Atmospheric input to Danish spruce forests and effects on soil acidification and forest growth based on 12 years measurements

• Published in: Water, air and soil pollution air and soil pollution, 1999-11, Vol.116 (1/2), p.75-88
• Main Authors: Hovmand, M.F, Bille-Hansen, J
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: acid deposition; Acidic soils; Acidification; Acids; air pollution; Aluminum; ammonium compounds; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Applied ecology; base cations; base saturation; Biological and medical sciences; calcium; Cation exchange; cations; Coniferous forests; Denmark; deposition; Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution; Environmental impact; Environmental monitoring; forest damage; forest litter; Forest soils; Forestry; Forests; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General forest ecology; Generalities. Production, biomass. Quality of wood and forest products. General forest ecology; growth; growth rings; hydrogen ions; Ion exchange; Litter fall; Moisture content; Physiology; Picea; Picea abies; Pine needles; Plants (botany); pollutants; Protons; ratios; Sandy soils; sodium; Soil acidification; Soil pollution; Soil water; sulfates; sulfur; Sulfur compounds; Sulfur dioxide; Terrestrial environment, soil, air; throughfall; Vegetation; wet deposition
• ISSN: 0049-6979; 1573-2932
• DOI: 10.1023/A:1005286308200

Atmospheric deposition of strong acid and sulphur compounds has been measured at Danish forest sites since 1985. Results from 12 years of measurements are reported from Ulborg experimental forest site situated on the sandy soils of West Jutland. Measurements and model calculated deposition estimates indicate a cumulated acid input from the atmosphere of 40 kmol, during the last 30 years; far more than the forest soils could neutralise by weathering or by base cation exchange. During the period 1985-1997 an increase in soil water concentration of protons (acid) and aluminium were seen and the molar ratio between calcium and aluminium dropped to a minimum of 0.1. A decrease in forest growth and an increase in needle litter fall were seen in the same period.