Contributions of land-use history to carbon accumulation in US forests

Carbon accumulation in forests has been attributed to historical changes in Land use and the enhancement of tree growth by CO2 fertilization, N deposi tion, and climate change. The relative contribution of land use and growth enhancement is estimated by using inventory data from five states spanning a latitudinal gradient in the eastern United States, Land use is the domina nt factor governing the rate of carbon accumulation in these states, with g rowth enhancement contributing far Less than previously reported. The estim ated fraction of aboveground net ecosystem production due to growth enhance ment is 2.0 +/- 4.4%, with the remainder due to Land use.