Modelling stream acidification in afforested catchments: An assessment of the relative effects of acid deposition and afforestation

Abstract

A model of the combined long-term effects of acidic deposition and forest growth has been developed and calibrated for an upland site in Scotland. The model is used to perform a series of simulation experiments to assess the relative effects of afforestation and acidic deposition on soil and surface water chemistry. The experiments compare and contrast: (a) the simulated historical effects of increased acidic deposition and forest growth, both individually and in combination; (b) the simulated future effects of various levels of reduction of deposition in combination with the forestry strategies of harvesting with and without replanting. Results indicate that historical acidification of surface waters in areas receiving high levels of acidic deposition has been exacerbated by afforestation practices. Afforestation in the absence of acidic deposition, however, has had a lesser effect on surface water acidification even though the nutrient demands of forest growth have caused significant soil acidification. Comparisons of future forest management strategies in conjunction with likely deposition reductions indicate that, in sensitive areas, replanting of a felled forest without treatment of the soil by addition of base cations, should not be undertaken even if significant deposition reductions are realised.