Modelling Impacts of Atmospheric Deposition,Nutrient Cycling and Soil Weathering on the Sustainability of Nine Forest Ecosystems

To assess the impact of acid deposition on the long-term sustainability of nine oak, pine and spruce stands on sandy to loamy sandy parent material in Sweden, Denmark and The Netherlands, a dynamic soil acidification model (ReSAM) was applied. Two deposition scenarios for the period 1990–2090 were used: a business as usual scenario (BAU) and a restrictive critical load scenario (CL). The BAU scenario leads to a strong decrease in both Al concentrations and pH in the topsoil of the Dutch and the Danish sites due to a decrease in the amount of amorphous Al compounds. The decline in pH leads to an enhanced release of base cations by silicate weathering. Despite the ongoing acidification, base saturation increases during the simulation period, due to both the increase in base cation weathering and an increased input from mineralization with the ageing of the tree stands. No change in Al concentration is predicted for northern Sweden as deposition levels are below critical loads. Soil chemistry at the recently replanted Swedish sites is dominated by changes in N cycling instead of by deposition. The CL scenario leads, especially after 2010, to a stronger decline in Al concentration compared with the BAU scenario, which is mainly caused by a reduction of the acid input. Up to 2010, a considerable acid input to the soil system is maintained as N supply is larger than the consumption of N by the trees. Despite the reduction of the deposition of S and N to critical loads, the readily available cation pools are still declining on the Danish and Dutch sites in 2090. It is concluded that deposition levels above critical loads lead to exhaustion of the pool of amorphous Al compounds and a decline in pH. Base saturation does not decline due to an increase in mineralization with stand age and an increase in weathering rate due to the decline in pH.     

Modelling the response of terrestrial ecosystems to acidification and desiccation scenarios

Changes in vegetation are often caused by changes in abiotic site factors, such as pH, nitrogen availability and soil moisture. It has been recognized that abiotic site factors are affected by atmospheric deposition and groundwater-table changes. In order to evaluate the effects of eutrophication, acidification and desiccation on site factors, the model SMART2 has been developed. For the Netherlands combinations of two acidification and two seepage scenarios (1990–2050) were evaluated with SMART2. The results are focused on pH, nitrogen availability and base saturation. Calculations were made for combinations of five vegetation structures on seven soil types and the five groundwater-table classes, using a 1 km² grid. Results showed that deposition reductions lead to a relatively fast improvement of the site factors, increase in pH and base saturation and decrease in N availability. Whereas a reduction in groundwater abstractions of 25% has little or no effect on the pH and N availability.     

Changes in pH,CEC and Exchangeable Acidity of Some Forest Soils in Southern China During the Last 32–35 Years

Soil acidification has been occurred in two locations in southern China. The changes in soil pH during a 35 yr period has been about 1.0 pH ₂O) units, and about 0.58–0.71 pH (KCl) units at Wuming in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and Zhurongfeng of Mt. Heng in Hunan Province. A decrease in CEC and BS and an increase in hydrogen and aluminum ion concentrations were found in the acidified soils, and related to the acidification caused by acid deposition. Hydrogen ion concentration increased about 0.1–1.0 × 10^-6 equivalent g^-1 soil yr^-1. Cation exchangeable capacity (CEC) and base saturation (BS) decreased to 53–76 and 30–59% in the acidified soils respectively, and an increase in exchangeable acidity also occurred. Acidification in the topsoil is higher than in the subsoil.     

Effects of Acid Deposition on Forest Soils in Northernmost Russia: Modelled and Field Data

In addition to strong natural stresses forest ecosystems in the Kola Subarctic, Russia, receive high loads of sulphur and heavy metals from the nickel smelter. To estimate soil response to acid deposition we compared the soil field data along a pollution gradient and simulated time effects. Multivariate technique was applied to investigate spatial distribution of soil field data. Time response of soils to acid deposition was evaluated with the SMART model. According to field observations there is no evidence for strong soil acidification effects close to the smelter. Concentrations of exchangeable Ca and base saturation increase, while acidity decrease in lower soil mineral horizons towards the pollution source. However, some features seem to reflect the early stages of the started acidification. Most soil profiles have low pH values. Despite increasing of exchangeable Ca and Mg towards the smelter in lower mineral horizons due to geological inheritance, they do not reveal the same trends in the upper ones. Concentration of exchangeable K in organic horizons decreases towards the smelter, thus confirming the starting acidification. As result, exchangeable base cations are depleted in the considerable part of shallow soil profiles. According to model simulation the present acid load does not effect considerably on forest soils in background areas, however, dramatic shift in soil chemistry near the smelter is expected within several decades. Due to low pool of exchangeable base cations and low weathering rate continued acid deposition can lead to increased soil acidification and nutrient imbalance.     

