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AN ESTIMATE OF THE ‘COST’ OF NUTRIENT LEACHING FROM FOREST CANOPIES BY RAIN
Author(s) -
AMTHOR JEFFREY S.
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
new phytologist
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.742
H-Index - 244
eISSN - 1469-8137
pISSN - 0028-646X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1469-8137.1986.tb00589.x
Subject(s) - leaching (pedology) , environmental science , nutrient , canopy , assimilation (phonology) , tree canopy , ecosystem , acid rain , carbon cycle , forest ecology , ecology , soil science , soil water , biology , linguistics , philosophy
SUMMARY Inorganic and organic substances are leached from forest canopies by rain. Estimates have been made of the percentage of net carbon assimilation associated with providing energy for both uptake and assimilation of substances leached from the canopy by rain. While leaching of nutrients from the canopy is a very significant component of nutrient cycles in forest ecosystems, it appears from the present calculations that it is generally only a minor factor in the energy (C) cycle. Energy losses associated with increased leaching as a result of rain acidification will probably cause only small reductions in forest productivity, unless they are the result of specific nutrient deficiencies.