Biogeosciences
Biogeosciences
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Articles | Volume 14, issue 4
Articles | Volume 14, issue 4
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-14-751-2017
© Author(s) 2017. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-14-751-2017
© Author(s) 2017. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
Articles | Volume 14, issue 4
Peer-reviewed comment
 | 
17 Feb 2017
Peer-reviewed comment |  | 17 Feb 2017

Nitrogen mineralization, not N2 fixation, alleviates progressive nitrogen limitation – Comment on “Processes regulating progressive nitrogen limitation under elevated carbon dioxide: a meta-analysis” by Liang et al. (2016)

Tobias Rütting
How to cite. Rütting, T.: Nitrogen mineralization, not N2 fixation, alleviates progressive nitrogen limitation – Comment on “Processes regulating progressive nitrogen limitation under elevated carbon dioxide: a meta-analysis” by Liang et al. (2016), Biogeosciences, 14, 751–754, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-14-751-2017, 2017.
Received: 24 Oct 2016 – Discussion started: 28 Oct 2016 – Revised: 24 Jan 2017 – Accepted: 30 Jan 2017 – Published: 17 Feb 2017
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Short summary
The response of ecosystems to elevated atmospheric CO2 is affected by nitrogen (N) availability. It has been hypothesized that N limitation becomes progressively stronger (progressive N limitation, PNL). Most long-term free air CO2 enrichment studies did not see a PNL. This paper shows that enhanced biological N2 fixation only prevents PNL in plant communities with symbiotic N2 fixation. In most ecosystems a stimulation of gross N mineralization prevents the development of a PNL.
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