Estimating the buffer capacity of forest soils

Journal Article · Fri Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1985 · J. For.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6002451

Hornbeck, J W; Federer, C A

The organic-matter content of New England soils is an index of buffer capacity, and can be measured to indicate how forest soils might respond to acid precipitation. Buffer capacity, as defined herein, is the milliequivalents of H/sup +/ or OH/sup -/ that must be added to a kilogram of soil to change its pH by one unit. As such, it is an index of how soil pH will respond to H/sup +/ in acid precipitation. At four locations in New England, the buffer capacity of organic and mineral horizons for well-drained forest soils under second-growth forests and in new and regrowing clearcuts was measured. The sites included a spruce-fir forest in central Maine, two northern hardwood forests in northern New Hampshire, and a central hardwood forest in southern Connecticut. Soil materials were titrated by adding known amounts of HCl or NaOH and measuring the pH after 24 hours. Details on methods were given in this paper. 1 table.

• Research Organization: Dept. of Agriculture, Durham, NH
• OSTI ID: 6002451
• Journal Information: J. For.; (United States), Journal Name: J. For.; (United States) Vol. 83:11; ISSN JFUSA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

510200* -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ACID RAIN
ATMOSPHERIC PRECIPITATIONS
BUFFERS
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
FORESTS
HUMUS
ORGANIC MATTER
PH VALUE
RAIN
SOILS