Discussion of "Atmospheric deposition as an important nitrogen load to a typical agro-ecosystem in the Huang-Huai-Hai Plain" by Huang et al. (2016). (March 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pan, Yuepeng; Xu, Wen; Wentworth, Gregory R.; Tian, Shili
• Is Part Of: Atmospheric environment. Volume 153(2017)
• Page Start: 233
• Page End: 235
• Publication Date: 2017-03
• Subjects: Nitrogen deposition -- Ammonia -- Wet deposition -- Dry deposition -- North China Plain; Air -- Pollution -- Periodicals; Air -- Pollution -- Meteorological aspects -- Periodicals; 551.51
• DOI: 10.1016/j.atmosenv.2017.01.008
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1352-2310

Abstract

Abstract: In a recent publication of Atmospheric Environment, Huang et al. (2016) reported nitrogen (N) deposition estimates using the water surrogate surface method. This method may be suitable to evaluate the atmospheric N input to a body of water, wetland or paddy fields rather than dry crop land without sustained waterlogged conditions. Such a method may also result in the potential underestimation of both dry and wet N deposition due to the release of ammonia (NH3 ) from water evaporation and/or N loss from biological activities, and hence bias the relative contribution of dry deposition to total deposition. Besides the uncertainties regarding the magnitude and pathways of N deposition, the statement by Huang et al. (2016) that "nitrate was the dominant species in N deposition even in cropland" is also questionable. We suggest that reduced species dominate the N deposition in Huang-Huai-Hai Plain (i.e., North China Plain) even in urban and industrial regions due to the abundance of NH3 .