Acid rain and soils of the Adirondacks. I. Changes in pH and available calcium, 1930–1984

Interest in acid rain effects led us to resample 48 Adirondack soil profiles that had been sampled by Carl C. Heimburger in 1930–1932. Changes in pH and dilute-acid-extractable Ca were detected in 1984, which differed by horizon and were dependent on initial conditions. Moderately acidic organic horizons (pH > 4.0) showed substantial decreases in pH and extractable Ca, while strongly acidic organic horizons (pH < 4.0) showed a significant reduction in extractable Ca without a reduction in pH. The E horizons appeared to lose extractable Ca, while the B and C horizons showed no evidence of acidification. A partial Ca budget for the ≥50-year interval for 16 sites in a mixed hardwood–softwood forest showed that Ca uptake was approximately equal to the loss of Ca from the soil, suggesting that this was a major cause of acidification. Acid-consuming processes apparently balanced acid additions in B and C horizons as no acidification was observed. While acid rain has increased hydrogen-ion loading and base-cation leaching, we did not find evidence of serious impacts on bulk soil chemistry in the Adirondacks through the mid-1980s.

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Effects of rainfall acidity and ozone on foliar leaching in red spruce (Picea rubens)

Canadian Journal of Forest Research ◽

10.1139/x99-002 ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 29 (4) ◽

pp. 487-496 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Roger G Sayre ◽

Timothy J Fahey

Keyword(s):

Acid Rain ◽

Base Cation ◽

Low Ph ◽

Picea Rubens ◽

Red Spruce ◽

Cation Leaching ◽

Cuticle Formation ◽

Canopy Leaching ◽

Post Hoc ◽

Calcium Pool

The effects of acid rain and ozone on the leaching of chemicals from the canopy of red spruce (Picea rubens Sarg.) saplings was measured over a 4-year treatment period. The saplings were exposed to various levels of ozone and to acid rain (pH 3.1, 4.1, and 5.1) using open-top chambers. No effects of ozone treatments on canopy leaching were observed. Significant effects of rainfall pH on canopy leaching of Ca2+ and Mg2+ were observed, and post-hoc analysis indicated that these effects were associated only with the most acidic treatment (pH 3.1). In the low pH treatment (high NO3- and SO42-) significant canopy retention of both NO3- and SO42- were observed. The observed increase in base cation leaching flux from the red spruce canopy in the low pH treatment was particularly prominent early in the growing season (June) probably reflecting incomplete cuticle formation in the young foliage. Although the annual magnitude of extra Ca2+ leaching from the canopy of red spruce trees in the low pH treatment was small relative to the foliar calcium pool (about 10%), if this leaching preferentially depletes a physiologically important pool, it may influence tree health.

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A PROPOSED METHODOLOGY FOR ASSESSING THE RELATIVE IMPACT OF ACID RAIN AND NITROGEN FERTILIZERS ON ACIDITY OF AGRICULTURAL SOILS IN CANADA

Canadian Journal of Soil Science ◽

10.4141/cjss89-061 ◽

1989 ◽

Vol 69 (3) ◽

pp. 611-627 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

D. R. COOTE ◽

S. SHAH SINGH ◽

C. WANG

Keyword(s):

Acid Rain ◽

Agricultural Soils ◽

Field Measurements ◽

Base Cation ◽

Microbial Reduction ◽

Base Saturation ◽

Nitrogen Fertilizers ◽

N Fertilizers ◽

Reduction Plant ◽

Sulfate Leaching

Acid rain and N fertilizers both contribute to soil acidity, but no method has been available to compare their relative impacts. A simple model (SOLACID) is presented to assess quantitatively the acidifying effects of precipitation and N fertilizers on agricultural soils. Acid rain has been treated as a dilute solution of NH4NO3, (NH4)2SO4 and associated acids. Soil and plant pathways are considered for [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text]and [Formula: see text] by way of leaching, gaseous losses from microbial reduction, plant uptake and removal, and organic immobilization and mineralization. Leaching of [Formula: see text] was the factor to which the model was most sensitive. A relationship between base saturation and base cation leaching is described. Field data reported from 21 treatments at six experimental sites were used to test the model, which provided reliable estimates of final pH (r2 = 0.92**) and of changes in base saturation (r2 = 0.86**). Compared with previously published methods, the model provided the best estimates of lime requirements as computed from field measurements (r2 = 0.87**). Key words: Ammonia, sulfate, leaching, nitrification

