Long Term Changes of Base Cation Pools in Soil and Biomass in a Beech and a Spruce Forest of Southern Sweden

Abstract

During the past 60 years there has been a considerable decline in pH in mineral soil beneath spruce and beech stands at Tönnersjöheden Experimental Forest in south‐west Sweden. In this report an attempt is made to estimate the corresponding declines in base cation pools. The exchangeable storage of Na, K, Ca and Mg in soil, down to 70 cm depth, is calculated to have decreased by 57–60 per cent for beech and by 56–74 per cent for the spruce stands during the period 1927–1984. The calculated cation depletions are compared with estimated nutrient uptake in biomass, base cation release by weathering and leaching losses due to percolation of strong mineral acids and organic anions during the period. The biological acidification may explain about 50–60 per cent of the total losses of base cations from soil, the cation accumulation in biomass then explain 41–43 per cent units for beech and 34–45 per cent units for spruce. The estimated losses of base cations due to acid rain correspond to an amount of cations similar to that accumulated in the spruce biomass during one generation.

Temporal trends in chemical parameters of upland forest soils in southern Finland

“…The trend in the organic matter content explained a high proportion of the variation in the trend in CEC. The negative correlation between the trend of base saturation in the organic layer and wood production during the monitoring period supported the hypothesis that wood production and the retention of base cations in the woody biomass may acidify soil as a result of the uptake of base cations and corresponding release of protons into the soil (Hallbäcken 1992).…”

“…The main findings reported in long-term studies of this sort have been a relatively large decline in base cation concentrations over periods of 20-50 years (Billett et al 1990, Falkengren-Grerup and Tyler 1992, Hallbäcken 1992, as well as within short periods of time (10-15 years) (Troedsson 1985, Grimm andRehfuess 1986). However, large relative changes in soil variables, i.e.…”

“…Ca and Mg) in the soil, thus increasing acidity (Olsson et al 1996, Kukkola andMälkönen 1997). A high acidifying load also decreases base cation pools in the soil through the leaching of cations together with sulphate anions (Berdén et al 1987, Hallbäcken 1992. A process opposite to soil acidification, i.e.…”

“…Studies carried out in the Nordic countries (Tyler et al 1985, Hallbäcken and Tamm 1986, Falkengren-Grerup 1987, Falkengren-Grerup 1990, Falkengren-Grerup and Tyler 1991, Hallbäcken 1992, in Central Europe (Billett et al 1988, Billett et al 1990, in the USA (e.g. Binkley and Valentine 1991, Knoepp and Swank 1994, Drohan and Sharpe 1997 and in Canada (e.g.…”

Decoupling of unpolluted temperate forests from rock nutrient sources revealed by natural 87 Sr/ 86 Sr and 84 Sr tracer addition

“…, and Na ϩ ) in sensitive soils have raised concerns over whether acid rain (1)(2)(3)(4)(5)(6), reductions in atmospheric base cations (7)(8), and forest cutting (9) are degrading forest ecosystems in temperate regions of Europe and North America (10,11). Studies thus far have focused on regions where biogeochemical cycles are already strongly disturbed by human activities (1)(2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14).…”