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The Transfer of Chemical Elements within a Heath‐Ecosystem (Calluna vulgaris) in Northwest Germany
Author(s) -
Matzner E.,
Ulrich B.
Publication year - 1980
Publication title -
zeitschrift für pflanzenernährung und bodenkunde
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.644
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1522-2624
pISSN - 0044-3263
DOI - 10.1002/jpln.19801430608
Subject(s) - sink (geography) , calluna , ecosystem , humus , leaching (pedology) , chemistry , environmental chemistry , nutrient , plant litter , soil water , environmental science , ecology , soil science , ericaceae , geography , cartography , organic chemistry , biology
The purpose of this investigation was to describe the element budget of a heathland area in Northwest Germany by measuring the fluxes of elements within the ecosystem. The following fluxes were considered: input by precipitation, canopy‐drip, mineralisation, ion uptake, litterfall, output with seepage water. The elements H, Na, K, Ca, Mg, Mn, Fe, Al, S, P, CI, NO, NH, N org were analysed, the period of investigation was one year. The results demonstrate the high importance of deposited nutrients like N (especially No3), Ca and Mg for the element budget and the stability of a heath‐ecosystem. The internal turnover of K, Ca, Mg and Mn within the ecosystem mainly took place by leaching. No leaching was found for N, P, AI, Fe, S, CI, Na. For these elements litterfall was the dominant internal way of cycling. The humus layer was a sink for total‐N, NO, Ca, Mg, Mn, Fe and S. NO, Ca, Mg, Mn and S were removed from the percolating solution, while for Fe and especially N and Mn an inhibition of mineralisation was found. The element balance for the mineral soil showed that this part is a sink for Hand a source mainly for Al, Ca and Mg, less for K and Na. From the cation/anion balance of the storage changes in mineral soil the ecosystem‐internal H ion production was calculated as 0.4 keq per ha and year. It may be traced back to an uptake of NH, and dissociation of fulvic acids in the mineral soil. The results are discussed with respect to the development, stability and management of heath‐ecosystems.