title: Ecological ramifications of the direct foliar uptake of nitrogen.
abstract: The foliar incorporation of various reactive forms of nitrogen (N) has been identified and studied for nearly 30 years. However, the ecosystem-level ramifications of this uptake pathway have only recently been considered by the scientific community. In this review, I present our current understanding of the foliar uptake process and then discuss why this pathway of N addition to ecosystems should be considered separately from the bulk deposition of N to the soil surface. Direct foliar uptake is a direct addition of N to plant metabolism and could potentially more readily influence plant growth compared to soil-deposited N. Current ecosystem process models do not partition reactive N between foliar and soil entry pathways and the influence of N deposition on ecosystem C sequestration is likely inadequately represented in most models. I also outline several research priorities for the future understanding of the ecological consequences of foliar uptake of reactive N.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University, Corson Hall Room E149, Ithaca, NY, 14853-2701, USA. jps66@cornell.edu
authors.forename: Jed P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Sparks
mesh_terms: D001272:Atmosphere / Q000737:chemistry; D017753:Ecosystem; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D009584:Nitrogen