I/UCRC - GOALI Fundamental Research: Use of Stable Isotopes to Trace the Fate of Applied Nitrogen in Forest Plantatins to Evaluate Fertilizer Efficiency and Ecosystem Impacts

该提案为弗吉尼亚理工学院和州立大学进行的先进林业系统中心（CAFS）研究寻求资金。基础研究的资金申请由NSF批准的征求授权，NSF 10-507。本次招标邀请I/ ucrc提交支持行业定义基础研究的提案。该提案涵盖了使用标记有稳定同位素的肥料来确定美国三种最重要的人工林树种（火炬松、道格拉斯冷杉和黑核桃）对肥料氮(N)的吸收和生态系统命运。该项目将比较森林生态系统中氮肥与常规和高效肥料施肥后的氮动态。常规肥料和新开发的增效肥料将在美国南部、中西部和太平洋西北地区的森林生态系统中进行同位素标记和评价。在这个项目中获得的基本知识将提高森林肥料的使用效率。这将使森林管理者能够使用最少的肥料来优化生长，并尽量减少过度使用肥料对环境的潜在影响。这一努力的结果可能有利于工业成员，使他们在经济上更具竞争力。肥料的浪费也将减少到最低限度。整个林业社区将从结果中受益。调查人员将积极从代表性不足的林业群体中招募学生，包括妇女和少数民族。基础设施的增强主要体现在氮肥的概念基础上。

This proposal seeks funding for the Center for Advanced Forestry Systems (CAFS) studies conducted by the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University site. Funding Requests for Fundamental Research are authorized by an NSF approved solicitation, NSF 10-507. The solicitation invites I/UCRCs to submit proposals for support of industry-defined fundamental research. The proposal covers the use of fertilizer labeled with stable isotopes to determine the uptake and ecosystem fate of fertilizer nitrogen (N) in three of the most important plantation tree species in the US (loblolly pine, Douglas-fir, and black walnut). The project will compare N dynamics following N fertilization with conventional and enhanced efficiency fertilizers in forest ecosystems. The conventional fertilizer and newly developed enhanced efficiency fertilizers will be labeled with the isotope and evaluated in forest ecosystems in the South, Midwest and Pacific Northwest. The fundamental knowledge gained in this project will improve the efficiency of fertilizer use in forests. This will enable forest managers to use the least amount of fertilizer to optimize growth and minimize potential environmental impacts from excessive fertilizer use. Results from this effort are likely to benefit industrial members to make them more economically competitive. Waste of fertilizer will also be minimized. The forestry community at large will benefit from the results. The investigators will actively recruit students from underrepresented groups in forestry, including women and minorities. Infrastructure enhancement is mainly in terms of conceptual basis for N fertilization.