Understanding how management can prevent degradation of the structurally fragile soils of the Amazonian periphery.

The dynamics and responses to mulching management processes, which affect sustainability in tropical agroecosystems, remain poorly understood. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate and distinguish the short-and long-term effects of mulch of leguminous biomass on fertility of a tropical soil enriched with calcium. This experiment was conducted using the treatments: Long-term mulching (LTM) consisted of planting without mulch in 2019 in soil that had been mulched for six years previously, while short-term mulching (STM) consisted of planting without mulch for six years and with mulch only in 2019. LTM + STM consisted of planting in mulched soil for seven years (from 2013 to 2019), while LTM + synthetic nitrogen (LTM + sN) consisted of the LTM treatment with the addition of 150 kg N ha-1. The remaining treatments were STM + sN; LTM + STM + sN; bare soil with sN, and bare soil without sN as control. In areas with LTM the interactions between products derived from biomass, sN, and Ca resulted in higher total SOC and BS, while STM maintained soil moisture, decreased penetration resistance, and enhanced N uptake providing biological nitrogen able to replace sN for maize nutrition. The positive effects of short- and long-term mulching were cumulative as they increased accumulated N by maize in 163%, and maize grain yield by 125% (4.77-10.78 Mg ha-1) compared to cultivation with sN without mulch. Our results showed that interactions between continuos mulch of leguminous biomass, Ca and sN prevent degradation of agricultural land in Amazonian conditions. Therefore, this combination must be recommended to prevent Amazonian soil management, which in turn reduces the risk of new deforestation in Amazonian periphery.

Four decades of regional wet deposition, local bulk deposition, and stream-water chemistry show the influence of nearby land use on forested streams in Central Appalachia.

Hydrologic monitoring began on two headwater streams (<1 km2) on the University of Kentucky's Robinson Forest in 1971. We evaluated stream-water (1974-2013) and bulk-deposition (wet + dust) (1984-2013) chemistry in the context of regional wet-deposition patterns that showed decreases in both sulfate and nitrate concentrations as well as proximal surface-mine expansion. Decadal time steps (1974-83, 1984-93, 1994-2003, 2004-2013) were used to quantify change. Comparison of the first two decades showed similarly decreased sulfate (minimum flow-adjusted annual-mean concentration of ≈13.5 mg/L in 1982 to 8.8 mg/L in 1992) and increased pH (6.6-6.8) in both streams, reflecting contemporaneous changes in both bulk and wet deposition. In contrast, concentrations of nitrate (0.14 to >0.25 mg/L) and base cations increased between these two decades, coinciding with expansion of surface mining between 1985 and 1995. In 2004, stream-water pH (6.7 in 2004), sulfate (9.2 mg/L), and nitrate (>0.11 mg/L) were similar to 1982, despite wet-deposition concentrations being lower. Base-cation concentrations were higher in the stream adjacent to ongoing surface mining relative to the stream situated near the middle of the experimental forest. However, pH decreased to approximately 5.7 by 2013 for both streams, which, combined with a shift in dominant cations from calcium to magnesium and potassium, indicates that the soil-buffering capacity of this landscape has been exceeded. Ratios of bulk deposition and stream-water concentrations indicate enrichment of sulfate (1.7-25.2) and cations (0.5-64.8), but not nitrogen (0.1-5.6), indicating that the Forest is not nitrogen saturated and that ongoing changes in water-quality are sulfate driven. When concentrations were adjusted to account for changes in streamflow (climate) over the 4 decades, external influences (land management/regulation) explained most change. The amount and direction of change differed among constituents, both between consecutive decades and between the first and last decades, reflecting the influence of localized surface mining even as regional wet deposition continued to improve due to the Clean Air Act. The implication is that localized stressors have the potential to out-pace the benefits of national environmental policies for communities that depend on local water-resources in similar environments.

Contribution of modified P-enriched biochar on pH buffering capacity of acidic soil.

