GOOD CHEMISTRY: OUR N2 HELPS TREES SUCK OUR CO2

Human-spewed nitrogen helps forests absorb carbon
Deborah Zabarenko, June 13, 2007 (Reuters via Yahoo News)

WHO
Beverly Law, professor of forest science, Oregon State University

WHAT
Law’s new study suggests nitrogen emissions from vehicles, industry and crop fertilization can – up to a point – balance carbon emissions.
The Chemistry version

WHEN
Study released June 13.

WHERE
Study published in the journal Nature.

WHY
- Because it is known that forests absorb, or sequester, carbon dioxide emissions, the study monitored carbon and nitrogen levels in forest North American and European forests.
- Atmospheric nitrogen acts as a forest fertilizer, stimulating growth. 10% of the amount of nitrogen used to fertilize farmlands would enhance forest growth and slightly stimulate the photosynthesis/respiration actions that boost CO2 sequestration.
- Forest deposition of nitrogen: 11 - 33 pounds (5 kg to 15 kg) /2.47 acres (1 hectare)/year. Above that, acid and nutrients (e.g., calcium) decrease.
The comprehensible version (click to enlarge)

QUOTES
- Law: "It's not, 'if a little is good, a lot is better’…It can reach a point where there is saturation of the effect of increased growth."
- Law: "One of the things that we've heard in the past from research was that nitrogen deposition can be bad for forests…Those (bad) levels we're talking about are very high levels."
- Law: "I'd exercise caution, in that we're talking about the effects of continuous low-level nitrogen deposition…If the levels were to increase to some level that it becomes detrimental then that's not good, and there are areas around the globe where (nitrogen deposition) might be higher than the levels we examined."