Progressive Nitrogen Limitation of Ecosystem Responses to Rising Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide

A highly controversial issue in global biogeochemistry is the regulation of terrestrial carbon (C) sequestration by soil nitrogen (N) availability. This controversy translates into great uncertainty in predicting future global terrestrial C sequestration. We propose a new framework that centers on the concept of progressive N limitation (PNL) for studying the interactions between C and N in terrestrial ecosystems. In PNL, available soil N becomes increasingly limiting as C and N are sequestered in long-lived plant biomass and soil organic matter. Our analysis focuses on the role of PNL in regulating ecosystem responses to rising atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration, but the concept applies to any…

• NS
  National Science Foundation

  Awards: DEB 0092642, DEB-94-21535, 0092642
• UD
  U.S. Department of Energy
• NA
  National Aeronautics and Space Administration
• OO
  Office of Science
• BA
  Biological and Environmental Research