Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Soil processes and sulfate loss at the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest

  • Published:
Biogeochemistry Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The Hubbard Brook Ecosystem Study was designed to evaluate element flux and cycling in a northern hardwood forest and the effects of disturbance on these processes. In the original experiment, an entire watershed was deforested and regrowth was inhibited for three years using herbicides. Initial effects of the treatment included: elevated stream discharge, large increases in streamwater solute concentrations and elevated losses of those ions from the watershed. In contrast, streamwater concentrations and net ecosystem output of sulfate decreased in response to the treatment. During the post treatment period, the concentrations of most dissolved ions declined relative to a reference watershed while, again in contrast, sulfate concentrations increased relative to the reference. In this paper we develop a hypothesis which links acidification and sulfate adsorption processes in the soil to explain the observed trends in sulfate losses from the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Binkley, D. & D. Richter (1987) Nutrient cycles and hydrogen budgets of forest ecosystems. Advances in Ecological Research. 16: 1–51

    Google Scholar 

  • Bormann, F.H. & G.E. Likens (1979) Pattern and process in a forested ecosystem. Springer-Verlag, New York Inc.

  • Chao, T.T., M.E. Harwood & S.F. Fang (1964) Iron or aluminum coatings in relation to sulfate adsorption characteristics of soils. Soil Science Society of America Proceedings 28: 632–635

    Google Scholar 

  • Davies D.D. (1973) Control of and by pH. Symposium for the Society of Experimental Biology. 27: 513–529

    Google Scholar 

  • Dominski, A.S. (1971) Accelerated nitrate production and loss in the northern hardwood forest ecosystem underlain by podsol soils following clearcutting and addition of herbicides. Ph.D. thesis, Yale University

  • Driscoll, C.T. & G.S. Schafran (1984) Characterization of short-term changes in the base neutralizing capacity of an acidic Adirondack New York Lake. Nature 310: 308–310

    Google Scholar 

  • Driscoll, C.T., M. van Breemen & J. Mulder (1985) Aluminum chemistry in a forested Spodosol. Soil Science Society of America Journal 49: 437–444

    Google Scholar 

  • Fuller R.D., M.D. David & C.T. Driscoll (1985) Sulfate adsorption relationships in some Northern Forest Spodosols, Soil Science Society of America Journal 49: 1034–1046

    Google Scholar 

  • Fuller, R., C.T. Driscoll, G. Lawrence & S.C. Nodvin (1987) Processes regulating sulphate flux after whole-tree harvesting. Nature 325: 707–710

    Google Scholar 

  • Henderson, G.S., W.T. Swank & J.W. Hornbeck (1980) Impact of sulfur deposition on the quality of water from forested watersheds. In: D.S. Shriner, C.R. Richmond & S.E. Lindberg (Eds) Atmospheric Sulfur Deposition. Environmental Impact and Health Effects (pp. 431–441). Ann Arbor Science

  • Higinbotham, N. (1973) The mineral absorption process in plants. Botanical Review 39: 15–69

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnson, D.W & D.W. Cole (1980) Anion mobility in soils: Relevance to nutrient transport from forest ecosystems. Environment International 3: 79–80

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnson, N.M., G.E. Likens, F.H. Bormann, D.W. Fisher & R.S. Pierce (1969) A working model for the variation in stream chemistry at the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest. New Hampshire. Water Resources Research 5: 1353–1363

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnson, N.M., C.T. Driscoll, J.S. Eaton, G.E. Likens & W.H. McDowell (1981) ‘Acid rain’, dissolved aluminum and chemical weathering at the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest, New Hampshire. Geochimica Cosmochimica Acta 45: 1421–1437

    Google Scholar 

  • Likens, G.E. & F.H. Bormann (1974) Effects of forest clearing on the northern hardwood forest ecosystem and its biogeochemistry. In: Proceedings of the First International Congress of Ecology, September 1974 (pp. 330–335). Centre of Agricultural Publications and Documentation. Wageningen, The Netherlands

    Google Scholar 

  • Likens, G.E., F.H. Bormann & N.M. Johnson (1969) Nitrification importance to nutrient losses from a cutover forested ecosystem. Science 1673: 1205–1206

