Distribution and Cycling of Major and Trace Elements in Two Central European Forest Ecosystems

Abstract

Concentrations and annual fluxes of K, Na, Ca, Mg, Al, Fe, Mn, Zn, N, S, P, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Sb, Bi, Cd, Hg, and Tl were measured in the precipitation input to the forest canopy, in precipitation beneath canopy, and in the seepage water below the humus layer and below the tree root zone (output) both in a Central European beech (Fagus silvatica) and in a spruce (Picea abies) forest. Concentrations were determined in an acid loess loam soil from the beech site and in a calcareous little‐weathered loess C‐horizon for the same elements plus Sr and V.When precipitation was passing through the forest canopy, some elements were partially retained (P, Cu, Fe, Zn, Hg, Cr). The flux of other elements increased during canopy passage.Strong retention of Pb and Ni in the organic surface layer (O‐horizon) was found when seepage water passed through it. Within the mineral soil, retention of dissolved elements from the seepage water is observed in the case of K, Ca, Fe, N, S, P, Cr, Pb, Sb, Hg, and Tl.Compared to the unweathered loess, the acid forest soil was nearly depleted of its Ca and carbonate‐C contents. A similar, but less distinct, decrease was found in the total profile (Na, Sr, V, Cr, Cu, Zn), or in the soil surface layer only (Mg, Al, Fe, Mn, Ni, Co). Carbon, N, P, S, Pb, Hg, Bi, and Tl accumulated in the soil surface layer.The input/output balance showed that both forest ecosystems accumulated all elements entering the system with atmospheric precipitation except Al and Mn. The elements Pb, Hg, Bi, and Tl accumulated mainly within the top soil.

Nutrient Cycling and Availability in Forest Soils

“…2 (Foster et al 1985 tation range from about 3 kg N ha-t yr-t (Carlisle etal. 1966:' Nihlgard 1970Mahendreppa and Ogden 1973;McColl et al 1982) in relatively unpolluted areas to 20 kg N ha-I yr-I in polluted areas (Heinricks and Mayer 1977;Likens et al 1977 (Miller 1968 (Melillo and Gosz 1983 Mahendrappa and Kingston (1980) (Berg and Staaf 1980;Melillo et al 1982) and in some coniferous forest organic horizons the availability of C can limit microbial activity (Salonius 1978;Foster et al 1980). The results from a model developed by Bosatta and Staaf (1982) For personal use only.…”

Dynamics of oxidized and reduced iron in a northern hardwood forest

“…Swanson and Johnson (1980) found that bulk precipitation input of Fe far exceeded output (deep seepage + streamflow) in a forested watershed in the New Jersey Pine Barrens. Heinrichs and Mayer (1977) reported Fe budgets for a 125-year-old beech forest and an 85-year-old spruce forest in central Germany's Solling hill region. At both sites, bulk precipitation inputs of Fe exceeded deep seepage, indicating net retention of Fe.…”

The impact of acidification on diatoms and chemistry of Dutch moorland pools

“…Nihlgard 1970;Mayer 1974;Abrahamsen et a/. 1977;Heinrichs & Mayer 1977;Mayer & Ulrich 1978). The dry deposition of sulfur species increases in the order bare soil, deciduous forest, coniferous forest.…”