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The relation between soil acidification and element cycling

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Abstract

Controversy about the contribution of acidic deposition to soil acidification partly arises from different concepts of soil acidification. Differentiating between actual and potential soil acidification has proved to be appropriate for properly identifying and quantifying the natural and anthropogenic sources of protons. Actual soil acidification is primarily manifested by leaching of cations from the soil, regulated by the mobility of major anions. Leaching of HCO3 − and RCOO− occurs naturally whereas leaching of NO3 − and SO4 2− is mainly caused by land use in agricultural soils and by acidic deposition in forest soils. Potential soil acidification is primarily due to accumulation of atmospherically derived N and S. This potential acid threat is partly realized by mineralization processes after the removal of vegetation.

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  1. Soil Survey Institute, P.O. Box 98, 6700, AB Wageningen, The Netherlands

    W. De Vries & A. Breeuwsma

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  1. W. De Vries
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  2. A. Breeuwsma
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De Vries, W., Breeuwsma, A. The relation between soil acidification and element cycling. Water Air Soil Pollut 35, 293–310 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00290937

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00290937

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