Abstract
The cycling and retention of sulfur were studied in five forest ecosystems: a chestnut oak and yellow poplar stand on Walker Branch Watershed, Tennessee; a mixed oak stand on Camp Branch Watershed, Tennessee; and a red alder and Douglas-fir stand at the Thompson site, Washington. Calculations from foliage sulfur turnover indicate that about one-half of total sulfur input was dry in the Tennessee sites, whereas only one-tenth was dry in the Washington sites. Atmospheric sulfur inputs exceeded forest sulfur requirements in all cases, but three sites (chestnut oak, mixed oak, and red alder) showed a net ecosystem retention of atmospherically deposited sulfur. Net ecosystem sulfur retention was consistent with laboratory-determined sulfate adsorption isotherms within a given location (Walker Branch, Thompson site) but not between locations because of differing deposition histories and consequent differing degrees of soil sulfate saturation. No consistent relationships between soil sulfate adsorption capacity and other soil properties (pH, base saturation, iron, and aluminum oxides) were found.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bettany, J.R., Saggar, S., and Stewart, J.W.B.: 1980, Soil Soc. Am. J. 44, 70.
Bertolacini, R.J., and Barney, J.E.: 1957, Anal. Chem. 29, 281.
Cole, D.W.: 1968, Water Resour. Res. 4, 1127.
Cole, D.W., and Rapp, M.: 1981, ‘Elemental Cycling in Forest Ecosystems,’ pp. 341–409 in Dynamic Properties of Forest Ecosystems, ed. D.E. Reichle Cambridge University Press, London.
David, M.B., Mitchell, M.J., and Nakas, J.P.: 1982, Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 46, 847.
Galloway, J.N., Norton, S.A., and Church, M.R.: 1983, Environ. Sci. Technol. 17, 541.
Gholz, H.L., Grier, C.C., Campbell, A.G., and Brown, A.P.: 1979, Equations for Estimating Biomass and Leaf area of Plants in the Pacific Northwest, Forest Research Laboratory Paper No. 41, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon.
Golterman, H.L., and Clymo, R.S., eds.: 1969, Methods for Chemical Analyses of Fresh Waters, IPB Handbook No. 8, International Biological Programme, London.
Grigal, D.F., and Goldstein, R.A.: 1971, J. Ecol. 59, 481.
Harris, W.F., Goldstein, R.A., and Henderson, G.S.: 1973, Analysis of Forest Biomass Pools, Annual Primary Production, and Turnover of Biomass for a Mixed Deciduous Forest Watershed,' pp. 41–64 IUFRO Biomass Studies, Mensuration, Growth and Yield, in ed. Harold Young, University of Maine Press, Orono.
Henderson, G.S., A.E. Hunley, and Selvidge, W.J.: 1977, Nutrient Discharge from Walker Branch Watershed. pp. 307–320. In Watershed Research in Eastern North America. A Environmental Studies, ed. D. L. Correll, Smithsonian Institution, Edgewater, Maryland.
Johnson, D. W.: 1985, Biogeochemistry 1, 29.
Johnson, D.W., and Cole, D.W.: 1977, Water, Air, Soil Pollut. 7, 489.
Johnson, D.W., Cole, D.W., and Gessel, S.P.: 1979, Biotropica 11, 38.
Johnson, D.W., Cole, D.W., Horng, F.W., Van Miegroet, H., and Todd, D.E.: 1981, Chemical Characteristics of Two Forested Ultisols and Two Forested Inceptisols Relevant to Anion Production and Mobility. ORNL/TM-7646, Union Carbide Corp. Nuclear Div., Oak Ridge Natl. Lab.
Johnson, D.W., Cole, D.W., Van Miegroet, H., and Horng, F.W.: 1986, Factors affecting anion movement and retention in four forest soils. Soil Sci. Soc. Amer. J. (in press).
Johnson, D.W., Henderson, G.S., Huff, D.D., Lindberg, S.E., Richter, D.D., Shriner, D.S., Todd, D.E., and Turner, J: 1982, Oecologia 54, 141.
Kelly, J.M.: 1984a, J. Environ. Qual. 13, 405.
Kelly, J.M.: 1984b, ‘Sulfur Input, Output and Distribution in Two Oak Forests,’ pp. 265–89 in Forest Soils and Treatment Impacts, ed. E.L. Stone University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
Kelly, J., and Lambert, M.J.: 1972, Plant Soil 37, 395.
Likens, G.E., Bormann, F.H., Pierce, R.S., Eaton, J.S., and Johnson, N.M.: 1977, Biogeochemistry of a Forested Ecosystem. Springer-Verlag, New York.
Lovett, G.M., et al.: 1985, ‘The Effects of Acid Deposition on Cation Leaching from a Deciduous Forest Canopy,’ Can. J. For. Res., in press.
Meiwes, K.J., and Khanna, P.K.: 1981, Plant Soil 60, 369.
Ramseur, G.S., and Kelly, J.M.: 1979, J. Tenn. Acad. Sci. 56(3), 99.
Richter, D.D., and Johnson, D.W.: 1983, Soil Sci. Soc. Amer. J. 42, 522.
Richter, D.D., Johnson, D.W., and Todd, D.E.: 1983, J. Environ. Qual. 12, 263.
Seip, H.M.: 1980, ‘Acidification of Freshwaters: Sources and Mechanisms,’ pp. 358–66 in Ecological Impacts of Acid Precipitation, eds. D. Drablos and A. Tollan, Johs Grefslie Trykkeri, Mysen, Norway.
Shriner, D.S., and Henderson, G.S.: 1978, J. Environ. Qual. 7, 392.
Swank, W.T., Fitzgerald, J.W., and Ash, J.T.: 1984, Science 223, 182.
Turner, J., Johnson, D.W., and Lambert, M.J.: 1980, Oecol. Plant. 15, 27.
Turner, J., Lambert, M.J., and Gessel, S.P.: 1977, Can. J. For. Res. 7, 476.
Van Miegroet, H: 1986, ‘Role of N status and N transformations in H+ budget, cation loss, and S retention mechanisms in adjacent Douglas-fir and red alder forests.’ Ph.D. Thesis, University of Washington, Seattle, WA.
Youngberg, D.T. and Dryness, C.T.: 1966, Soil Sci. Soc. Amer. Proc. 29, 182.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Johnson, D.W., Richter, D.D., Van Miegroet, H. et al. Sulfur cycling in five forest ecosystems. Water Air Soil Pollut 30, 965–979 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00303360
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00303360