    Google Scholar 

  • Likens, G.E., F.H. Bormann, N.M. Johnson, D.W. Fisher & R.S. Pierce (1970) Effects of forest cutting and herbicide treatment on nutrient budgets in the Hubbard Brook watershed-ecosystem. Ecological Monographs 40: 23–47

    Google Scholar 

  • Likens, G.E., F.H. Bormann, R.S. Pierce, J.S. Eaton & N.M. Johnson (1977) Biogeochemistry of a forested ecosystem. Springer-Verlag, New York, Inc.

  • Likens, G.E., F.H. Bormann, R.S. Pierce & J.S. Eaton (1985) The Hubbard Brook Valley. In: G.E. Likens (Ed) An Ecosystem Approach to Aquatic Ecology. Mirror Lake and its Environment (pp. 9–39). Springer-Verlag, New York, Inc.

  • Likens, G.E., F.H. Bormann, R.S. Pierce & W.A. Reiners (1978) Recovery of a deforested ecosystem. Science 199: 492–496

    Google Scholar 

  • Martin, C.W., D.S. Noel & C.A. Federer (1984) Effects of forest clearcutting in New England on stream chemistry. Journal of Environmental Quality 13: 204–120

    Google Scholar 

  • Martin, C.W., R.S. Pierce, G.E. Likens & F.H. Bormann (1986) Clearcutting affects stream chemistry in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. USDA Forest Service, Northeastern Forest Experiment Station, Research Paper NE-579

  • Matzner, E. & B. Ulrich (1985) Implications for the chemical soil conditions for forest decline (1985) Experientia 41: 578–584

    Google Scholar 

  • Melillo, J.M. (1977) Mineralization of nitrogen in northern forest ecosystems. Ph.D. Thesis, Yale University

  • Nodvin, S.C. (1983) Effects of disturbance on decomposition processes and on sulfur cycling in the northern hardwood forest. Ph.D. thesis, Cornell University

  • Nodvin, S.C., C.T. Driscoll & G.E. Likens (1986a) Simple partitioning of anions and dissolved organic carbon in a forest soil. Soil Science 142: 27–35

    Google Scholar 

  • Nodvin, S.C., C.T. Driscoll & G.E. Likens (1986b) The effect of pH on sulfate adsorption in a forest soil. Soil Science 142: 69–75

    Google Scholar 

  • Noggle, J.C. (1966) Ionic balance and growth of sixteen plant species. Soil Science Society of America Proceedings 30: 763–766

    Google Scholar 

  • Parfitt, R.L. (1978) Anion adsorption by soils and soil mineral. Advances in Agronomy 30: 1–50

    Google Scholar 

  • Rascher, C.M., C.T. Driscoll & N.E. Peters (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

    Google Scholar 

  • Raven, J.A. & F.A. Smith (1974) Significance of hydrogen ion transport in plant cells. Canadian Journal of Botany 52: 1035–1048

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith, W.H., F.H. Bormann & G.E. Likens (1968) Response of chemoautotrophic nitrifiers to forest cutting. Soil Science 106: 471–473

    Google Scholar 

  • Tabatabai, M.A. & W.A. Dick (1983) Simultaneous determination of nitrate, chloride, sulfate, and phosphate in natural waters by ion chromatography. Journal of Environmental Quality 12: 209–213

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. of Geological Sciences, University of Maine, 04469, Orono, ME, USA

    S. C. Nodvin

  2. Dept. of Civil Engineering, Syracuse University, 13244, Syracuse, NY, USA

    C. T. Driscoll

  3. Institute of Ecosystem Studies, The NY Botanical Garden, 12545, Millbrook, NY, USA

    G. E. Likens

Authors
  1. S. C. Nodvin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. C. T. Driscoll
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. G. E. Likens
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Nodvin, S.C., Driscoll, C.T. & Likens, G.E. Soil processes and sulfate loss at the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest. Biogeochemistry 5, 185–199 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02180227

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02180227

Key words

Search

Navigation