Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 17, 2026
08:58
Procedures of Laboratory Fumigation for Pest Control with Nitric Oxide Gas
Published on: November 24, 2017
17.7K
Tree Saplings Readily Take Up NO2 During Foliar 15NO2 Fumigation
Meng Yao1,2, Ronghua Kang1,3,4, Erik A Hobbie5
1CAS Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Silviculture, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of sciences, Shenyang, Liaoning, China.
Plant, Cell & Environment
|September 16, 2025
Summary
Forest canopies absorb atmospheric nitrogen dioxide (NO2), a vital nitrogen input. Soil nitrogen addition impacts NO2 uptake differently across tree species, with leaves being the primary storage site for assimilated NO2.
Area of Science:
- Forest ecology
- Biogeochemical cycles
- Atmospheric chemistry
Background:
- Forest canopy nitrogen dioxide (NO2) uptake represents a significant, yet poorly quantified, nitrogen input into forest ecosystems.
- Understanding how nitrogen (N) addition influences foliar NO2 uptake and the subsequent allocation of assimilated NO2 within different tree organs is crucial for accurate ecosystem modeling.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify foliar NO2 uptake and N allocation in different tree organs under varying soil N conditions.
- To investigate the species-specific responses of NO2 assimilation to soil N addition.
- To estimate the contribution of canopy NO2 uptake to the total N budget in temperate forests.
Main Methods:
- A 15NO2 fumigation experiment was conducted on saplings of four temperate tree species: Fraxinus mandshurica, Pinus koraiensis, Quercus mongolica, and Larix gmelinii.
- 15N recovery was measured in various tree organs (leaves, stems, roots) to determine assimilation and allocation patterns.
- Stomatal density and leaf area were analyzed in response to soil N addition to explain differential NO2 uptake.
Main Results:
- Total 15N recovery from foliar NO2 uptake varied significantly among species (9% to 74% in light conditions).
- Soil N addition altered 15N recovery, increasing it in Quercus mongolica but decreasing it in Larix gmelinii, linked to changes in stomatal density and leaf area.
- Leaves were the primary sink for assimilated NO2, accounting for 60% to 97% of total 15N recovery, indicating initial storage within foliage.
Conclusions:
- Foliar NO2 uptake is influenced by tree nitrogen demand and species-specific physiological responses.
- Temperate forest canopies can assimilate a substantial amount of atmospheric NO2 (0.51 ± 0.07 kg N ha-1 y-1).
- This study enhances the understanding of atmospheric N deposition and cycling in forest ecosystems, providing valuable data for large-scale N budget models.
Related Concept Videos
02:35Key Elements for Plant Nutrition
24.0K
Like all living organisms, plants require organic and inorganic nutrients to survive, reproduce, grow and maintain homeostasis. To identify nutrients that are essential for plant functioning, researchers have leveraged a technique called hydroponics. In hydroponic culture systems, plants are grown—without soil—in water-based solutions containing nutrients. At least 17 nutrients have been identified as essential elements required by plants. Plants acquire these elements from the...
24.0K
01:22Inorganic Nitrogen Assimilation
482
Nitrogen is an essential element in biological systems, forming a crucial component of proteins, nucleic acids, and other cellular constituents. Many bacteria and archaea acquire nitrogen in the form of nitrate (NO₃⁻) or ammonia (NH₃), which are then assimilated into biomolecules through specific enzymatic pathways.Assimilatory Nitrate ReductionWhen nitrate enters the cell, it undergoes a two-step reduction process known as assimilatory nitrate reduction. Initially, the enzyme...
482