Abstract
The serious decline of forest trees in Quebec and adjacent areas of the U.S. parallel those observed in Germany. In certain locations, in both cases, K deficiency is now occurring on glacial tills and outwash soils and is associated with a low concentration of exchangeable K+ and a high molar ratio of exchangeable Ca+ ions to K+ ions in the soil. This deficiency results from the so-called Ca-K antagonism in which an increased concentration of Ca2+ ions blocks the entry of a reduced concentration of K. Mg deficiency is occurring on granitic soils and results from a low concentration of exchangeable Mg2+ and a high molar ratio of A13+ ions to Mg2+ ions. The role of the parent rock, weathering reactions and atmospheric inputs are discussed in relation to the changes that have resulted from the cumulative effect of acid deposition. The changes in storage, transfer and losses of cationic nutrients in soil and trees can explain the development of these imbalances, which are still increasing, and are resulting in these forest declines.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bauch, J.: 1983, Biologische Veränderungen in Stamm and Wurzeln umweltbelasteter Waldbäume, in CSF-Bericht A 31/83 (Cesellschaft für Strahlen-und-Umweltforschung MBH), München, FRG, 49–57.
Baule, H. and Fricker, C.: 1970, The Fertilizer Treatment of Forest Trees. BLV Verlagsgesellschaft, Münich, 33–34.
Bell, C.W. and Bidulph, 0.: 1983, Plant Physiol 38, 610.
Bernier, B. and Brazeau, M.: 1988a, Can. J. For. Res. 18, 754.
Bernier, B. and Brazeau, M.: 1988b, Can. J. For. Res. 18, 1265.
Carrier, L.: 1986, Decline in Quebec's Forests — Assessment of the Situation, Service de la Recherche Appliquée, Ministère de l'Énergie et des Ressources, Quebec, Quebec.
Coote, D.R., Simonovitch, D., Singh, S.S. and Wang, C.: 1981, The Significance of Acid Rain to Agriculture in Eastern Canada, Land Resources Institute Contribution 119, Agriculture Canada, 19 pp.
Cosby, B.J., Hornberger, G.M., Galloway, J.N. and Wright, R.E.: 1985, Time Scales of Catchment Acidification. Environ. Science and Technology 19, 1144.
Cronin, C.S.: 1980. Oikos 34, 272.
Ferguson, L.B. and Clarkson, D.T.: 1976, Planta 128, 267.
Haynes, R.J.: 1980, The Botanical Reviews 46, 79.
Hüttermann, A.: 1985. Experentia 41, 584.
Hüttermann, A. and Ulrich, B.: 1984, Phil. Trans. R. Soc. Lond. B305, 353.
Hüttl, R.F. : 1985, Neuartige Waldschäden und Nährelementversorgung von Fichtenbeständen in Südwest Deutschland, Thesis, Freiburg Bodenkundliche Abhandlungen, Heft 16, Freiburg, 195 pp.
Hüttl, R.F.: 1986, New Type of Forest Decline and Diagnostic Fertilization, International Soil Science Congress in Hamburg, FRG, Aug 13-20, Poster Session.
Ingestad, T.: 1959, Phys. Planta 12, 568.
Jenny, H.: 1980, The Soil Resource, Origin and Behaviour, SpringerVerlag, New York, p. 251.
Likens, G.E., Bormann, F.H., Pierce, R.S., Eaton, J.S. and Johnson, N.M.: 1977, Bio-Geo-Chemistry of a Forested Ecosystem, Springer-Verlag, New York.
Loughnan, F. C.: 1969, Chapter 3 in Chemical Weathering of the Silicate Minerals, Elsevier, New York, 27.
Marschner, H.: 1986, Mineral Nutrition of Higher Plants, Academic Press.
Mayer, R. and Ulrich, B.: 1980, Chapter 14 in Effects of Acid Deposition on Terestrial Ecosystems. Hutchinson, J.C. and Havas, M. (eds) Plenum Press, New York and London, 173.
