Impacts of Nitrogen Deposition on Litter Decomposition and Nutrient Cycling
A special issue of Forests (ISSN 1999-4907). This special issue belongs to the section "Forest Soil".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 October 2025 | Viewed by 57
Special Issue Editors
Interests: soil analysis; soil chemistry; plant nutrition; soil fertility; water quality; ecosystem ecology
Interests: global and climate change; nitrogen deposition; forest soil nutrients; restoration and management of degraded ecosystems; forest carbon; phosphorus cycling
Interests: climate change biology; forest soils; phosphorus; soil respiration; forests and climate change; carbon cycle
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Nitrogen deposition, driven by both natural processes and human activities, has profound ecological consequences, particularly in forest ecosystems. As global nitrogen inputs continue to increase, understanding their impact on organic matter decomposition and the cycling of key nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, is essential for predicting ecosystem responses to environmental change. This Special Issue aims to explore the complex interactions between nitrogen deposition, litter decomposition, and nutrient dynamics, with a particular emphasis on how these processes influence ecosystem structure and function. We welcome contributions from both experimental studies and long-term field observations. By bringing together cutting-edge research, this Special Issue seeks to foster discussion and provide fresh perspectives on the role of nitrogen deposition in shaping ecosystem processes, as well as to identify research priorities and propose strategies to mitigate its ecological impacts by using effective environmental management. Research that integrates nitrogen–phosphorus interactions, examines cross-ecosystem comparisons, or explores management strategies for mitigating nitrogen deposition impacts is particularly encouraged.
Potential topics include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Microbial and biochemical mechanisms driving nitrogen-induced changes in litter decomposition;
- The interplay between nitrogen deposition and phosphorus availability in regulating nutrient cycling and ecosystem stability;
- The ecological consequences of altered litter decomposition on carbon sequestration, soil fertility, and forest productivity;
- Comparative studies assessing the effects of nitrogen deposition across different climatic regions, ecosystem types, and land-use patterns;
- Strategies for mitigating the ecological impacts of nitrogen deposition on litter decomposition and broader ecosystem functions.
Prof. Dr. Benjamin L. Turner
Dr. Min Duan
Prof. Dr. Shouqin Sun
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- nitrogen deposition
- litter decomposition
- microbial communities
- nutrient cycling
- carbon sequestration
- forest ecosystems
- environmental management
- ecosystem functioning
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