The 7th International CO2 Conference Web Site - Nitrogen Regulation of Carbon Sequestration in Terrestrial Ecosystems in Respons

by Yiqi Luo

A highly controversial issue in global change research is the regulation of terrestrial carbon (C) sequestration by soil nitrogen (N) availability. The Third Assessment IPCC Report predicts rising atmospheric CO₂ alone could stimulate terrestrial carbon (C) sequestration by 350 – 980 Pg (=10¹⁵ g) C in the 21^st Century. Sequestering 350 – 980 Gt C in terrestrial ecosystems requires 7.7 – 37.5 Pg (N) based on a stoichiochemical relationship that approximately 0.005 g N is required for 1 g C stored in long-lived plant biomass (i.e., wood) and 0.067 g N for 1 g C sequestered in soil organic matter (SOM). Thus, to realistically predict future C sequestration in terrestrial ecosystems, we have to understand how closely C and N processes are coupled in response to rising C_{a.

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