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 21st 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 Ca.
Author: Yiqi Luo (yluo at ou dot edu)
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