Biochar can directly hold cations in soil because of the negative charge that exists on its surfaces. Besides, improving soil cation exchange capacity, the negative charges on biochar surfaces can buffer acid soil by protonation and deprotonation mechanisms. Moreover, biochar ameliorates soil acidity due to the presence of oxides, carbonates, and hydroxides of its basic cations (Ca, Na, K, and Mg). Both biochar surface functional group and basic cation concentrations can be altered by modification with chemical agents which can affect its soil pH buffering capacity. However, the impact of modified biochar application on soil pH buffering capacity is still scanty. This study investigated the pH buffering capacity of acidic soil amended with three P-enriched modified Douglas fir biochars and compared this buffering capacity to amendment with untreated Douglas fir biochar. These three P-enriched biochars, were prepared by treating Douglas fir biochar (DFB), respectively, with: 1) anhydrous calcium chloride (CaCl2) and potassium phosphate monobasic (KH2PO4), 2) calcium carbonate (CaCO3) and diammonium phosphate {(NH4)2HPO4} and 3) an aqueous solution of magnesium sulfate (MgSO4), potassium hydroxide (KOH) and potassium phosphate monobasic (KH2PO4). The three P-enriched biochars were designated as CCPP, CAPP and MSPP, respectively. The soil pH buffering abilities were largely dependent on the added biochar's alkalinity and ash contents. The residual soil CEC was highly correlated (r ≥ 0.9), with the soil buffering capacity. Both alkalinity and pH buffering capacity improved following the order CCAP > CCPP > MSPP > DFB, while residual soil CEC followed the order CAPP > MSPP > CCPP > DFB. The pH buffering capacity of the soil after amendments with 10% CAPP, CCPP MSPP and BFB rose by 84.8, 58.3, 3.0 and 2.5%, respectively. Whereas MSPP had higher concentrations of K+ and Mg2+, greater concentrations of Ca2+ were present in CCAP and CCPP than MSPP. So, Ca2+ concentrations in biochar exerts a greater influence on alkalinity and buffering capacity than Mg2+ and K+ because of 1) its smaller effective hydration radius and larger charge density. 2) calcium hydroxide has a greater water solubility than magnesium hydroxide providing more available base. Since pH buffering capacity depends on cation exchange sites, soil additives containing Ca2+ are prone to create greater impacts than Mg2+ and K+ additives.

Comparing ameliorative effects of biomass ash and alkaline slag on an acidic Ultisol under artificial Masson pine: A field experiment.

Forest soil acidification caused by acid deposition is a serious threat to the forest ecosystem. To investigate the liming effects of biomass ash (BA) and alkaline slag (AS) on the acidic topsoil and subsoil, a three-year field experiment under artificial Masson pine was conducted at Langxi, Anhui province in Southern China. The surface application of BA and AS significantly increased the soil pH, and thus decreased exchangeable acidity and active Al in the topsoil. Soil exchangeable Ca2+ and Mg2+ in topsoil were significantly increased by the surface application of BA and AS, while an increase in soil exchangeable K+ was only observed in BA treatments. The soil acidity and active Al in subsoil were decreased by the surface application of AS. Compared with the control, soluble monomeric and exchangeable Al in the subsoil was decreased by 38.0% and 29.4% after 3 years of AS surface application. There was a minimal effect on soluble monomeric and exchangeable Al after the application of BA. The soil exchangeable Ca2+ and Mg2+ in the subsoil increased respectively by 54% and 141% after surface application of 10 t ha-1 AS. The decrease of soil active Al and increase of base cations in subsoil were mainly attributed to the high migration capacity of base cations in AS. In conclusion, the effect of surface application of AS was superior to BA in ameliorating soil acidity and alleviating soil Al toxicity in the subsoil of this Ultisol.

Ecophysiological responses of Jatropha curcas L. seedlings to simulated acid rain under different soil types.

