Acidification of forest soil in Russia: From 1893 to present

Global Biogeochemical Cycles
By: , and 

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Abstract

It is commonly believed that fine-textured soils developed on carbonate parent material are well buffered from possible acidification. There are no data, however, that document resistance of such soils to acidic deposition exposure on a timescale longer than 30-40 years. In this paper, we report on directly testing the long-term buffering capacity of nineteenth century forest soils developed on calcareous silt loam. In a chemical analysis comparing archived soils with modern soils collected from the same locations ∼100 years later, we found varying degrees of forest-soil acidification in the taiga and forest steppe regions. Land-use history, increases in precipitation, and acidic deposition were contributing factors in acidification. The acidification of forest soil was documented through decreases in soil pH and changes in concentrations of exchangeable calcium and aluminum, which corresponded with changes in communities of soil microfauna. Although acidification was found at all three analyzed locations, the trends in soil chemistry were most pronounced where the highest loading of acidic deposition had taken place. 

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Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Acidification of forest soil in Russia: From 1893 to present
Series title Global Biogeochemical Cycles
DOI 10.1029/2003GB002107
Volume 18
Issue 1
Year Published 2004
Language English
Publisher Wiley
Contributing office(s) Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center, New York Water Science Center
Description 13 p.
Country Russia
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