Ion input via rainwater in the southwestern region of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

Abstract

Ion input via rainfall alone and after interception by the forest canopy, constitutes an important path of biochemical cycling, although few studies have provided information on the subject so far. The objective of this work is to quantify ion inputs, via rainfall, in the southwestern region of Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil. Ten rain gauges were mounted in a field area. The quantification of stored water volume, along with sample collection for determination of nitrate, nitrite, ammonium, phosphorus, sulfur, chlorine, calcium, magnesium, potassium and sodium contents, was done fortnightly from September 2006 to August 2008. Local annual average precipitation in the relevant period was 1,588.3 mm. The concentration of chemical elements in rainwater was found to vary throughout, being inversely correlated with the increase in rainfall, while potassium, ammonium, phosphate, sulfate, chloride and sodium were found to have a significant mutual correlation (p <0.01). Based on the annual amount of nutrient input via rainwater, it can be inferred that rainfall is an important source of chemical element input into the forest system.

Nutrient Input via Incident Rainfall in a Eucalyptus dunnii Stand in the Pampa biome

“…These results indicate the influence of precipitation volume on nutrient flow, since there is a lower quantity of ions contributed by wet atmospheric deposition in this study, when compared to Bellot & Escarre (1991), Calil et al (2010), andHeartsill-Scalley et al (2007).…”

Incident Precipitation Partitioning: The Canopy Interactions Enrich Water Solution With Nutrients in Throughfall and Stemflow

“…In 2004, only part of Europe had deposition higher than 10 kg ha -1 . These results are relevant to the reduction of particulate emissions by the best efficiency of the filters, therefore, for the study developed by Calil et al (2010), the quantities were above average.…”

“…Caggiano et al (2014) found an increase in K + levels in the Tf: 572 and 486% for Fagus sylvatica L. and Spruce abies L., relative to the incident precipitation. Calil et al (2010) studied the precipitation via nutrient inputs in the southeast of Rio Grande do Sul. The average rainfall of the two years evaluated was 1588 mm, about 12% higher than the historical average for the region.…”

Vegetation Burning in Pampa Biome Altered the Chemical Composition of Rainfall

“…Atmospheric particles composed of dust (Wu et al, 2013), soot released after vegetation burning (Laclau et al, 2003), volatilized nutrients from fertilization with limestone powder (Calil et al, 2010), and residues from liming in rural areas, are some of the sources of anions and cations to the atmosphere, which can affect the pH of rainwater and also increase the concentrations of NO 3 -, SO 4 2and Cl -. When these ions are present in rainwater they contribute to the nutrition of agricultural crops, native grasslands, pastures, and silviculture, which are widely cultivated in the Pampa biome.…”