Acid rain is a global environmental problem. Acid rain can affect plants directly by damaging the leaves and indirectly by soil acidifying. Many studies have been conducted to investigate the impacts of acid rain on plant under a single soil type. However, there is little information on the effect of acid rain on plant under different soil types. Jatropha curcas L. is an energy plant widely distributed in acid rain pollution area with various soil types. In this study, we investigated the effects of acid rain (pH2.5, pH3.5, pH4.5, pH5.6) on the growth, physiology, nutrient elements and bacterial community of J. curcas seedlings under different soil types [Red soils (RS), Yellow soils (YS), Yellow-brown soils (YBS), and Purplish soils (PS)]. Acid rain and soil types significantly influence the growth of J. curcas seedlings, and there was a significant interaction between acid rain and soil types. Acid rain (pH 4.5) was beneficial to the growth of J. curcas seedlings, whereas acid rain (pH 2.5 or 3.5) inhibited growth of J. curcas seedlings. The growth of J. curcas seedlings could resist the stress of acid rain by scavenging and detoxification of active oxygen species in leaves. Combined with the increase in relative growth rate of seedlings treated with simulated acid rain at pH 4.5, we inferred that K can stimulate the growth of seedlings. The lower soil pH, cation exchange capacity and base saturation had stronger inhibitory effects on growth of J. curcas seedlings. YBS and PS were beneficial for growth of J. curcas seedlings by higher buffering capacity under acid rain treatments. The phylum Proteobacteria was found to predominate in rhizosphere soils. YBS was favorable to support Proteobacteria growth and reproduction. The redundancy analysis showed that the Cyanobacteria were favorable to growth of J. curcas seedlings.

Seedling survival responses to conspecific density, soil nutrients, and irradiance vary with age in a tropical forest.

Understanding processes that promote species coexistence is integral to diversity maintenance. In hyperdiverse tropical forests, local conspecific density (LCD) and light are influential to woody seedling recruitment and soil nutrients are often limiting, yet the simultaneous effects of these factors on seedling survival across time remain unknown. We fit species- and age-specific models to census and resource data of seedlings of 68 woody species from a Costa Rican wet tropical forest. In decreasing order of prevalence, seedling survivorship was related to LCD, soil base cations, irradiance, nitrogen, and phosphorus. Species-specific responses to factors did not covary, providing evidence that species life history strategies have not converged to one continuum of high-surviving stress tolerant to low-surviving stress intolerant species. Survival responses to all factors varied over the average seedling's lifetime, indicating seedling requirements change with age and conclusions drawn about processes important to species coexistence depend on temporal resolution.

Acid deposition in the Athabasca Oil Sands Region: a policy perspective.

Industrial emissions of sulphur (S) and nitrogen (N) to the atmosphere associated with the oil sands industry in north-eastern Alberta are of interest as they represent the largest localized source in Canada (with potential for future growth) and the region features acid-sensitive upland terrain. Existing emission management policy for the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo, where the industry is located, is based on a time-to-effect approach that relies on dynamic model simulations of temporal changes in chemistry and features highly protective chemical criteria. In practice, the policy is difficult to implement and it is unlikely that a scientifically defensible estimate of acidification risk can be put forward due to the limitations primarily associated with issues of scale, chemical endpoint designation (selection of chemical limit for ecosystem protection from acidification) and data availability. A more implementable approach would use a steady-state critical load (CL) assessment approach to identify at-risk areas. The CL assessment would consider areas of elevated acid deposition associated with oil sands emissions rather than targeted political jurisdictions. Dynamic models should only be (strategically) used where acidification risk is identified via CL analysis, in order to characterize the potential for acidification-induced changes that can be detrimental to sensitive biota within the lifespan of the industry.

Soil, climate, and landscape drivers of base cation concentrations in green stormwater infrastructure soils.

