Simulated effects of atmospheric sulfur deposition on nutrient cycling in a mixed deciduous forest. Johnson, D Biogeochemistry, 1993.
Simulated effects of atmospheric sulfur deposition on nutrient cycling in a mixed deciduous forest. [pdf]Paper  abstract   bibtex   
The effects of three S deposition scenarios - 50 percent reduction, no change, and 100 percent increase - on the cycles of N, P, S, K, Ca, and Mg in a mixed deciduous forest at Coweeta, North Carolina, were simulated using the Nutrient Cycling model (NuCM). Both the simulations and the measured 20-year trends in streamwater SO concentration suggest that the ecosystem is slowly becoming S saturated. The streamwater data suggest S saturation is occurring at a slower rate than indicated by the simulations, perhaps because of underestimation of organic S retention in the model. Both the simulations and field data indicated substantial declines in exchangeable bases in A and BA soil horizons, primarily due to vegetation uptake. Varying S deposition had very little effect upon simulated vegetation growth, nutrient uptake, or N cycling. Varying S deposition strongly affected simulated CA, Mg, K, and P leaching but caused little change in soil exchangeable pools of CA, K, or P because soil exchangeable pools were large relative to fluxes. The 100 percent increased S deposition scenario caused increasing peaks in simulated Al concentrations in A horizons after 25 years as a result of large seasonal pulses of SO and lowered base saturation. Simulated soil solution Al concentrations remained well below toxicity thresholds for selected tree species at the site.

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