Articles | Volume 8, issue 4
https://doi.org/10.5194/esd-8-1121-2017
© Author(s) 2017. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/esd-8-1121-2017
© Author(s) 2017. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
Research article
| 
12 Dec 2017
Research article |
| 12 Dec 2017
Nitrogen leaching from natural ecosystems under global change: a modelling study
Maarten C. Braakhekke
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development, Faculty of
Geosciences, Utrecht University, Heidelberglaan 2, 3584 CS, Utrecht, the
Netherlands
PBL Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency, Postbus 30314, 2500
GH, The Hague, the Netherlands
Karin T. Rebel
Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development, Faculty of
Geosciences, Utrecht University, Heidelberglaan 2, 3584 CS, Utrecht, the
Netherlands
Stefan C. Dekker
Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development, Faculty of
Geosciences, Utrecht University, Heidelberglaan 2, 3584 CS, Utrecht, the
Netherlands
Benjamin Smith
Department of Physical Geography and Ecosystem Science, Lund
University, 22362, Lund, Sweden
Arthur H. W. Beusen
PBL Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency, Postbus 30314, 2500
GH, The Hague, the Netherlands
Department of Earth Sciences, Geochemistry, Faculty of Geosciences,
Utrecht University, P.O. Box 80021, 3508 TA, Utrecht, the Netherlands
Martin J. Wassen
Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development, Faculty of
Geosciences, Utrecht University, Heidelberglaan 2, 3584 CS, Utrecht, the
Netherlands
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Cited
27 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Modelling the response of net primary productivity of the Zambezi teak forests to climate change along a rainfall gradient in Zambia J. Ngoma et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-16-3853-2019
- Increased nitrous oxide emissions from global lakes and reservoirs since the pre-industrial era Y. Li et al. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-45061-0
- Seasonal and Spatial Variability of Dissolved Nutrients in the Yenisei River I. Tokareva & A. Prokushkin https://doi.org/10.3390/w14233935
- Biological nitrogen fixation of natural and agricultural vegetation simulated with LPJmL 5.7.9 S. Wirth et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-17-7889-2024
- The Stimulation Effect of Nitrogen‐Addition on Soil Nitrogen Leaching Weakens Over Time in an Alpine Forest Y. Peng et al. https://doi.org/10.1029/2023JG007504
- Plant nutrient acquisition under elevated CO2 and implications for the land carbon sink T. Cambron et al. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41558-025-02386-y
- Black spruce boreal forest soil solution inorganic nitrogen is highly resilient to 20 years of elevated nitrogen deposition D. Houle et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10533-024-01190-8
- Throughfall reduction diminished the enhancing effect of N addition on soil N leaching loss in an old, temperate forest S. Geng et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2020.114090
- Soil solution chemistry weak response to long-term N addition points towards a strong resilience of northeastern American forests to past and future N deposition D. Houle et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.174387
- Dynamic carbon-nitrogen coupling under global change S. Niu et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11427-022-2245-y
- Invasion by Hyptis suaveolens modifies the effects of altered rainfall variability on nutrient cycling across seasons in a dry tropical grassland experiment T. Afreen et al. https://doi.org/10.1080/11956860.2024.2311824
- Plant morphological and physiological traits are stable in a nitrogen-saturated tropical forest after 18-year nitrogen additions G. Yu et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-025-07484-6
- Exploiting Biological Nitrogen Fixation: A Route Towards a Sustainable Agriculture A. Soumare et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants9081011
- Leaching losses of nitrogen, phosphorus, and carbon in diverse 7-year crop rotations including annual and perennial crops J. Nyaga et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2026.110658
- Exposure to Light Elicits a Spectrum of Chemical Changes in Soil T. Doane et al. https://doi.org/10.1029/2019JF005069
- Global evaluation of terrestrial biogeochemistry in the Energy Exascale Earth System Model (E3SM) and the role of the phosphorus cycle in the historical terrestrial carbon balance X. Yang et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-20-2813-2023
- The effect of pesticides on nodule bacteria in pure culture and on realization of their symbiotic potential S. Kots & K. Kukol https://doi.org/10.15407/frg2021.03.240
- Divergent evolution of nitrogen cycling along gradients of landscape water velocities S. Wu et al. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aed0399
- Screening and field evaluation of white clover rhizobia for New Zealand pastures S. Shi et al. https://doi.org/10.1071/CP22405
- Parcelamento da adubação nitrogenada na cultura da rúcula em solo de textura argilosa A. Elis Pliz et al. https://doi.org/10.36560/16720231752
- Global patterns of nitrogen saturation in forests X. Cen et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oneear.2024.10.007
- Controls of terrestrial ecosystem nitrogen loss on simulated productivity responses to elevated CO2 J. Meyerholt & S. Zaehle https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-15-5677-2018
- Influence of Fire on the Carbon Cycle and Climate G. Lasslop et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40641-019-00128-9
- Effect of nitrogen (N) deposition on soil-N processes: a holistic approach P. Verma & R. Sagar https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-67368-w