Modelling Acidification Effects on Coniferous Forest Soils

Two submodels for simulating the leaching of forest soils are described. SOILORG is used for O, E, and top B layers where Al(OH)₃ is absent and organic matter is the major base cation storage. SOILMIN cares for the rest of the profile where Al(OH)₃ control of Al is assumed and goethite provides most of the sulphate storage, clay mineral surfaces providing base cation storage. Results are presented from a test run for the period 1911 to 2030, based on data from a 260 cm deep soil profile in the SW of Sweden investigated 1990 and on a likely deposition scenario. Considering that the deposition of base cations exceeded the removal by stemwood in 1911 when the simulation started, the biologic acidification of the soil profile had reached a steady state before 1911 so that no additional acidification took place before 1930 and very little before 1950. After 1950 it was strongly enhanced by the increased acid deposition. In the mineral soil a considerable resistance against acidification is offered both by base cation exchange and sulphate adsorption, creating an acidification front which moved slowly down the B-horizon then accelerated, reaching the bottom of the profile in 1990. A deposition reduction by 2/3 during 1990–2010 will cause a partial recovery of pH, particularly in the deeper parts of the profile.     

长期种植苜蓿对中国半干旱地区黄土钾含量和粘土矿物的影响

Alfalfa cropping has been considered an efficient method of increasing soil fertility.Usually nitrogen increase in root nodules is considered to be the major beneficial effect.A 21-year time series (five sampling periods) of alfalfa cultivation plots on a loess soil,initially containing illite and chlorite,in Lanzhou of northwestern China was selected to investigate the relationships among alfalfa cropping,soil potassium (K) content and soil clay minerals.The results indicated that soil K significantly accumulated after cropping,with a peak value at about 15 years,and decreased afterwards.The accumulated K was associated with the K increase in the well-crystallized illite,which was not extracted by the traditional laboratory K extraction methods in assessing bioavailability.The steep decline in soil K content after 15-year cropping was in accord with the observed fertility loss in the alfalfa soil.Plant biomass productivity peaked at near 9 years of culture,whereas soil K and clay minerals continued to increase until cropping for 15 years.This suggested that K increased in the topsoil came from the deep root zone.Thus alfalfa continued to store K in clays even after peak production occurred.Nitrogen did not follow these trends,showing a general decline compared with the native prairie soils that had not been cropped.Therefore,the traditional alfalfa cropping can increase K content in the topsoil.     

Soil acidification and the importance of liming agricultural soils with particular reference to the United Kingdom

Soil acidification is caused by a number of factors including acidic precipitation and the deposition from the atmosphere of acidifying gases or particles, such as sulphur dioxide, ammonia and nitric acid. The most important causes of soil acidification on agricultural land, however, are the application of ammonium‐based fertilizers and urea, elemental S fertilizer and the growth of legumes. Acidification causes the loss of base cations, an increase in aluminium saturation and a decline in crop yields; severe acidification can cause nonreversible clay mineral dissolution and a reduction in cation exchange capacity, accompanied by structural deterioration. Soil acidity is ameliorated by applying lime or other acid‐neutralizing materials. ‘Liming’ also reduces N₂O emissions, but this is more than offset by CO₂ emissions from the lime as it neutralizes acidity. Because crop plants vary in their tolerance to acidity and plant nutrients have different optimal pH ranges, target soil pH values in the UK are set at 6.5 (5.8 in peaty soils) for cropped land and 6.0 (5.3 in peaty soils) for grassland. Agricultural lime products can be sold as ‘EC Fertiliser Liming Materials’ but, although vital for soil quality and agricultural production, liming tends to be strongly influenced by the economics of farming. Consequently, much less lime is being applied in the UK than required, and many arable and grassland soils are below optimum pH.     

