Abstract
Seasonal dynamics of S, Ca and N were examined at the Huntington Forest, a northern hardwood ecosystem in the central Adirondacks of New York for a period of 34 months (1985–1988). Solute concentrations and fluxes in bulk precipitation, throughfall (TF) and leachates from the forest floor, E horizon and B horizon were quantified. Both above and below-ground elemental fluxes mediated by vegetation (e.g. uptake, litter inputs, and fine roots production) were also determined. The roles of abiotic and biotic processes were ascertained based on both changes in solute concentrations through the strata of the ecosystem as well as differences between dormant and growing seasons. Concentrations of SO4 2−, NO3 −, NH4 + and Ca2+ were greater in TF than precipitation. Forest floor leachates had greater concentrations of SO4 2−, NO3 − + NH4 + and Ca2+ (9, 6 and 77 µeq L−1, respectively) than TF. There were differences in concentrations of ions in leachates from the forest floor between the dormant and growing seasons presumably due to vegetation uptake and microbial immobilization. Concentrations and fluxes of NO3 − and NH; were greatest in early spring followed by a rapid decline which coincided with a demand for N by vegetation in late spring. Vegetation uptake (44.7 kg N ha−1 yr−1 ) could account for the low leaching rates of N03 −. Within the mineral soil, changes with soil depth and the absence of seasonal patterns suggest that cation exchange (Ca+) or anion sorption (SO4 2−) are primarily responsible for regulating solute concentrations. The increase in SO4 2− concentration after leachates passed through the mineral soil may be attributed to desorption of sulfate that was adsorbed during an earlier period when SO4 2− concentrations would have been greater due to elevated S inputs.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Aber J, Melillo JM, Nadelhoffer KJ, Pastor J & Boone RD (1991) Factors controlling nitrogen cyclin and nitrogen saturation in northern temperate forest ecosystems. Ecological Applications 1: 305–315
Aber J, Nadelhoffer K, Steudler P & Melillo JM (1989) Nitrogen saturation in northern forest ecosystems: hypotheses and implications. Bioscience 39: 378–386
April R & Newton R (1992) Chapter 10. Mineralogy and Mineral Weathering In: Johnson DW & Lindberg SE (Eds.) Atmospheric Deposition and Nutrient Cycling in Forest Ecosystems (pp 378–425). Springer-Verlag, New York
Nurke M (1988) Fine root production and turnover in a northern hardwood forest and the influence of nitrogen availability. Ph.D. dissertation. State University of New York, College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Syracuse, New York, USA
Burke M & Raynal DJ (1992) Fine root growth periodicity and turnover in a northern hardwood forest. Ecology (In review)
Cole DW & Rapp M (1981) Elemental cycling in forest ecosystems. In: Reichle DE (Ed) Dynamic Properties of Forest Ecosystems (pp 341–409). Cambridge University Press, London, England
David MB & Gertner GZ (1987) Sources of variation in soil solution collected by tension plate lysimeters. Canadian Journal of Forest Research 17: 190–193
David MB, Mitchell MJ & Scott TJ (1987) Importance of biological processes in the sulfur budget of a northern hardwood ecosystem. Biology and Fertility of Soils 5: 258–264
Driscoll CT & Schafran GC (1984) Short-term changes in the base neutralizing capacity of an acid Adirondack lake, New York. Nature 310: 308–310
Driscoll CT, Schaefer DA, Moleot LA & Dillon PJ (1989) Summary of North American Data. In: Malanchuk JL & Nilsson J (Eds) The Role of Nitrogen in the Acidification of Soils and Surface Waters (pp 6–1 to 6–45). Miljørapport 1989: 10. Nordic Council of Ministers. Denmark
Driscoll CT & Van Dreason R (1992) Seasonal and long-term temporal patterns in the chemistry of Adirondack Lakes. Water, Air and Soil Pollution (in press)
Feder CA & Lash D (1978) Brook: a hydrologic simulation model for eastern forests. USDA-FS. Northeast Forest Experiment Station Report 19.84 p
Foster NW, Mitchell MJ, Morrison IK & Shepard JP (1992) Nutrient cycling in Huntington Forest and Turkey Lakes deciduous stands: acid and base cations. Canadian Journal of Forest Research 22: 167–174
