Stickstoff und Stickstoffverbindungen in der Luft und ihre ökophysiologische Bedeutung

Abstract

In the past, nitrogen was an element which was mostly in short supply in agriculture and in forest ecosystems. Today, it is imminent to get abundant worldwide. The growing N emissions are not only causing an increasing impact of the troposphere with photooxidants but also are suggested to be involved in the degradation of the protecting ozone layer in the middle and higher stratosphere. The increasing N fertilization of terrestrial ecosystems by means of NO_X from burning processes and of NH₃ from agriculture may result in an eutrophication with consequences on the richness of our flora. In addition, the physiology, biochemistry, and morphology of plants may be changed towards an increased susceptibility to climatic stress such as drought and frost as well as to infestation by pests and pathogens.