Abstract
Although new inputs of acidic anions are decreasing, soil acidification still deserves more academic attention because of the effects of historical stores of SO42− already absorbed into soils. Forest canopy has large, species-specific effects on rainwater chemistry, for which the hydrological mechanism remains unclear. We investigated precipitation, throughfall, stemflow, and litter leachate across three forest types in a severely acid-polluted site located in Southwest China. Precipitation monitored over 4 months, representing summer, fall, winter, and spring, indicated neutral precipitation in Tieshanping with pH ranging from 6.58–7.33. Throughfall and litter leachate in Pinus massoniana Lamb. stands were enriched with greater cation and anion fluxes, as well as more dissolved organic carbon (DOC) flux. Rainwater from pure stands of Cinnamomum camphora (Linn) Presl yielded lower N and DOC inputs to soils with higher base saturation, which would reduce soil acidification and, therefore, improve the sustainability of forest ecosystems.
Highlights
Acid deposition is a global environmental problem that has garnered great interest due to its negative impacts on ecosystems [1,2]
Since the early 1980s, the government has made efforts to decrease acidic emissions, especially SO2 linked to acid deposition, yet nitrogen oxide emissions have been increasing with the rapid increase in the use of private cars for nearly two decades, so it still remains a severe issue in southern China [2–4]
Our monitoring data indicated that precipitation in Tieshanping was neutral and the proportion of NO3 − was increased
Summary
Acid deposition is a global environmental problem that has garnered great interest due to its negative impacts on ecosystems [1,2]. Since the early 1980s, the government has made efforts to decrease acidic emissions, especially SO2 linked to acid deposition, yet nitrogen oxide emissions have been increasing with the rapid increase in the use of private cars for nearly two decades, so it still remains a severe issue in southern China [2–4]. Soil acidification caused by acid deposition has adverse effects on ecosystems, forest ecosystems [5]. Numerous studies report the damage of acid deposition on forests, including decreased growth and dieback [6], changing biogeochemical cycles [7], altered aboveground and belowground biomes [8–10], and impacts on ecosystem function and sustainability [11,12]. Despite reductions of acidic anion inputs [13,14], the recovery of acidified soils could be delayed due to historic adsorption of SO4 2− into soils [1]. Soil properties, including soil acidity, are highly affected by forest types [15,16]
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