Influence of dolomite lime on leaching and storage of C, N and S in a Spodosol under Norway spruce ( Picea abies (L.) Karst.)

• Published in: Forest ecology and management Vol. 146; no. 1; pp. 55 - 73
• Main Authors: Ingvar Nilsson, S, Andersson, Stefan, Valeur, Inger, Persson, Tryggve, Bergholm, Johan, Wirén, Anders
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01-06-2001; Elsevier
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; CO 2 respiration; DOC; DON; DOS; Forest liming; Forestry; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General forest ecology; Generalities. Production, biomass. Quality of wood and forest products. General forest ecology; Hydrophilic compounds; Hydrophobic compounds; N and S mineralisation; NH 4; NO 3; Norway spruce; Picea abies; SO 42; Spodosol; Sweden; Scandinavia; Sweden; Europe; DON; CO 2 respiration; N and S mineralisation; SO 4 2; DOS; Spodosol; Forest liming; NH 4; Norway spruce; NO 3; Hydrophobic compounds; DOC; Hydrophilic compounds; Organic carbon; Organic matter; Dolomite; Forest soil; Inorganic element; Liming amendment; Calcium Carbonates; Mineralization; Softwood forest tree; Gymnospermae; Hydrophilic compound; Organic nitrogen; Forest stand; Treatment efficiency; Hydrophobic compound; Biogeochemical cycle; Nitrogen; Leaching; Carbon cycle; Nitrogen cycle; Storage; Nutrient; Coniferales; Spermatophyta; Respiration; Picea abies; Spodosols
• ISSN: 0378-1127; 1872-7042
• DOI: 10.1016/S0378-1127(00)00452-7

Dolomite lime (8750
kg
ha
−1) was applied in a replicated field experiment (
n=4) in a Norway spruce stand in southern Sweden (56°24′N, 13°00′E). The soil was a Typic Haplorthod. Soil pH and effective base saturation increased significantly in the forest floor and mineral soil 10 years after the lime treatment. The estimated C mineralisation rates (heterotrophic CO
2 respiration) in the forest floor were 1000 and 1800
kg C
ha
−1 per year in the control and lime treatment, respectively. No significant treatment effects were found on soil storage of C, although a decline in C storage was strongly indicated by significant declines in the C/N and C/S ratios in the Oe+Oa layer of the lime treatment (20.2 and 203, respectively) compared to the control (24.5 and 222). The S/N ratio was the same in the two treatments (0.11), indicating that N and S were mineralised in the same proportions in both treatments. Increasing concentrations of dissolved organic and inorganic C, N and S forms associated with the lime treatment were found at several soil depths. The most consistent effect of treatment, comprising both C, N and S, was found in the soil solution from the O layer (Oi+Oe+Oa) and at 15
cm depth in the mineral soil. The chemical composition of the dissolved organic matter changed with increasing soil depth. On a percentage basis, operationally defined hydrophilic compounds tended to increase, while hydrophobic compounds decreased significantly, indicating a selective adsorption of hydrophobic compounds, particularly in the B horizon. Hydrophilic compounds tended to have a lower C/N ratio than hydrophobic compounds. This difference was statistically significant at the 30 and 50
cm soil depth in the control treatment. Changes in the chemical composition related to the lime treatment could not be shown. Estimates of the adsorption in the B horizon of dissolved components from the forest floor (annual water percolation 400
mm) showed that the adsorption of DOC and DON was higher in the lime treatment (202
kg C
ha
−1 per year and 7.6
kg N
ha
−1 per year) than in the control treatment (128 kg C
ha
−1 per year and 3.4
kg N
ha
−1 per year) which accounted for 83–90% of the DOC and DON leaching from the forest floor. The adsorption of DOS was only 31% (control) and 14% (lime), corresponding to 0.8 and 0.6
kg S
ha
−1 per year, respectively. The DOC leaching from the B horizon (at 50
cm depth) was equivalent to ca. 1.2% of the estimated annual heterotrophic CO
2 respiration, while the DOC adsorption was equivalent to 6–7% of the respiration.