Water chemistry and nutrient budgets in an undisturbed evergreen rainforest of southern Chile

Abstract

In a pristine evergreen rainforest of Nothofagus betuloides, located at the Cordillera de los Andes in southern Chile (41 °S), concentrations and fluxes of nutrients in bulk precipitation, cloud water, throughfall water, stemflow water, soil infiltration and percolation water and runoff water were measured. The main objectives of this study were to investigate canopy–soil–atmosphere interactions and to calculate input–output budgets. From May 1999 till April 2000, the experimental watershed received 8121 mm water (86% incident precipitation, 14% cloud water), of which the canopy intercepted 16%. Runoff water volume amounted 9527 mm. Bulk deposition of inorganic (DIN) and organic (DON) nitrogen amounted 3.6 kg ha−1 year−1 and 8.2 kg ha−1 year−1 respectively. Occult deposition (clouds + fog) contributes for 40% to the atmospheric nitrogen input (bulk + occult deposition) of the forest. An important part of the atmospheric ammonium deposition is retained within the canopy or converted to nitrate or organic nitrogen by epiphytic bacteria or lichens. Also the export of inorganic (0.9 kg ha−1 year−1) and organic (5.2 kg ha−1 year−1) nitrogen via runoff is lower than the input to the forest floor via throughfall and stemflow water (3.2 kg DIN ha−1 year−1 and 5.6 kg DON ha−1 year−1). The low concentrations of NO-3 and NH+4 under the rooting depth suggest an effective biological immobilization by vegetation and soil microflora. Dry deposition and foliar leaching of base cations (K+, Ca2+, Mg2+) was estimated using a canopy budget model. Bulk deposition accounted for about 50% of the total atmospheric input. Calculated dry and occult deposition are both of equal value (about 25%). Foliar leaching of K+, Ca2+, and Mg2+ accounted for 45%, 38% and 6% of throughfall deposition respectively. On an annual basis, the experimental watershed was a net source for Na+, Ca2+ and Mg2+.