Galloway JN, Hendrey GR, Schofield CL, Peters NE & Johannes AH (1987) Process and causes of lake acidification during spring snowmelt in the west-central Adirondack Mountains, New York. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 44: 1595–1602
Galloway JN, Likens GE & Hawley ME (1984) Acid precipitation: natural versus anthropogenic components. Science 226: 829–831
Galloway JN, Schofield CL, Hendrey GR, Peters NE & Johannes AH (1980) Sources of acidity in three lakes acidified during snowmelt. In: Drablos D and Tollan A (Eds) Ecological Impact of Acid Precipitation (pp 164–165). Proceedings of an International Conference, March 11–14, Santefjord, Norway
Gosz JR, Likens GE & Bormann FH (1976) Organic matter and nutrient dynamics of the forest floor in Hubbard Brook Forest. Oecologia (Berlin) 22: 305–320
Harrison RB, Johnson DW & Todd DE (1989) Sulfate adsorption and desorption reversibility in a variety of forest soils. Journal of Environmental Quality 18: 419–426
Hicks B, Boldocchi D, Myers T, Hosker R & Matt D (1987) A multiple resistance routing for dry deposition velocities. Water Air and Soil Pollution 36: 311–330
Huntington TG, Ryan DF & Hamburg SP (1989) Estimating soil nitrogen and carbon pools in a northern hardwood forest ecosystem. Soil Science Society of America Journal 52: 1162–1167
Johnson DW & Lindberg SE (Eds) (1992) Atmospheric Deposition and Nutrient Cycling in Forest Ecosystems. Springer-Verlag, New York, New York
Johnson DW & Todd DE (1990) Nutrient cycling in forests of Walker Branch Watershed, Tennessee: roles of uptake and leaching in causing soil changes. Journal of Environmental Quality 19: 97–104
Johnson DW, Turner J & Kelly JM (1982) The effects of acid rain on forest nutrients status. Water Resources Research 18: 449–461
Joslin JD & Henderson GS (1987) Organic matter and nutrients associated with fine root turnover in a white oak stand. Forest Science 33: 330–346
Kurz WA & Kimmins JP (1987) Analyzes of some sources of error in methods used to determine fine root production in forest ecosystems: a simulation approach. Canadian Journal of Forest Research 17: 909–912
Lauenroth WK, Hunt HW, Swift DM & Singh JS (1986) Reply to Vogt et al. Ecology 67: 580–582
Likens GE, Bormann FH, Hedin LO, Driscoll CT & Eaton JS (1990) Dry deposition of sulfur: a 23 year record for the Hubbard Brook Forest Ecosystem. Tellus 42B: 319–329
Likens GE, Bormann FH, Pierce RS, Eaton JS & Munn RE (1984) Long-term trends in precipitation chemistry at Hubbard Brook, New Hampshire. Atmospheric Environment 18: 2641–2647
Likens GE, Bormann FH, Pierce RS, Eaton JS & Johnson NM (1977) Biogeochemistry of a Forested Ecosystem. Springer-Verlag, New York. 146 pp
Lin M-C (1991) Seasonal and annual patterns of precipitation chemistry at Huntington Forest. M.S. Thesis. State University of New York, College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Syracuse, New York, USA
Lindberg SE & Garten CT (1988) Sources of sulphur in forest canopy throughfall. Nature 336: 148–151
Lindberg SE, Lovett GM, Richter DD & Johnson DW (1986) Atmospheric deposition and canopy interactions of major ions in a forest. Science 231: 141–145
Malanchuk JL & Nilsson J (Eds) (1989) The Role of Nitrogen in the Acidification of Soils and Surface Waters. Miljørapport 1989: 10. Nordic Council of Ministers. Denmark
McClaugherty CA, Aber JD & Melillo JM (1982) The role of fine roots in the organic matter and nitrogen budgets of two forested ecosystems. Ecology 63: 1481–1490
Mitchell MJ, Driscoll CT, Fuller RD, David MB & Likens GE (1989) Effect of whole-tree harvesting on the sulfur dynamics of a forest soil. Soil Science Society of America Journal 53: 933–940
Mitchell MJ, David MB & Harrison RB (1992a) Chapter 8. Sulfur dynamics of forest ecosystems. In: Howarth RW & Stewart JWB (Eds) Sulfur Cycling in Terrestrial Ecosystems and Wetlands (pp 32–40). John Wiley, New York, New York
Mitchell MJ, Foster NW, Shepard JP & Morrison IK (1992b) Nutrient cycling in Huntington Forest and Turkey Lakes deciduous stands: nitrogen and sulfur. Canadian Journal of Forest Research 22: 457–464
Mitchell MJ, Harrison RB, Fitzgerald JW, Johnson DW, Lindberg SE, Zhang Y & Autry A (1992c) Chapter 5. Sulfur Chemistry, Deposition and Cycling in Forests. In: Johnson DW and Lindberg SE (Eds) Atmospheric Deposition and Nutrient Cycling in Forest Ecosystems (pp 72–149). Springer-Verlag, New York
