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Estimating Chemical Exchange between Atmospheric Deposition and Forest Canopy in Guizhou, China
Author(s) -
Li Wei,
Gao Fang,
Liao Xueqin
Publication year - 2013
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/jeq2012.0308
Subject(s) - throughfall , canopy , environmental science , tree canopy , deposition (geology) , leaching (pedology) , precipitation , environmental chemistry , forest ecology , acid rain , chemistry , ecosystem , ecology , soil science , soil water , geography , geology , meteorology , paleontology , organic chemistry , sediment , biology
To evaluate the effects of atmospheric deposition on forest ecosystems, wet‐only precipitation and throughfall samples were collected in two forest types (Masson pine [ Pinus massoniana Lamb.] forests and mixed conifer and broadleaf forests) in the Longli forest in the Guizhou province of southwestern China for a period of 21 successive months from April 2007 to December 2008. The pH and chemical components of precipitation and throughfall were analyzed. In addition, the canopy budget model was applied to distinguish between in‐canopy and atmospheric sources of chemical compounds. Canopy leaching and total potentially acidifying deposition fluxes were calculated. The results showed that the average pH and the concentration of ions in throughfall were higher than those in precipitation, with the exception of the NH 4 + concentration. Dry deposition of S and N accumulated more in Masson pine forests than in mixed conifer and broadleaf forests. Canopy leaching was the most significant source of base cations in forest throughfall, which was higher in the mixed forests than in the coniferous forests. Anions in throughfall deposition in Masson pine forests exceeded those in the mixed forests. Higher total potentially acidifying deposition fluxes reflected the more effective amounts of acid delivered to Masson pine forests compared with mixed conifer and broadleaf forests. In addition, acid deposition induced the leaching and loss of nutrient ions such as Mg 2+ , K + , and Ca 2+ . Although the trees of the studied areas have not shown any symptoms of cation loss, a potentially harmful influence was engendered by atmospheric deposition in the two forest types in the Longli area.