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Johanna Stadmark

Johanna Stadmark

Researcher

Johanna Stadmark

Increased concentrations of nitrate in forest soil water after windthrow in southern Sweden

Author

  • Sofie Hellsten
  • Johanna Stadmark
  • Gunilla Pihl Karlsson
  • Per Erik Karlsson
  • Cecilia Akselsson

Summary, in English

In January 2005, south-west Sweden was hit by a severe storm that caused large damage to the forests through massive windthrow. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of this windthrow on nitrate concentrations in the soil water below the root zone on 33 forest monitoring plots within the Swedish Throughfall Monitoring Network (SWETHRO). These sites were damaged to different extents by the storm. The analysis showed increased levels of nitrate concentrations in the soil water as a consequence of storm damaged forest. The present study concerned forest ecosystems with relatively low levels of nitrogen deposition, as compared with forests analysed in previous studies. The maximum soil water nitrate concentrations occurred 1-4 years after the storm. After 5-6 years, the concentrations were back at the same levels as before the storm event. It was not possible to demonstrate a significant correlation between increased nitrate concentrations in the soil water after the storm and the level of nitrogen deposition at the site. The potential impact on ground- and surface waters due to elevated nitrate concentrations in soil water after storm events is discussed. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Department/s

  • BECC: Biodiversity and Ecosystem services in a Changing Climate
  • Dept of Physical Geography and Ecosystem Science

Publishing year

2015

Language

English

Pages

234-242

Publication/Series

Forest Ecology and Management

Volume

356

Document type

Journal article

Publisher

Elsevier

Topic

  • Environmental Sciences related to Agriculture and Land-use
  • Forest Science
  • Environmental Sciences

Keywords

  • SWETHRO
  • Eutrophication
  • Nitrogen leakage
  • Nitrate
  • Soil water
  • Storm felling

Status

Published

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 1872-7042