quality, whereas nitrous oxide release influence atmospheric profile and affect the climate change.
Structure and dynamics of Forests. The initiation of nitrification would lead to large decrease in biomass and possibly a significant elimination of ectomycorrhizal symbionts \
Thus, the nitrogen-saturated ecosystem will serve as an overall source of nitrogen rather than a nitrogen sink, causing adverse effects on the environment and forests .
Works Cited
Aber, J D. "Nitrogen Saturation in Northern Forest Ecosystems." BioScience (1989): 39 (6): 378-386.
