Effects of chemical defoliation of Abies grandis habitat on amounts and chemistry of throughfall and steamflow

Journal Article · Mon Dec 31 23:00:00 EST 1979 · J. Environ. Qual.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2134/jeq1980.00472425000900020032x· OSTI ID:5474605

Tiedemann, A R; Helvey, J D; Anderson, T D

Amounts and chemistry of gross precipitation, throughfall, and stemflow were measured before and after chemical defoliation of a coniferous forest stand in Eastern Washington. Throughfall (t) in the natural stand is related to gross precipitation (p) by the equation t = 0.842p - 0.182 with a coefficient of determination (r2) of 0.972. Throughfall and stemflow increased significantly after defoliation but the actual amounts were small. Gross precipitation before defoliation contained 0.47 mg/litre total nitrogen (t-n), 0.06 mg/liter total phosphorus (t-p), and 0.7 mg/liter total cations (Ca, Mg, Na, and K). Total inputs between 24 Aug. 1975 and 1 June 1976, were 0.84, 0.07, and 0.90 kg/ha for t-n, t-p, and total cations, respectively. Approximately 80% of the total annual precipitation is normally received during the period sampled. Concentrations of chemical constituents were increased up to 15 times in throughfall and up to 48 times in stemflow compared to gross precipitation. Ratios of nutrient delivery (kg/ha) before defoliation as gross precipitation/throughfall/stemflow were 1.00:1.01:0.02 for t-n, 1.00:3.78:0.15 for t-p, and 1.00:7.57:0.20 for total cations. Defoliation reduced concentration of ammonium-n and increased concentration of t-p in throughfall. Concentrations of other measured constituents were not changed. Delivery of all nutrients to the forest floor, however, was greater after defoliation because of increased amounts of throughfall and stemflow. Comparisons of summer with winter storms and dry fallout with precipitation indicated that t-p and k are of local origin; n probably originates from passage of air masses over urban in industrial areas, automobile exhaust, and agriculture (fertilization); and Na and Mg are of marine origin.

• OSTI ID: 5474605
• Journal Information: J. Environ. Qual.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Environ. Qual.; (United States) Vol. 9:2; ISSN JEVQA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ACID RAIN
ALKALI METAL COMPOUNDS
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PLANT STEMS
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