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Effect of Sulfate on Ionic Transport and Balance in a Slightly Acidic Forest Soil¹

ABSTRACT

Sulfate (CaSO₄) was percolated at low (1.4 mg S L^–1) and high (60.8 mg S L^–1) concentrations, in a solution of composition equivalent to that of the canopy drip under beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) forests, through undisturbed columns of a slightly acid soil (Terra Fusca Rendzina or Lithic Rendoll). Concentrations of Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, NO^-₃, and probably HCO^-₃ increased and of K decreased in the percolates. Decomposition of soil organic matter caused a significant production and subsequent leaching loss of 1.0 mmol_c m² of NO^-₃ during the experimental period of 156 d. Sulfate was released by the soil during the phase of low SO^2-₄ addition but was retained during the phase of high SO^2-₄ addition. Production of NO^-₃ and probably HCO^-₃, retention and release of SO^2-₄, and the release of cations involved a significant amount of production/consumption of protons in the soil. Calcium (II) and Mg²⁺ were leached from the soil but K⁺ was retained. Breakthrough curves showed peaks, usually wide, for cations when about two pore volumes of solutions had been replaced. Sulfate behaved as a reactive ion in this soil and its transport could be described by a solute transport model using suitable parameters (adsorption isotherms, apparent diffusion coefficients, bulk density, and water content), which were obtained from independent studies.

¹ Contribution from the Institute of Soil Science and Forest Nutrition, Buesgenweg 2, D-34 Goettingen, West Germany. This research was supported by the Fulbright Commission and the German Research Foundation.

² Principal Research Scientist, Div. of Forest Research, CSIRO, P.O. Box 4008, Canberra, ACT 2600, Australia; Professor, Dep. of Forestry, Southern Illinois Univ., Carbondale, IL 62901; and Research Soil Scientist, Inst. of Soil Sci. and Forest Nutrition, Univ. of Goettingen, Buesgenweg 2, 34 Goettingen, West Germany.

Received for publication November 16, 1984.