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

该提案旨在为弗吉尼亚理工学院和州立大学网站进行的高级林业系统中心（CAFS）研究提供资金。基础研究的资助申请由NSF批准的招标（NSF 10-507）授权。 征集邀请I/UCRC提交支持行业定义的基础研究的提案。 该提案涵盖了使用稳定同位素标记的肥料来确定美国三种最重要的种植园树种（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。该项目将在森林生态系统中比较氮肥与常规肥料和增效肥料施用后的氮动态。传统肥料和新开发的增效肥料将被标记上同位素，并在南部、中西部和太平洋西北部的森林生态系统中进行评估。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。这将使森林管理人员能够使用最少量的肥料来优化生长，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国，使它们在经济上更具竞争力。肥料的浪费也将减少到最低限度。整个林业界将从这些成果中受益。调查人员将积极从林业中代表性不足的群体中招收学生，包括妇女和少数民族。基础设施建设主要是氮肥概念基础方面。

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.