Abstract
We investigated the sea salt deposition process on the soil in a coastal black pine (Pinusthunbergii Parlatore) forest in Japan with reference to sea salt scavenging by the forest canopy and the following washout by precipitation. We collected throughfall and soil-infiltration water along transects crossing the coastal forest and measured the water chemistry—electric conductivity, pH, major cations (NH4+, Na+, K+, Mg2+, and Ca2+), major anions (Cl−, SO42−, NO2−, NO3−, and PO43−), and total organic carbon—at 10-m intervals on the survey transects. Leaching of base cations from surface soil kept lower acidity of soil water in the evergreen broadleaf forest, whereas soil infiltration water was acidified in the soil surface in the P. thunbergii forest. Hot spots of sea salt deposition on the soil surface were observed at hollows of the ground surface, slope-facing coastal line, or sites with an abrupt increase in height where the canopy faces the coast. However, the edge effect in sea salt scavenging was not evident in the juvenile stand at the forest edge, which had a height of <5 m. The sea salt deposition was only evident in the coastal black pine forest with canopy height >10 m.
Highlights
Sea salt transport by wind and consequent accumulation in soil form one of the disturbances in coastal ecosystems [1,2]
Throughfall and soil water pH and electric conductivity (EC) were determined for samples collected after 10 precipitation events at every site
The value of the pH of soil water was lower than the pH value of throughfall, and elevation of the pH by sea salt deposition was buffered by organic acid that is included in the litter of Pinus leaves and branches
Summary
Sea salt transport by wind and consequent accumulation in soil form one of the disturbances in coastal ecosystems [1,2]. The impact of sea salt on soils and vegetation in coastal ecosystems has been reported throughout the literature [3,4,5,6]. Because of the salinization and acidification of soil and the consequent impact on vegetation, protection forests have been established for sea salt scavenging and to prevent sea salt transport to inland ecosystems. To prevent the harmful effect of sea salt spray accompanied by a strong wind, as well as to prevent sand movement on coastal sand dunes, Japanese black pine (Pinus thunbergii Parlatore), one of the common evergreen coniferous species, has been planted to form protection forests [10].
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
