Water-Resources Investigations Report 96-4131
This report is available online in pdf format (2.8 MB): USGS WRIR96-4131 (
)
Thomas G. Huntington
U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 96-4131, 75 pages (Published 1996)
In response to unexplained chronic outbreaks of southern pine beetle in loblolly pine forests in Stewart and Chattahoochee Counties, Georgia, the U.S. Geological Survey and the Georgia Forestry Commission conducted a 3-year study to determine whether acidic deposition could explain the pattern of infestation. There were no significant differences in total acidic deposition between areas of high infestation in Stewart County and low infestation in adjacent Marion County. The annual rate of total atmospheric sulfur deposition in the highly infested area was 6.0 kilograms per hectare per year. This rate represents significant pollutant loading; however, it is somewhat lower than previously published estimates for the southern Piedmont and Coastal Plain physiographic provinces. There is no indication of significant local point sources. The annual rate of total atmospheric nitrogen deposition in the highly infested area was 5.9 kilograms per hectare per year which is comparable to previously published estimates.
Ambient air-quality measurements indicated that sulfur dioxide and ozone concentrations were comparable to typical values in rural areas of the southeastern United States. Ozone concentrations were high enough to constitute a chronic stress on sensitive loblolly genotypes. However, the limited data available do not indicate that there is a spatial correlation between ozone concentration and southern pine beetle infestation. Comparisons of soil properties that could be influenced by chronic acidic deposition between paired, infested and uninfested plots in Stewart County indicated that there were no significant differences that could explain susceptibility to infestation. Site conditions throughout the study area are marginal for economic production of loblolly pine because of low soil fertility and a tendency towards conditions of drought because of the common occurrence of sandy surface soils. County general soil maps indicate that the area of hi hest infestation contains a higher abundance of soils containing a subsurface horizon that is partially cemented and restrictive to rooting, when compared with areas of low infestation. Loblolly pine in the study area is growing under multiple, interacting stresses; and it is hypothesized that cumulative effects of these stresses are greater in the most highly infested areas.
Abstract
Introduction
Purpose and scope
Acknowledgments
Description of study area
Climate
Land Use
Geology
Soils
Southern pine beetle infestation and environmental stressors—previous investigations
Epidemiology of southern pine beetle
Factors controlling the outbreak of southern pine beetle
Environmental stress and loblolly pine resistance to southern pine beetle attack
Environmental stressors
Sulfur dioxide
Ozone
Ultraviolet-B radiation
Low soil fertility and acidic deposition-induced cation leaching
Methods of investigation
Atmospheric acidic deposition
Total deposition (throughfall)
Wet deposition (precipitation)
Analytical techniques
Ambient sulfur dioxide and ozone concentrations
Soil chemical properties
Collection of soil samples
Exchangeable cations
Soil organic matter concentration and estimation of bulk density
Water- and phosphate-extractable sulfate
Measurement of soil-water chemistry
Measurement of surface-water chemistry
Potential role of atmospheric acidic deposition and other stressors
Atmospheric acidic deposition
Rainfall and throughfall chemistry
Ambient concentrations of sulfur dioxide and ozone
Soil properties
Exchangeable cations
Water- and phosphate-extractable sulfate
Soil-water chemistry
Stream-water chemistry
Spatial relations
Topographic relief and land use
Geology
Soil physical properties
Summary of conclusions
References
Appendix 1. Precipitation and concentrations of calcium and sulfur in precipitation and wet deposition at Panola Mountain Research Watershed near Atlanta, Georgia, 1986–95
Appendix 2. Annual sulfur wet deposition near the cities of Buena Vista, Lumpkin, Griffin, Bellville, Tifton, and Atlanta, Georgia
Appendix 3. Water-quality data from selected sites sampled during baseflow conditions
This report is available online in pdf format (2.8 MB): USGS WRIR96-4131 ()
To view the PDF document, you need the Adobe Acrobat® Reader installed on your computer. (A free copy of the Acrobat® Reader may be downloaded from Adobe Systems Incorporated.)
Recent USGS publications on Georgia or Georgia Water-Resources Information
For more information, please contact webmaster-ga@usgs.gov .
U.S. Department of the Interior |
U.S. Geological Survey
URL: https://pubsdata.usgs.gov/pubs/wri/wri96-4131/index.html
Page Contact Information: Publications Team
Page Last Modified: Wednesday, 07-Dec-2016 13:14:43 EST
