Atmospheric particulate deposition in temperate deciduous forest ecosystems: Interactions with the canopy and nutrient inputs in two beech stands of Northeastern France

In order to better understand the influence of the canopy on APD, we studied APD in three pathways below the canopy (litterfall, stemflow and throughfall), and in open field. Our results indicated that APD in throughfall (123 ± 64 kg ha− 1 year− 1) was significantly higher and synchronic with that in open field (33 ± 9 kg ha− 1 year− 1) in the two study sites. This concerned both POM and MDD, suggesting a large interception of APD by foliar surfaces, which is rapidly washed off by rain within four weeks. Throughfall H-MDD was the main pathway with an average of 16 ± 2 kg ha− 1 year− 1. Stemflow and litterfall were neglected. In one study site, canopy intercepted about 8 kg ha− 1 year− 1 of S-MDD. Although base cations and phosphorus inputs by APD are lower than those of < 0.45 μm deposition, they contributed from 5 to 32% to atmospheric deposition and improved the nutrient budget in one of the study sites.