NITROGEN DEPOSITION AND LEACHING IN EUROPEAN FORESTS - PRELIMINARY-RESULTS FROM A DATA COMPILATION

Input-output fluxes of nitrogen (N) and other ecosystem data from 64 E uropean forest ecosystem studies have been compiled in a database (ECO FEE). Sires with high N deposition (up to 64 kg N ha(-1)yr(-1)) were c haracterized by high input of ammonia/ammonium. The deposition of oxid ized N was usually only 10 to 15 kg N ha(-1)yr(-1). Of all the sites i ncluded, 60% leached more than 5 kg N ha(-1)yr(-1). Elevated nitrate l eaching appeared at inputs above 10 kg N ha(-1)yr(-1). At several site s with inputs of 15-25 kg N ha(-1)yr(-1) nitrate leaching approached t he N input, whereas ammonium dominated sites with high input still ret ained c. 50% of the input.