Effects of liming and fertilization (N,PK) on chemistry and nitrogen turnover in acidic forest soils in SW Sweden

Abstract

SW Sweden has very acidic forest soils because of deposition ofair-borne pollutants. Large-scale liming and fertilization have been proposed as countermeasures against a possible future development of forest decline. To test the effects of suggested treatments, liming (3 or 6 t ha1) and fertilization with easily soluble PK (25 or 50 kg P, 80 or 160 kg K ha1) or N(20 kg N ha1 annually in the form of NH4 NO3) were applied in different combinations in four experiments in 30–60 yr-old Picea abies forests in SW Sweden. Four yearsafter the initial application of the fertilizers, samples were taken from the O-horizon and the two uppermost 5 cm thick layersof the mineral soil. Their pH(H2O) and easily extractable Ca, Mg, K, P and inorganic N contents were analyzed. Samples werealso incubated to estimate net N mineralization and potential nitrification rates. Liming increased the pH by 0.6–1 unit in the O-horizon, and by 0.1 unit in the mineral soil. The Ca + Mg content increased by 15–25 kmolc ha1 (4–8 foldincrease) in the O-horizon of the limed plots, while an increaseof 5 kmolc ha1 (two-fold increase) was observed in theuppermost 5 cm of the mineral soil. Liming did not affect extractable P, K or inorganic N contents. Net N mineralization and potential nitrification rates in the O-horizon were enhanced 1.5- and 6-fold, respectively, by liming, but it had no apparenteffect in the mineral soil. N fertilization caused a slight increase (1.5 kg ha1) in the content of inorganic N, buthad no effects on the other variables measured. The amount ofextractable P was raised by 16 kg ha1 in plots given the high P dose (50 kg ha1), but no other effects of PK fertilization were detected.