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Relationships among N, P, and S in Temperate Forest Ecosystems

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Atmospheric Deposition and Forest Nutrient Cycling

Part of the book series: Ecological Studies ((ECOLSTUD,volume 91))

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Abstract

Nitrogen(N), phosphorus(P), and sulfur(S) interact in forest ecosystems through two principal mechanisms: as components of organic matter and as inorganic ions. As required plant and microbial nutrients, N, P, and S are taken up by organisms, incorporated into organic matter, and released from the organic matter during decomposition. Therefore, the distribution and cycling of these nutrients can be closely related. However, the quantitative relationships between these elements in vegetation, as expressed by nutrient ratios (N:P and N:S), vary within trees and between biomes (Vitousek et al. 1988). Accumulation of organic matter and associated N and S in soil over long time periods can be strongly influenced by P dynamics (McGill and Christie 1983). Over shorter periods, stabilization and mineralization of organic N and P in soil are controlled by different factors; the control of organic S may be similar to N or P, depending on its chemical form (McGill and Cole 1981).

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Authors
  1. P. S. Homann
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  2. R. B. Harrison
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Biological Sciences Center Desert Research Institute, University of Nevada System, 89506, Reno, NV, USA

    Dale W. Johnson

  2. Range, Wildlife and Forestry College of Agriculture, University of Nevada, 89512, Reno, NV, USA

    Dale W. Johnson

  3. Environmental Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, 37831, Oak Ridge, TN, USA

    Steven E. Lindberg

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© 1992 Springer-Verlag New York Inc.

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Homann, P.S., Harrison, R.B. (1992). Relationships among N, P, and S in Temperate Forest Ecosystems. In: Johnson, D.W., Lindberg, S.E. (eds) Atmospheric Deposition and Forest Nutrient Cycling. Ecological Studies, vol 91. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-2806-6_7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-2806-6_7

  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-0-387-97632-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4612-2806-6

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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