Parameters for describing soil acidification and their relevance to the stability of forest ecosystems

• Published in: Forest ecology and management 1986, Vol.15 (3), p.161-179
• Main Authors: Meiwes, Karl Josef, Khanna, Partap K., Ulrich, Bernhard
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Biological and medical sciences; Chemical, physicochemical, biochemical and biological properties; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General agronomy. Plant production; Mineral components. Ionic and exchange properties; Physics, chemistry, biochemistry and biology of agricultural and forest soils; Soil science; Soil-plant relationships. Soil fertility; Soil-plant relationships. Soil fertility. Fertilization. Amendments
• ISSN: 0378-1127; 1872-7042
• DOI: 10.1016/0378-1127(86)90064-2

A theoretical description of the soil processes involved in the buffering of protons has been used as the basis for a grouping of forest soil into various buffering ranges. Such a grouping provides a framework for studying the response of the system to acidification. This response is described in terms of the elasticity (resilience) of the system to the generation and buffering of protons. A number of soil, humus and root parameters are suggested as measures of the ‘elasticity’ of soils. The soil chemical parameters include the proportion of calcium in the exchange complex, the effective cation exchange capacity (CEC e), H + Fe as fractions of the CEC e and the molar ratios of base cations/acid cations in the solution phase. The Ca/Al ratio in both the humus layer (O H horizon) and the fine roots are suggested as other measures of the elasticity of the soil system. A number of recommendations to forest managers are provided concerning the application of major plant nutrients and lime to acid forest soils of Central Europe. Liming is discussed in relation to: (a) growing forest stands — to compensate for the incoming acidity and (b) application at the time of establishment as a part of the ameliorative measures to improve the chemical status of forest soils.