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

这项提案寻求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。基础研究的资金申请由NSF批准的请愿书授权，NSF 10-507。征集邀请研究所/大学合作研究中心提交支持行业定义的基础研究的建议。该提案包括使用标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、豆杉和黑核桃)对肥料氮的吸收和生态系统命运。该项目将比较森林生态系统中施氮肥与常规肥料和增效肥料后的氮素动态。常规肥料和新开发的增效肥料将被标记为同位素，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础知识将提高森林化肥的使用效率。这将使森林管理者能够使用最少的化肥来优化生长，并将过度使用化肥对环境的潜在影响降至最低。这一努力的结果可能会使行业成员受益，使他们在经济上更具竞争力。化肥浪费也将减少到最低限度。广大林业社区将从这一结果中受益。调查人员将积极招收林业中代表性不足的群体的学生，包括妇女和少数民族。基础设施的加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.