Ammonia Emission from a Young Larch Ecosystem Afforested after Clear-Cutting of a Pristine Forest in Northernmost Japan

The present study aimed to elucidate the atmosphere–forest exchange of ammoniacal nitrogen (NHX-N) at a young larch ecosystem. NHX-N exchanges were measured at a remote site in northernmost Japan where 4-year-old larches were growing after a pristine forest had been clear-cut and subsequent dense dwarf bamboo (Sasa) had been strip-cut. The site was a clean area for atmospheric ammonia with mean concentrations of 0.38 and 0.11 μg N m−3 in snowless and snow seasons, respectively. However, there was a general net emission of NHX-N. The annual estimated emission of NHX-N of 4.8 kg N ha−1 year−1 exceeded the annual wet deposition of 2.4 kg N ha−1 year−1, but the weekly exchange fluxes may have been underestimated by 28–60%. The main cause of the ammonia loss from the young larch ecosystem was probably enhanced nitrogen supply stimulated by the cutting of the pristine forest and Sasa, in particular, the Sasa.