A spatio-temporal modelling approach for assessment of management effects in forest catchments

摘要

High atmospheric inputs of nitrogen (N) during the last decades have caused an increase in NCV leaching from forest soils in many European regions. In three research basins in the Upper Harz Mountains N output with stream water shows a clear increase until 1985 and a decline since then. The aim of this study was to evaluate a new spatio-temporal modelling approach (ForNic) and to assess the effects of forest management on N turnover in three small catchments in the Upper Harz Mountains with contrasting management activities in the past. Modelled time series of N output agreed satisfyingly with observed differences in N output between the three catchments. We conclude that the simple mass balance approach in combination with spatio-temporal parameterization of input parameters is useful to describe the dynamics of N retention and N output during forest development and the effects of forest management.