Integrated Assessment of Soil Chemical Status. 2. Application of a Regionalized Model to 622 Forested Sites in Switzerland

A regionalized version of the dynamic, process-oriented, multi-layer soil chemistry model SAFE was applied to 622 forest sites in Switzerland to assess effects of acidifying atmospheric deposition on the soil chemistry between 1850 and 2050. Simulation indicates that the present day chemical status of Swiss soils is a result of the last 50 years of acid deposition. Indicative soil parameters such as soil solution pH, acid neutralizing capacity, total Al concentration, base cation to total A1 molar ratio and base saturation consistently deteriorate since the beginning of the 1950s, when acid loads start to increase. The simulated adverse evolution of soil chemistry persists until some time between 1975 and 2010, and apart from being site-dependent, the turning-point is also dependent on which parameter is considered at which soil depth.     

Acid Deposition and Acidification of Soil and Water in the Tie Shan Ping Area, Chongqing, China

Chongqing is among the heaviest polluted cities in China. Combustion of coal with relatively high sulfur content causes high sulfur emission and deposition in the area. Effects on soils and waters of the acid deposition in the Chongqing area have been studied in the field at a forested site outside the city. Deposition chemistry and fluxes, soil and soil water chemistry as well as surface water chemistry are presented for the period 1996–1998. There are some stress symptoms at the forest in the area and severe forest damage has been reported at Nanshan, closer to Chongqing center. Monitoring of the acidification situation in the area must be followed closely as impacts may be expected if the deposition is not reduced in the future. The deposition of sulfur, H⁺ as well as calcium at the site is high. Wet deposition of sulfur is estimated to 4.7 – 5.7 g S m^?2 yr^?1 during the three years sampled; dry deposition is probably of similar size. Annual volume-weighted pH in bulk deposition was 4.0 – 4.2 and the calcium wet deposition flux was 2.6 – 3.6 g Ca²⁺ m^?2. There are considerable seasonal variations in the concentrations, related to the seasonal variations in precipitation amount (dry winter, wet summer). The soils at the site are acid with median base saturation of 12% and 8% in the topsoil and subsoil, respectively. In soil water, aluminum concentrations are typically in the range 3–8 mg L^?1. However, due to the high base cation deposition, the Al/(Ca²⁺+Mg²⁺) molar ratio is below unity in most samples, indicating little damage of forest due to aluminum in soil water.     

Alberta油砂地区在两种水文流域森林土壤酸化敏感性研究

Input of large amounts of N and S compounds into forest ecosystems through atmospheric deposition is a significant risk for soil acidification in the oil sands region of Alberta. We evaluated the sensitivity of forest soils to acidification in two watersheds （Lake 287 and Lake 185） with contrasting hydrological regimes as a part of a larger project assessing the role of N and S cycling in soil acidification in forest ecosystems. Fifty six forest soil samples were collected from the two watersheds by horizon from 10 monitoring plots dominated by either jack pine （Pinus banksiana） or aspen （Populus tremuloides）. Soils in the two watersheds were extremely to moderately acidic with pH （CaCl2） ranging from 2.83 to 4.91. Soil acid-base chemistry variables such as pH, base saturation, Al saturation, and acid-buffering capacity measured using the acetic acid equilibrium procedure indicated that soils in Lake 287 were more acidified than those in Lake 185. Acid-buffering capacity decreased in the order of forest floor 〉 subsurface mineral soil 〉 surface mineral soil. The most dramatic differences in percent Ca and Al saturations between the two watersheds were found in the surface mineral soil horizon. Percent Ca and Al saturation in the surface mineral soil in Lake 287 were 15% and 70%, respectively; the percent Ca saturation value fell within a critical range proposed in the literature that indicates soil acidification. Our results suggest that the soils in the two watersheds have low acid buffering capacity and would be sensitive to increased acidic deposition in the region.     

Long-Term Acid Load and its Consequences in Forest Ecosystems of Saxony (Germany)

Between 1993 and 1995 a system of six intensive monitoring stations in representative stands of Norway spruce (Picea abies), sessile oak (Quercus robur) and Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) were installed in forests of Saxony (Germany), they are integrated in the European Level II - Programme. As a complementary system, and in addition to the annual nation-wide forest decline survey, 280 sites within the forest soil condition survey (European Level I - Programme) have been examined since 1992. The results of deposition monitoring show that until 1997 the acidity in precipitation and troughfall still was very high, despite of strong reductions in industrial emissions between 1989 and 1992. The annual fluxes (hydrological year 1996) of sulphur in throughfall ranged between 16 and 77 kg-ha^-1, whereas the fluxes of total inorganic N varied between 17 and 46 kg-ha^-1. The forest soils show high degrees of acidification with only low base saturation. In most cases the nutrient status of the soils has to be improved in the course of a regeneration programme in order to rebuild more natural forest ecosystems.     