Mies, E.: 1987, Elementeinträge in tannenreiche Mischbestande des Südschwartzwaldes., Thesis, Freiburger bodenkundliche Abhandlungen, No. 18, Freiburg im Breisgau, FRG, Table 27a.
Picard, D.W., Colley, D.G. and Boyd, D. H.: 1987, Overview ofthe Emission Data: Emission of Sulfur Oxides and Nitrogen Oxides in Alberta, Kananaskis Centre for Environ. Research, Univ. Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Prenzel, J.: 1979, Plant and Soil 51, 39.
Reuss, J. D.: 1975, Proceedings of the First International Symposium on Acid Precipitation and the Forest Ecosystem in Dochinger, L.S. and Seliga, T.A. (eds) U.S.D.A. Forest Service, Columbus, OH, USA, 791.
Rochelle, B.P., Church, M.R. and David, M.K.: 1987, Sulfur Retention at Extensively Studied Sites in the U.S. and Canada, Water, Air, and Soil Pollut. 33, 73.
Russell, R. S.: 1977, Plant Root Systems, Their Function and Interaction with the Soil, McGraw-Hill Book Co. (U.K.) Ltd., London, New York.
Russell, R. S. and Clarkson, D. T.: 1976, PerspectivesinExperimental Biology, Vol. 2, Botany, Sunderland.
Shear, C.B. and Faust, M.: 1970, Calcium Transport in Apple Trees. Plant Physiol. 45, 670.
Stienen, H. and Bauch, J.: 1988, Plant and Soil 106, 231.
Tomlinson, G.H.: 1978a, Pulp and Paper Canada 88, T43.
Tomlinson, G. H.: 1987b, Acid Deposition, Nutrient Imbalance and Tree Decline, in Effects of Atmospheric Pollutants on Forests, Wetlands and Agricultural Ecosystems in Hutchinson, T.C. and Meema, K.M. (eds) Springer-Verlag, Berlin.
Tomlinson, G. H.: 1990, Effects of Acid Deposition on the Forests of Europe and North America, CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL.
Tyler, G., Berggren, D. Bergkvist, B., Falkengren-Grerup, U., Folkeson, L. and Ruhling, A.: 1987, Soil Acidification and Metal Solubility in Forests in Southern Sweden, in Effect of Atmospheric Pollutants on Forests Wetlands and Agricultural Systems, Hutchinson, T.C. and Meema, K.M. (eds.), Springer-Verlag, Berlin, 347–360.
Ulrich, B.: 1986, Z.Pflanzenernaehr, Bodenk, 149, 702.
Ulrich, B. and Matzner, E.: 1986, Experentia 42, 344.
Vet, R.J., Sukloff, W.B., Still, M.E., Martin, J.B., Kobelka, W.F. and Gaudenzi, A.J.: 1988, Canadian Air Precipitation Monitoring Network-Precipitation Chemistry Data Summary, Data for 1985 and 1986. (2 volumes)
Wallace, T.: 1961, The Diagnosis of Mineral Deficiencies in Plants. Her Majesty's Stationary Office, London, 9.
Zöttl, H.: 1987, Responses of Forests in Decline to Experimental Fertilization, in Effects of Atmospheric Pollutants on Forests, Wetlands and Agricultural Ecosystems, Hutchinson, T.C. and Meema, K.M. (eds), Springer-Verlag, Berlin, 255–266.
Zöttl, H. and Hüttl, R.F.: 1985, Allg. Forstz 40, 197.
Zöttl, H. and Hüttl, R.F.: 1986, Water, Air, and Soil Pollut. 13, 449.
Zöttl, H., Hüttl, R. F., Fink, S., Tomlinson, G.H. and Wisniewski, J.: 1989, Water, Air, and Soil Pollut. 48, 87.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Tomlinson, G.H. Nutrient disturbances in forest trees and the nature of the forest decline in Quebec and Germany. Water Air Soil Pollut 54, 61–74 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00298653
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00298653