Mollitor AV & Raynal DJ (1983) Atmospheric deposition and ionic input in Adirondack forests. Journal of the Air Pollution Control Association 33: 1032–1036
Morrison IK (1974) Mineral nutrition of conifers with special reference to nutrient status interpretation: a review of literature. Canadian Forest Service Publication 1343, 74 p
Nadelhoffer KJ & Raich JW (1992) Fine root production estimates and belowground carbon allocation in forest ecosystems. Ecology 73: 1139–1147
Nommik H & Vahtras K (1982) Retention and fixation of ammonium in soils. In: Stevenson F (Eds) Nitrogen in Agricultural Soils (pp 123–171). American Society of Agronomy, Madison, Wisconsin
Parker GG (1983) Throughfall and stemflow in the forest nutrient cycle. Advances in Ecological Research 13: 57–133
Paul EA & Clark FE (1989) Soil Microbiology and Biochemistry. Academic Press, San Diego, California, USA. 273 p
Porter J (1990) Experimental evaluation of nitrogen saturation in a northern hardwood forest. Ph.D. Dissertation. State University of New York, College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Syracuse, New York
Rascher CM, Driscoll CT & Peters NE (1987) Concentration and flux of solutes from snow and forest floor during snowmelt in the west-central Adirondack region of New York. Biogeochemistry 3: 209–224
Safford LO (1974) Effects of fertilization on biomass and nutrient content of fine roots in a beech-birch-maple stand. Plant and Soil 40: 349–363
SAS Institute (1985) SAS user's guide: Statistics. Version 5 ed. SAS Institute, Inc., Cary, North Carolina, USA
Schnoor JL (Ed) (1984) Modeling of Total Acid Precipitation Inputs. Acid Precipitation Series. Vol. 9. Butterworth Publishers, Boston, Massachusetts. 222 p
Scott TJ (1987) Nutrient and water patterns within a northern hardwood and coniferous forest stand at Huntington Forest in the Adirondack Mts. of New York. M.S. Thesis. State University of New York, College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Syracuse, New York, USA. 120 p
Shepard JP, Mitchell MJ, Scott TJ, Zhang YM & Raynal DJ (1989) Measurement of wet and dry deposition in a northern hardwood forest. Water, Air and Soil Pollution 48: 225–238
Shepard JP, Mitchell MJ, Scott TJ & Driscoll CT (1990) Soil Solution chemistry of an Adirondack Spodosol: lysimetry and N dynamics. Canadian Journal of Forest Research 20: 818–824
Singh JS, Lauenroth WK, Hunt HW & Swift DM (1984) Bias and random errors in estimators of net root production: a simulation approach. Ecology 65: 1760–1764
Somers RC (1986) Soil classification, genesis, morphology, and variability of soils found within the central Adirondack region of New York. Ph.D. Dissertation State University of New York, College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Syracuse, New York
Tamm, CO (1991) Nitrogen in Terrestrial Ecosystems, Questions of Productivity, Vegetational Changes and Ecosystem Stability. Ecological Studies Vol. 81. Springer-Verlag, New York, New York. 116 p
Waring RH & Schlesinger WH (1985) Forest Ecosystems, Concepts and Management. Academic Press, New York, New York, USA
Wigington PJ, Davies TD, Tranter M & Eshleman KN (1990) Episodic acidification of surface waters due to acidic deposition. Acidic Deposition: State of Science and Technology, Report 12. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC, USA
Vitousek PM, Gosz JR, Grier CC, Melillo JM & Reiners WA (1982) A comparative analysis of potential nitrification and nitrate mobility in forest ecosystems. Ecological Monographs 52: 155–177
Vogt KA, Grier CC, Bower ST, Sprugel DG & Vogt DJ (1986) Overestimation of net root production: a real or imaginary problem? Ecology 67: 577–579
Zak DR & Pregitzer KS (1990) Spatial and temporal variability of nitrogen cycling in northern lower Michigan. Forest Science 36: 367–380
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Mitchell, M.J., Burke, M.K. & Shepard, J.P. Seasonal and spatial patterns of S, Ca, and N dynamics of a Northern Hardwood forest ecosystem. Biogeochemistry 17, 165–189 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00004040
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00004040