RAINFALL CHEMISTRY AND NUTRIENT LOADING IN A PENINSULAR MALAYSIA FOREST SITE

• Published in: Journal of tropical forest science 1989-03, Vol.1 (3), p.201-214
• Main Authors: Yusop, Zulkifli, Nik, Abdul Rahim, Suki, Anhar, Zakaria, Mohd. Fauzi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Atmospheric chemistry; Atmospherics; Forest ecology; Pollution load; Precipitation; Rain; Solutes; Storms; Tropical forests; Tropical rain forests
• ISSN: 0128-1283

Rainwater collected at the Berembun Experimental Basin, Peninsular Malaysia, was analysed for its chemistry and nutrient loading. The annual weighted mean concentrations of the constituents were as follows (mg l⁻¹): K⁺ -0.34, Ca²⁺ -2.64, Na⁺ -0.20, Mg²⁺ -0.94, Cl⁻ -1.64, $\mathop {SO}\nolimits_4^{2 - }$ -0.31, $\mathop {PO}\nolimits_4^{3 - }$ -0.02, NO₃-N -0.08, NH₄-N -0.07, total-N -0.54 and alkalinity-9.11. The pH was 5.98. Solutes in the rainfall were mostly supplied by terrestrial sources on the basis that the ratios of $\mathop {SO}\nolimits_4^{2 - } /\mathop {Na}\nolimits^ +$, Cl⁻/Na⁺ and Mg²⁻/Na⁺ were 1.52,8.06, and 4.62, respectively and generally much higher than the corresponding ratios in seaspray. Concentrations of Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ were very high and could be related to sample contamination by local dust. Similarly levels of Cl⁻ were far in excess to that of Na⁺ concentrations. Storm basis as well as monthly solute loads were significantly correlated with rainfall depth for Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Cl⁻, $\mathop {PO}\nolimits_4^{3 - }$ NO₃-N, NH₄-N and total-N. Annual solute loads were comparable to those obtained from other tropical areas except for Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ which were extremely high.