Title

Does Elevated Nitrogen and Sulfur Deposition Lead to Net Base Cation Losses in Northern New England Forest Soils?

Investigators

Ivan J. Fernandez, Principal Investigator; University of Maine, OronoFollow
Stephen A. Norton, Co-Principal Investigator; University of Maine, OronoFollow
Jeffrey Kahl, Co-Principal Investigator; University of Maine, Orono
Lindsey E. Rustad, Co-Principal Investigator; University of Maine, Orono

Additional Participants

Graduate Student

Jennifer Evans, soil sampling
Brian Pellerin, field sampling

Undergraduate Student

Beth Haines, laboratory staff
Laura Morris, laboratory staff
Jessica Tisdale, laboratory staff
Geoffrey Shaw, laboratory staff
Scott Martin, field crew member
Randy Hill, field crew member
Jessica Sargent-Michaud, field crew member
Kristen Ware, field crew member

Project Period

October 15, 1997-July 31, 2000

Level of Access

Open-Access Report

Grant Number

9615199

Submission Date

8-10-2000

Abstract

The aims of this research are to continue treatment and monitoring of a paired watershed experiment at Bear Brook in northern Maine, with an emphasis on changes in soil base cations, particularly calcium. Base cation depletion is well-recognised as a potential problem in soils that have been subjected to acidic N deposition but few data exist from well-controlled, long-term experiments. The Bear Brook watershed has been periodically treated with ammonium sulfate since the fall of 1989 and is believed to be approaching N saturation. Since 1993 the relationship between base cations and strong acid anions has changed, such that labile Ca and Mg may be depleted in the soils as Al losses increase. Continued monitoring will allow tests of a series of hypotheses about controls and mechanisms of cation retention and leaching in temperate forest soils.

Rights and Access Note

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Recommended Citation

Fernandez, Ivan J.; Norton, Stephen A.; Kahl, Jeffrey; and Rustad, Lindsey E., "Does Elevated Nitrogen and Sulfur Deposition Lead to Net Base Cation Losses in Northern New England Forest Soils?" (2000). University of Maine Office of Research Administration: Grant Reports. 204.
https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/orsp_reports/204