Buffering capacity of cashew soils in South Eastern Tanzania

Abstract. Cashew soils of South Eastern Tanzania become acidified due to sulphur used for controlling powdery mildew disease ( Oidium anacardii Noack). The buffering capacity of surface and subsurface horizons of 35 soil profiles of major cashew growing areas –- the Makonde plateau, its piedmont and inland plains –- was studied. The buffering capacity of surface and subsurface horizons was strongly correlated with clay content and weakly with organic carbon content. In addition, it was only weakly correlated with total exchangeable bases and available P of the surface horizon, but strongly with soil pH, base saturation and cation exchange capacity of the clay fraction of the subsurface horizon. Highly weathered sandy soils, dominant on the Makonde plateau and common on the Piedmont, had the lowest buffering capacity. Soils from the inland plains had better buffering capacities as they are generally more clayey or are less weathered. The risk of severe acidification and of a decline in productivity of cashew and of food crops is highest on the Makonde plateau. Further development and dissemination of methods which can reduce the use of sulphur are required.     

北京地区红色黏土特性及成土过程和系统分类探讨

为研究北京地区红色黏土的成土过程及其系统分类,选取6个发育在石灰岩类和花岗岩类母岩上的红色黏土剖面,研究了土壤剖面形态、理化性质、黏土矿物组成等,并分析了其成土条件和发生过程。结果表明:所有土壤剖面的土壤结构体面上均有黏粒胶膜,通体无石灰反应,铁的游离度高,活化度低。石灰岩类发育的红色黏土质地更细,其土壤黏粒游离铁较多,颜色更红,结构体团聚程度更强。花岗岩发育的红色黏土因含有大量难以风化的石英,因而含有较多的砂粒,结构体团聚程度较低。这些土壤形成过程中发生了强烈的黏化和铁质化作用,可以推断其是在古湿热气候条件下形成的。而目前土壤的pH呈微碱或中性,交换性盐基离子以Ca2+为主,盐基饱和度较高,则是受现代黄土降尘的影响,发生了复盐基过程的结果。在此基础上,依据《中国土壤系统分类检索(第三版)》确定的原则和方法,确定研究剖面分属于淋溶土纲下的4个不同亚类。     

Soil Vulnerability and Sensitivity to Acid Deposition in China

Sensitivity, in this context, refers to `the degree to which a system will respond to acid deposition', while vulnerability is `the extent to which acid deposition may damage or harm system'.Thus, sensitivity stresses the risk of an increase in the rateof change of the soil chemistry (the acidification rate), and vulnerability stresses the risk of damage to an organism or system (the acidification state). With regard to acid depositioneffects, both vulnerable and sensitive ecosystems are of concern;however, they are usually not well distinguished. The identification of ecosystems vulnerable (at risk for damage) or sensitive (high degree of response) to acid deposition is very important if policy makers are to derive cost-effective pollutioncontrol strategies. In this paper, the relative vulnerability andsensitivity of soils in China are assessed on the basis of soil base saturation and cation exchange capacity. Vulnerable and sensitive soils, as well as the risks associated with acid deposition, are identified. The characteristics of these two types of soils and their responses to acid deposition are discussed. Finally, results obtained by using different approaches are compared. The results show that the most vulnerable areas are located mainly in Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, and Sichuan provinces andin the southern part of Yunnan province. On the other hand, themost sensitive areas are located mainly in Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Hunan, and Fujian provinces and in the northern part of Yunnanprovince. Combining the distribution of vulnerability and sensitivity with the sulfur deposition shows that the areas around Chongqing City and central Guizhou province are at highrisk for damage by acid deposition; central Zhejiang province andthe boundary region between Hunan and Jiangxi provinces would be at high risk for a high rate of acidification if acid depositionwere to increase.     

