Sulfur Cycling in Five Forest Ecosystems

Document Type

Article

Journal/Book Title/Conference

Water, Air, Soil and Polution

Volume

30

Issue

3-4

Publisher

Springer Verlag

Publication Date

1986

Keywords

sulfur cycling, forest ecosystems

First Page

965

Last Page

979

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.

Comments

Originally published by Springer Verlag. Abstract and limited preview available through remote link. Subscription required to access article fulltext.

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