Soil Water Responses to Wood Ash Addition to Acidic Upland Soils: Implications for Combatting Calcium Decline in Lakes

Deighton, Holly D.; Reid, Carolyn; Basiliko, Nathan; Hazlett, P. W.; Watmough, Shaun A.

doi:10.1007/s11270-021-05146-8

Cited by 1 publication

(1 citation statement)

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“…Because ash amendments can help raise the pH and base saturation of soil, it is conceivable that they may subsequently raise the pH of surface waters and aid in their ecological recovery (reviewed in Hannam et al 2018). Yet Deighton et al (2021b) found only modest increases in soil water Ca following the addition of wood ash (4 and 8 t•ha −1 ) in upstream areas of the Haliburton Forest in central Ontario, and the effects lasted only 2-3 years as most of the nutrients were retained in the soil and biomass. To our knowledge, very few studies have demonstrated a benefit of wood ash addition to lakes and streams, and this is likely due to a lack of ash addition field trials at the catchment scale.…”

Section: Downstream Effectsmentioning

confidence: 94%

Wood ash amendments as a potential solution to widespread calcium decline in eastern Canadian forests

Kim¹,

Watmough

Yan

2022

Environ. Rev.

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Decades of acidic deposition have depleted soil calcium (Ca) stocks over large areas of eastern Canada. The recovery of soil Ca levels has been limited despite substantial reductions in acidic deposition and will likely take many decades because rates of loss (owing to soil leaching, timber harvesting, and forest regeneration) may equal or exceed those of supply (via atmospheric input and natural mineral weathering). As low soil Ca levels may adversely affect local biota with relatively high Ca requirements, affected sites may benefit from supplementation with an alternative Ca source. A growing body of evidence suggests that the application of wood ash to Ca-deficient forest soils can help counteract the loss of Ca and other nutrients from the soil while boosting forest productivity. Yet the use of wood ash as a forest soil amendment is currently restricted in Canada, and the costs of obtaining permits and transporting/applying the ash make landfilling a more economically viable option. Here we explore the potential of wood ash amendments in terms of their risks and benefits, dose and application frequency, time to see benefits, and longevity of benefits. After considering these topics in the context of Ca-deficient, acidified forest soils across eastern Canada, we propose that the potential benefits of ash amendments in these areas likely outweigh the risks. Future studies are needed to clarify both the short- and long-term effects of wood ash addition on different tree species in both natural and managed forests, as well as the potential benefits for carbon capture and implications for Ca-deficient aquatic ecosystems.

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Section: Downstream Effectsmentioning

confidence: 94%