Carbon storage and other properties of soils under agriculture and natural vegetation in São Paulo State, Brazil

Abstract. Topsoil (0–20 cm) and subsoil (60–100 cm) properties are compared at agricultural and nearby natural vegetation sites in São Paulo State. Differences are related to land use and climate, in order to estimate soil carbon storage under various ecosystems and also to study the effects of high-input agriculture on the chemical composition of soils with low activity clays. Within each land use, organic carbon in the topsoil is most strongly related to clay + silt content. This relationship is stronger for cropped, short savannah (cerrado) and tall savannah (cerradão) sites than for semi-deciduous and evergreen forest sites. Losses of topsoil carbon with cropping can be predicted if the initial carbon and the clay+silt contents are known. The greatest carbon losses after long term cultivation occurred in forest mineral topsoils, ranging from 6% for perudic clayey soils to 37% for ustic sandy soils. No significant difference in carbon content was found between the paired savannah-cultivated sites. In most of the originally less fertile soils cation exchange capacity was greater in the cultivated topsoil (Ap) than in the topsoil under savannah or forest (A1), probably because of liming and phosphate fertilization. Most subsoils at agricultural sites show increases in exchangeable bases (mainly Ca) and base saturation, but no significant change in pH.     

Assessment of the Regional Variation in Weathering Rates of Loess and Clay Soils in The Netherlands

To calculate critical acid loads or to predict elementconcentrations in the soil solution, information on weatheringrates is essential. Several studies have taken place in theNetherlands to obtain weathering rates for non-calcareous sandysoils. Recently information on weathering rates in less vulnerable loess and clay soils have become available. However,up to now no system is available to estimate weathering rates ona regional scale by relating them to regionally available soilproperties.To obtain weathering rates of loess and clay soils on a regionalscale for the Netherlands, the applicability of a statisticalregression model and the process based PROFILE model have beenevaluated. Both models were calibrated on a set of laboratoryexperiments. To evaluate their predictive power, both methodswere validated on a number of sites for which field weatheringrates were available.Predictions with the statistical model, for the individual basecations, were generally within a factor 2 of the calculatedhistorical weathering rates, except for Ca, which wasoverestimated, by a factor 3 to 4. PROFILE stronglyoverestimated all weathering rates using both standard parameters and in particular after calibration on the laboratoryrates. However, PROFILE predicted weathering rates of the loesssoils quite good after calibration on historical weatheringrates, indicating that the downscaling procedure used in PROFILEto translate laboratory to field weathering rates is inadequatefor the considered soils.The statistical model was applied to predict weathering rates,for the Netherlands on a 1 × 1 km grid scale. Weathering rates at the present pH values in forested loess and clay soilsranged from 135 to 6000 mol_c ha^-1 a^-1 in loesssoils and from 100 to 1750 mol_c ha^-1 a^-1 in claysoils.     

Regional assessment of the temporal trends in soil acidification in Southern Sweden,using the safe model

The dynamic soil acidification model SAFE was applied to 44 forested sites in Skåne, southern Sweden, using available Swedish databases on present soil status, vegetation and deposition. Time series of deposition were derived for each site from present deposition in a generalized fashion by dividing deposition into different classes and scaling with deposition trends from the literature. This study connects the current status of the soil and the soil development with critical load maps calculated with the steady-state model PROFILE.The model was calibrated against measurements of present base saturation from the Swedish Forest Inventory. Model output was compared with available measurements of soil water chemistry.     

Soil formation of new lahar materials derived from Mt. Pinatubo

The early stage of weathering / soil formation processes from new volcanic mudflow (new lahar materials) brought from Mt. Pinatubo was examined. For this purpose, comparative studies on the physical / chemical characteristics of the new lahar materials and soils formed by the deposition of old lahar materials were conducted. Original soils contained less coarse sand, more silt, and clay than the new lahar materials. Increase in the clay content of the original soils reflected the progression of weathering. The occurrence of a higher leaching process of Fe, Ca, and Mg and of a moderate accumulation of organic matter in the original soils was suggested, based on the differences in the soil elemental composition and chemical properties. Values of base saturation and phosphate absorption coefficient (PAC) of the new lahar materials were 388% and 44, while those of all the original soils ranged 15–160% and 55–894, respectively. With the progression of weathering, the PAC value tended to increase gradually while the base saturation value decreased abruptly under the environmental conditions prevailing in the Philippines.