- DOSES AND SPLIT NITROGEN FERTILIZER APPLICATIONS ON THE PRODUCTIVITY AND QUALITY OF ARUGULA1 C. NASCIMENTO et al. https://doi.org/10.1590/1983-21252021v34n409rc
- Expanding our understanding of nitrogen dynamics after fire: how severe fire and aridity reduce ecosystem nitrogen retention M. Strain et al. https://doi.org/10.1071/WF23191
- Optimizing Nitrogen Inputs for High-Yielding and Environmentally Sustainable Potato Systems I. Varga et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/nitrogen6040117
27 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Modelling the response of net primary productivity of the Zambezi teak forests to climate change along a rainfall gradient in Zambia J. Ngoma et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-16-3853-2019
- Increased nitrous oxide emissions from global lakes and reservoirs since the pre-industrial era Y. Li et al. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-45061-0
- Seasonal and Spatial Variability of Dissolved Nutrients in the Yenisei River I. Tokareva & A. Prokushkin https://doi.org/10.3390/w14233935
- Biological nitrogen fixation of natural and agricultural vegetation simulated with LPJmL 5.7.9 S. Wirth et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-17-7889-2024
- The Stimulation Effect of Nitrogen‐Addition on Soil Nitrogen Leaching Weakens Over Time in an Alpine Forest Y. Peng et al. https://doi.org/10.1029/2023JG007504
- Plant nutrient acquisition under elevated CO2 and implications for the land carbon sink T. Cambron et al. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41558-025-02386-y
- Black spruce boreal forest soil solution inorganic nitrogen is highly resilient to 20 years of elevated nitrogen deposition D. Houle et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10533-024-01190-8
- Throughfall reduction diminished the enhancing effect of N addition on soil N leaching loss in an old, temperate forest S. Geng et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2020.114090
- Soil solution chemistry weak response to long-term N addition points towards a strong resilience of northeastern American forests to past and future N deposition D. Houle et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.174387
- Dynamic carbon-nitrogen coupling under global change S. Niu et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11427-022-2245-y
- Invasion by Hyptis suaveolens modifies the effects of altered rainfall variability on nutrient cycling across seasons in a dry tropical grassland experiment T. Afreen et al. https://doi.org/10.1080/11956860.2024.2311824
- Plant morphological and physiological traits are stable in a nitrogen-saturated tropical forest after 18-year nitrogen additions G. Yu et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-025-07484-6
- Exploiting Biological Nitrogen Fixation: A Route Towards a Sustainable Agriculture A. Soumare et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants9081011
- Leaching losses of nitrogen, phosphorus, and carbon in diverse 7-year crop rotations including annual and perennial crops J. Nyaga et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2026.110658
- Exposure to Light Elicits a Spectrum of Chemical Changes in Soil T. Doane et al. https://doi.org/10.1029/2019JF005069
- Global evaluation of terrestrial biogeochemistry in the Energy Exascale Earth System Model (E3SM) and the role of the phosphorus cycle in the historical terrestrial carbon balance X. Yang et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-20-2813-2023
- The effect of pesticides on nodule bacteria in pure culture and on realization of their symbiotic potential S. Kots & K. Kukol https://doi.org/10.15407/frg2021.03.240
- Divergent evolution of nitrogen cycling along gradients of landscape water velocities S. Wu et al. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aed0399
- Screening and field evaluation of white clover rhizobia for New Zealand pastures S. Shi et al. https://doi.org/10.1071/CP22405
- Parcelamento da adubação nitrogenada na cultura da rúcula em solo de textura argilosa A. Elis Pliz et al. https://doi.org/10.36560/16720231752
- Global patterns of nitrogen saturation in forests X. Cen et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oneear.2024.10.007
- Controls of terrestrial ecosystem nitrogen loss on simulated productivity responses to elevated CO2 J. Meyerholt & S. Zaehle https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-15-5677-2018
- Influence of Fire on the Carbon Cycle and Climate G. Lasslop et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40641-019-00128-9
- Effect of nitrogen (N) deposition on soil-N processes: a holistic approach P. Verma & R. Sagar https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-67368-w
- DOSES AND SPLIT NITROGEN FERTILIZER APPLICATIONS ON THE PRODUCTIVITY AND QUALITY OF ARUGULA1 C. NASCIMENTO et al. https://doi.org/10.1590/1983-21252021v34n409rc
- Expanding our understanding of nitrogen dynamics after fire: how severe fire and aridity reduce ecosystem nitrogen retention M. Strain et al. https://doi.org/10.1071/WF23191
- Optimizing Nitrogen Inputs for High-Yielding and Environmentally Sustainable Potato Systems I. Varga et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/nitrogen6040117
Saved (final revised paper)
Latest update: 14 Sep 2026
Short summary
Nitrogen input in natural ecosystems usually has a positive effect on plant growth. However, too much N causes N leaching, which contributes to water pollution. Using a global model we estimated that N leaching from natural lands has increased by 73 % during the 20th century, mainly due to rising N deposition from the atmosphere caused by emissions from fossil fuels and agriculture. Climate change and increasing CO2 concentration had positive and negative effects (respectively) on N leaching.
Nitrogen input in natural ecosystems usually has a positive effect on plant growth. However, too...
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