Dry deposition velocity of atmospheric nitrogen in a typical red soil agro-ecosystem in Southeastern China

Atmospheric dry deposition is an important nitrogen (N) input to farmland ecosystems. The main nitrogen compounds in the atmosphere include gaseous N (NH3, NO2, HNO3) and aerosol N (NH4+/NO3-). With the knowledge of increasing agricultural effects by dry deposition of nitrogen, researchers have paid great attention to this topic. Based on the big-leaf resistance dry deposition model, dry N deposition velocities (Vd) in a typical red soil agro-ecosystem, Yingtan, Jiangxi, Southeastern China, were estimated with the data from an Auto-Meteorological Experiment Station during 2004-2007. The results show that hourly deposition velocities (Vdh) were in the range of 0.17-0.34, 0.05-0.24, 0.57-1.27, and 0.05-0.41 cm/s for NH3, NO2, HNO3, and aerosol N, respectively, and the Vdh were much higher in daytime than in nighttime and had a peak value around noon. Monthly dry deposition velocities (Vdm) were in the range of 0.14-0.36, 0.06-0.18, and 0.07-0.25 cm/s for NH3, NO2, and aerosol N, respectively. Their minimum values appeared from June to August, while their maximum values occurred from February to March each year. The maximum value for HNO3 deposition velocities appeared in July each year, and Vdm(HNO3) ranged from 0.58 to 1.31 cm/s during the 4 years. As for seasonal deposition velocities (Vds), Vds(NH3), Vds(NO2), and Vds(aerosol N) in winter or spring were significantly higher than those in summer or autumn, while Vds(HNO3) in summer were higher than that in winter. In addition, there is no significant difference among all the annual means for deposition velocities (Vda). The average values for NH3, NO2, HNO3, and aerosol N deposition velocities in the 4 years were 0.26, 0.12, 0.81, and 0.16 cm/s, respectively. The model is convenient and feasible to estimate dry deposition velocity of atmospheric nitrogen in the typical red soil agro-ecosystem.