| Abstract: | Heavy metal enrichment and mobility in the infiltration zone of stemflow from beech (Fagus sylvatica) in the Vienna woods Filtering action of beech crowns in a polluted atmosphere produces acidic stemflow enriched with heavy metals. Series of soil profiles through the infiltration zone of stemflow waters were analyzed in three old growth beech stands on pseudogley (aqualf) soils of the northeastern Vienna Woods to study soil acidification and heavy metal accumulation and mobility: + In the infiltration zone of stemflow soil pH can be less than pH 3 and thus more than 2 pH units lower than in profiles more distant from the stem base. + Heavy metal contents of the soil peaked near the stembase. Maximum values for lead were 500 to 1.200 mg·kg?1 soil, for copper 70 to 150 mg·kg?1 soil and for zinc 250 to 500 mg·kg?1 soil. + Manganese was not enriched but leached out from the soil profile. + The proportion of AED-complexable lead and copper to total lead and copper decreased under stemflow influence in the topsoil but increased in the subsoil. These results indicate that significant amounts of heavy metals are deposited with stemflow in beech stands of the Vienna Woods. Strong soil acidification enhances heavy metal solubility and thus promotes leaching into deeper soil strata. |