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Metal concentrations in oats (Avena sativa L.) grown on acid sulphate soils

Agricultural and Food Science ◽

10.2137/145960609788066843 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 18 (1) ◽

pp. 45 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

R. FÄLTMARSCH ◽

P. ÖSTERHOLM ◽

M. GREGER

Keyword(s):

Avena Sativa ◽

Plant Uptake ◽

Soil Chemistry ◽

Soil Profiles ◽

Acid Sulphate ◽

Acid Sulphate Soils ◽

Large Pool ◽

Edta Solution ◽

The Impact ◽

Uptake Mechanisms

The aim of the study was to investigate the impact of soil chemistry on the concentrations of Co, Ni, Zn, Mn, Cu and Fe in oats (Avena sativa L. cv. Fiia) grown on Finnish acid sulphate (AS) soils with varying geochemical characteristics. Twenty two soil profiles, which were sampled to a depth of 1 m (five 20 cm section splits), and 26 composite oat grain samples were collected on a total of five fields. The concentrations of Co, Ni, Zn and Mn in the grains were correlated with the NH4Ac-EDTA-extractable concentrations in the soils. However, as these four chalcophilic metals are in general easily lost to drains and not retained as a large pool in the soil in easily-extractable form, also the concentrations in the oats were not in general elevated as compared with average values on other soils. On one of the fields, however, the Co and Ni concentrations in the soil, and thus also in the oats, were clearly elevated. Copper and Fe displayed no correlation between the soil and oat concentrations, indicating that the plant-uptake mechanisms are much more important than variations in geochemistry. It was suggested that the NH4Ac-EDTA solution was not efficient in extracting Fe and Cu, which shows that these metals are bound in relatively immobile oxyhydroxides.;

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Effects of enhanced N deposition as (NH4)2SO4 and HNO3 on base cation leaching from podzol microcosms

Nitrogen, the Confer-N-s ◽

10.1016/b978-0-08-043201-4.50068-x ◽

1998 ◽

pp. 463-469

Author(s):

C.C. White ◽

M.S. Cresser

Keyword(s):

Base Cation ◽

N Deposition ◽

Cation Leaching

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Effects of Non-Industrial Wood Ash (NIWA) Applications on Soil Chemistry and Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum, Marsh.) Seedling Growth in an Acidic Sugar Bush in Central Ontario

Forests ◽

10.3390/f11060693 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 (6) ◽

pp. 693

Author(s):

Holly D. Deighton ◽

Shaun A. Watmough

Keyword(s):

