Continental-scale forest growth in Europe is driven by management and further modulated by nitrogen deposition

Our analysis of continental-scale forest growth data provided further evidence that management-related stand characteristics like stand density index and stand age are key to explain annual forest increment.

For some species a clear relationship of growth with atmospheric N deposition appeared, with an overall positive, but in some cases non-linear response with a tipping point at 24-34 kg N ha-1 yr-1 , indicating that N deposition is at least as important as climate to impact tree growth at continental scale in Europe.