Cumulated deposition of strong acid and sulphur compounds to a spruce forest

• Published in: Forest ecology and management 1999-02, Vol.114 (1), p.19-30
• Main Author: Hovmand, Mads F
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: acid deposition; acid soils; Acidification; Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; air pollution; aluminum; Atmospheric deposition; Base cations; Biological and medical sciences; deposition; estimation; exchangeable calcium; exchangeable magnesium; exchangeable potassium; forests; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Historical trend; history; mathematical models; measurement; Non agrochemicals pollutants; Phytopathology. Animal pests. Plant and forest protection; Picea; Pollution effects and side effects of agrochemicals on crop plants and forest trees. Other anthropogenic factors; Pollution effects. Side effects of agrochemicals; precipitation; Seepage; Soil and water pollution; Soil science; soil water; Spruce forest; sulfur dioxide
• ISSN: 0378-1127; 1872-7042
• DOI: 10.1016/S0378-1127(98)00379-X

Deposition of acid to forest is mainly a result of dry-deposition of SO 2 and wet-deposition of acid dissolved in rain water. Ten years of measurements in the forest and 40 years of regional air pollution measurements, combined with historical sulphur emission inventories, make it possible to calculate the cumulated atmospheric deposition of strong acid. The concentration trend of atmospheric sulphur compounds measured during the last two decades until 1996 fits well with the model calculated emission and concentration pattern reported. Wet-deposition of sulphate was measured before 1955 in Denmark, these data also fit well with model calculated estimates. Acid-deposition during the last 30 years was estimated to be 4.0 eqv. m −2 (40 keqv. ha −1) and cumulated deposition for the last 90 years was 7.8 eqv. m −2 (78 keqv. ha −1). The acid inputs during these periods were equivalent to 100% and 200%, respectively, of the present top soil pool of exchangeable magnesium, potassium and calcium. The development of acid soils has led to aluminium being the major base cation in soil water.