Forest Soil ◽

Seedling Growth ◽

Soil Ph ◽

Soil Chemistry ◽

Acer Saccharum ◽

Soil Amendment ◽

Sugar Maple ◽

Base Cation ◽

Yellow Birch ◽

Metal Concentrations

Research Highlights: In central Ontario, large quantities of non-industrial wood ash (NIWA) are generated and could be used as a forest soil amendment to counteract soil acidification and base cation depletion caused by decades of acid deposition. Background and Objectives: The properties and biogeochemical responses of NIWA have not been thoroughly explored, and field experiments must be conducted before NIWA can be regulated as a forest soil amendment in Ontario. Materials and Methods: In this study, soil chemistry and sugar maple (Acer saccharum, Marsh.) seedling growth and chemistry were measured in an acidic sugar bush over twelve months following a NIWA field experiment. Plots (2 m by 2 m) were established with sugar maple, white pine (Pinus strobus L.), and yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis Britt.) NIWA treatments applied at rates of 6 Mg ha−1 along with untreated control plots. Results: Ash chemistry varied significantly among species and yellow birch ash generally had much higher metal concentrations compared with other species. Following ash application, significant increases in soil pH and calcium and magnesium concentrations were observed, however the level of response varied by treatment. Foliar concentrations of base cations in sugar maple seedlings significantly increased in ash treatments and there was no significant treatment effect on foliar metal concentrations or seedling growth. In roots and shoots, concentrations of several metals (manganese, aluminum, iron, boron, arsenic, cadmium, zinc, copper, lead, chromium, and nickel) increased after ash application, however response was most pronounced in yellow birch ash. Conclusions: These results suggest that application of NIWA can counteract the lasting effects of acid rain by increasing soil pH and base cation concentrations, as well as increasing sugar maple seedling foliar nutrient concentrations, but ashes from species with high metal contents may also increase metal availability to vegetation, at least in the short-term.

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Effects of enhanced N deposition as (NH4)2SO4 and HNO3 on base cation leaching from podzol microcosms

Environmental Pollution ◽

10.1016/s0269-7491(98)80070-5 ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 102 (1) ◽

pp. 463-469 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

C.C. White ◽

M.S. Cresser

Keyword(s):

Base Cation ◽

N Deposition ◽

Cation Leaching

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Assessing the impact of acid rain and forest harvest intensity with the HD-MINTEQ model – soil chemistry of three Swedish conifer sites from 1880 to 2080

SOIL ◽

10.5194/soil-5-63-2019 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 5 (1) ◽

pp. 63-77 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Eric McGivney ◽

Jon Petter Gustafsson ◽

Salim Belyazid ◽

Therese Zetterberg ◽

Stefan Löfgren

Keyword(s):

Acid Rain ◽

Soil Solution ◽

Tree Growth ◽

Soil Chemistry ◽

Base Cations ◽

Mineral Weathering ◽

Solution Ph ◽

Weathering Rates ◽

Model Soil ◽

The Impact

Abstract. Forest soils are susceptible to anthropogenic acidification. In the past, acid rain was a major contributor to soil acidification, but, now that atmospheric levels of S have dramatically declined, concern has shifted towards biomass-induced acidification, i.e. decreasing soil solution pH due to tree growth and harvesting events that permanently remove base cations (BCs) from forest stands. We use a novel dynamic model, HD-MINTEQ (Husby Dynamic MINTEQ), to investigate possible long-term impacts of two theoretical future harvesting scenarios in the year 2020, a conventional harvest (CH, which removes stems only), and a whole-tree harvest (WTH, which removes 100 % of the above-ground biomass except for stumps) on soil chemistry and weathering rates at three different Swedish forest sites (Aneboda, Gårdsjön, and Kindla). Furthermore, acidification following the harvesting events is compared to the historical acidification that took place during the 20th century due to acid rain. Our results show that historical acidification due to acid rain had a larger impact on pore water chemistry and mineral weathering than tree growth and harvesting, at least if nitrification remained at a low level. However, compared to a no-harvest baseline, WTH and CH significantly impacted soil chemistry. Directly after a harvesting event (CH or WTH), the soil solution pH sharply increased for 5 to 10 years before slowly declining over the remainder of the simulation (until year 2080). WTH acidified soils slightly more than CH, but in certain soil horizons there was practically no difference by the year 2080. Even though the pH in the WTH and CH scenario decreased with time as compared to the no-harvest scenario (NH), they did not drop to the levels observed around the peak of historic acidification (1980–1990), indicating that the pH decrease due to tree growth and harvesting would be less impactful than that of historic atmospheric acidification. Weathering rates differed across locations and horizons in response to historic acidification. In general, the predicted changes in weathering rates were very small, which can be explained by the net effect of decreased pH and increased Al3+, which affected the weathering rate in opposite ways. Similarly, weathering rates after the harvesting scenarios in 2020 remained largely unchanged according to the model.

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