Spodosol variability and assessment of response to acidic deposition
Variability in forest soils makes it difficult to observe short-term changes in chemical properties under field conditions. A buried soil-bag technique was developed to examine the chemical response of a Maine forest soil to loadings of strong acids (HNO3 and H2SO4). Acids were added by irrigation on 18 hardwood plots, 15 by 15 m, American beech (Fagus grandifolia Ehrh.) dominating. Treatments with three replicates each, were control, low S, high S, low N, high N, and N plus S. Soils were typical northeastern Spodosols, with acidic forest floors (pH 3.6) and upper mineral soils (pH 3.4-4.0), low concentrations of base cations in mineral horizons, and enrichment of the spodic horizons with organic C, N, and S. Relative standard deviations (RSD) of horizon means for all chemical properties except pH showed large variability over the small (2.2 h) area encompassed by the plots. Twenty-five 250-micrometers-mesh nylon bags filled with 300 g of homogeneous B horizon soil were placed directly below the forest floor in each plot. After a 1 year of treatment, collection and analysis of three bags per plot showed significant differences. Mean adsorbed SO(-2)4 concentrations were 48 and 92 micrograms S/g in control and high-S treatments, respectively. Exchangeable Ca(2+) and Mg(2+) were greater in the high-S treatment than the control; base saturation increased from 5.9 to 8.5% (possibly due to displacement of cations from the forest floor). The buried soil-bag technique detected small alterations in forest soil chemistry under field conditions, with minimal disturbance to study plots.
- Research Organization:
- Illinois Univ., Urbana, IL (USA). Dept. of Forestry
- OSTI ID:
- 6287538
- Report Number(s):
- PB-91-116798/XAB
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: Pub. in Soil Science Society of America Jnl., Vol. 54, No. 2, 541-548(Mar/Apr 1990)
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Longitudinal variations in trace metal concentrations in a northern forested ecosystem. [Picea rubens; Abies balsamea; Betula alleghaniensis; Fagus grandifolia; Acer saccharum]
Effect of pH on the distribution and occurrence of aquatic fungi in six West Virginia mountain streams
Related Subjects
01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
ACID RAIN
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
SIMULATION
FORESTS
SOIL CHEMISTRY
SOILS
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
SULFATES
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ACIDIFICATION
AIR POLLUTION
CHEMICAL PROPERTIES
DEPOSITION
DOSE-RESPONSE RELATIONSHIPS
MONITORING
NITRIC ACID
PH VALUE
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
SULFURIC ACID
VARIATIONS
ATMOSPHERIC PRECIPITATIONS
CHEMISTRY
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INORGANIC ACIDS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION
RAIN
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
540120* - Environment
Atmospheric- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)
010900 - Coal
Lignite
& Peat- Environmental Aspects