Nitrogen Deposition

I recently read a journal article on Nitrogen deposition and how it has been affecting biodiversity and species richness across many grasslands in Europe. I had always thought nitrogen was a good thing for plant species. But like the saying goes, too much of a good thing can be a bad thing! Nitrogen deposition in soil comes from mainly agricultural intensity or from pollution in the air.

What the researchers found was a negative linear relationship between nitrogen deposition and species richness. The higher the amount of deposition, the lower the number of plant species. As soil becomes saturated with nitrogen, this increases the competition between species and many species are eliminated from the habitat as a result. Also, the addition of nitrogen to the soil decreases the pH of the soil. Species that cannot tolerate a low soil pH are also eliminated from the habitat.

The researchers conducted this study to prove that environmental and agricultural policy needs to be addresses by governments. I also found that a similar study was conducted here in the U.S. in California, with the same results.....we are not taking care of our planet.