Regional trends in soil acidification and exchangeable metal concentrations in relation to acid deposition rates.
The deposition of high levels of reactive nitrogen (N) and sulphur (S), or the legacy of that deposition, remain among the world's most important environmental problems. Although regional impacts of acid deposition in aquatic ecosystems have been well documented, quantitative evidence of wide-scale impacts on terrestrial ecosystems is not common. In this study we analysed surface and subsoil chemistry of 68 acid grassland sites across the UK along a gradient of acid deposition, and statistically related the concentrations of exchangeable soil metals (1 M KCl extraction) to a range of potential drivers. The deposition of N, S or acid deposition was the primary correlate for 8 of 13 exchangeable metals measured in the topsoil and 5 of 14 exchangeable metals in the subsoil. In particular, exchangeable aluminium and lead both show increased levels above a soil pH threshold of about 4.5, strongly related to the deposition flux of acid compounds.
Stevens
Carly J
CJ
Department of Life Sciences, The Open University, Walton Hall, Milton Keynes MK7 6AA, UK. c.j.stevens@open.ac.uk
Dise
Nancy B
NB
Gowing
David J
DJ
D015258:Acid Rain; D000535:Aluminum / Q000032:analysis; D003300:Copper / Q000032:analysis; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007854:Lead / Q000032:analysis; D008670:Metals / Q000032:analysis*; D009532:Nickel / Q000032:analysis; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000032:analysis; D006109:Poaceae; D025341:Principal Component Analysis; D012987:Soil / Q000032:analysis*; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D013455:Sulfur / Q000032:analysis; D006113:United Kingdom; D015032:Zinc / Q000032:analysis
D015258:Acid Rain; D008670:Metals; D012987:Soil; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D007854:Lead; D013455:Sulfur; D003300:Copper; D009532:Nickel; D000535:Aluminum; D015032:Zinc; D009584:Nitrogen