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Atmospheric Sulfur Deposition to Agricultural Land in Northeastern Ohio
Author(s) -
Morra M. J.,
Dick W. A.
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
journal of environmental quality
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.888
H-Index - 171
eISSN - 1537-2537
pISSN - 0047-2425
DOI - 10.2134/jeq1988.00472425001700020028x
Subject(s) - lysimeter , deposition (geology) , precipitation , environmental science , acid rain , environmental chemistry , surface runoff , sulfur , chemistry , hydrology (agriculture) , soil water , soil science , meteorology , geology , ecology , paleontology , physics , geotechnical engineering , organic chemistry , sediment , biology
In certain forms, S is an important acid‐forming substance deposited from the atmosphere to the earth's surface. Controversy surrounds estimates of total S deposition because of an inability to accurately measure S in dry deposition (particulate fallout and gaseous sorption). In a field experiment in northeastern Ohio, the amount of S in dry deposition was determined over a 3‐yr period using 20 lysimeters (4.8 m by 1.7 m) cropped with soybean [ Glycine max (L.) Merr.]. Two treatments consisting of tillage (conventional or no‐tillage) and elemental S addition (0 or 50 kg ha −1 ) were applied to the lysimeters. Sulfur inputs to the lysimeters as precipitation and agricultural amendments and S outputs, as runoff and leachate waters, were determined using ion chromatography or alkaline oxidation techniques. The net S output (total outputs minus measured inputs) was considered to equal dry deposition. Precipitation and agricultural amendment inputs of S were 10.2 and 3.8 kg ha −1 yr −1 , respectively. In comparison, S in dry deposition ranged from 14 to 26 kg ha −1 yr −1 for the conventional tilled treatment and from 25 to 39 kg ha −1 yr −1 for the no‐tilled treatment, with the upper values of these ranges considered most accurate. Dry deposition is clearly as important as precipitation in contributing to the total S load at this location. A sulfur dry deposition estimate of only 15 kg ha −1 yr −1 was made based on average deposition velocity and ambient SO 2 levels. Total deposition models, which rely on dry deposition estimates obtained by the use of SO 2 concentrations and an average deposition velocity, may yield inaccurate values of total S additions to the earth's surface.