Deicing practices and infrastructure weathering can impact plants, soil, and water quality through the input and transport of base cations. Base cation accumulation in green stormwater infrastructure (GSI) soils has the potential to decrease soil infiltration rates and plant water uptake or to promote leaching of metals and nutrients. To understand base cation retention in GSI soils and its drivers, we sampled 14 GSI soils of different age, contributing areas, and infiltration areas, across 3 years. We hypothesized that soil, climate, and landscape drivers explain the spatial and temporal variability of GSI soil base cation concentrations. Sodium (Na), Calcium (Ca), and Magnesium (Mg) concentrations in GSI soils were higher than in reference soils, while Ca and Mg were similar to an urban floodplain soil. Neither the contributing area, contributing impervious area, nor their ratios to infiltration area predicted base cation concentrations. Age predicted the spatial variability of Potassium (K) concentrations. Ca and Mg were moderately predicted by sand and silt, while clay predicted Mg, and sand predicted K. However, no soil characteristics predicted Na concentrations. A subset of sites had elevated Na in Fall 2019, which followed a winter with many freezing events and higher-than-average deicer salt application. K in sites with elevated Na was lower than in non-elevated sites, suggesting that transient spikes of Na driven by deicer salt decreased the ability of GSI soils to accumulate K. These findings demonstrate the large variability of GSI soil base cation concentrations and the relative importance of soil, climate, and landscape drivers of base cation dynamics. High variability in GSI soil data is commonly observed and further research is needed to reduce uncertainties for modeling studies and design. Improved understanding of how GSI soil properties evolve over time, and their relation to GSI performance, will benefit GSI design and maintenance practices.

Widespread chemical dilution of streams continues as long-term effects of acidic deposition slowly reverse.

Studies of recovery from acidic deposition have focused on reversal of acidification and its associated effects, but as recovery proceeds slowly, chemical dilution of surface waters is emerging as a key factor in the recovery process that has significant chemical and biological implications. This investigation uses long-term chemical records from 130 streams in the Adirondack region of New York, USA, to evaluate the role of ongoing decreases in conductance, an index of dilution, in the recovery of these streams. Stream chemistry data spanning up to 40 years (1980s-2022) showed that acid-neutralizing capacity has increased in 92% of randomly selected streams, but that harmful levels of acidification still occur in 37% of these streams. Conductance and Ca2+ concentrations decreased in 79% of streams, and SO42- concentrations in streams continued to show strong decreases but remained several times higher than concentrations in precipitation. These changes were ongoing through 2022 even though acidic deposition levels were approaching those estimated for pre-industrialization. Further dilution is continuing through ongoing decreases in stream SO42-. Nevertheless, Ca2+ continued to be leached from soils by SO42-, organic acids and NO3-, limiting the replenishment of available soil Ca2+, a prerequisite to stem further dilution of stream water.

Carbon and nutrient pools and fluxes in unmanaged mountain Norway spruce forests, and losses after natural tree dieback.

Forest areas infected by insects are increasing in Europe and North America due to accelerating climate change. A 2000-2020 mass budget study on major elements (C, N, P, Ca, Mg, K) in the atmosphere-plant-soil-water systems of two unmanaged catchments enabled us to evaluate changes in pools and fluxes related to tree dieback and long-term accumulation/losses during the post-glacial period. A bark-beetle outbreak killed >75 % of all trees in a mature mountain spruce forest in one catchment and all dead biomass was left on site. A similar forest in a nearby catchment was only marginally affected. We observed that: (1) the long-term (millennial) C and N accumulation in soils averaged 10-22 and 0.5-1.1 kg ha-1 yr-1, respectively, while losses of Ca, Mg, and K from soils ranged from 0.1 to 2.6 kg ha-1 yr-1. (2) Only <0.8 % and <1.5 % of the respective total C and N fluxes entering the soil annually from vegetation were permanently stored in soils. (3) The post-disturbance decomposition of dead tree biomass reduced vegetation element pools from 27 % (C) to 73 % (P) between 2004 and 2019. (4) Tree dieback decreased net atmospheric element inputs to the impacted catchment, and increased the leaching of all elements and gaseous losses of C (∼2.3 t ha-1 yr-1) and N (∼14 kg ha-1 yr-1). The disturbed catchment became a net C source, but ∼50 % of the N released from dead biomass accumulated in soils. (5) Despite the severe forest disturbance, the dissolved losses of Ca and Mg represented 52-58 % of their leaching from intact stands during the peaking atmospheric acidification from 1970 to 1990. (6) Disturbance-related net leaching of P, Ca, Mg, and K were 4, 69, 16, and 114 kg ha-1, respectively, which represented 7-38 % of the losses potentially related to sanitary logging and subsequent removal of the aboveground tree biomass.

Effects of Exponential N Application on Soil Exchangeable Base Cations and the Growth and Nutrient Contents of Clonal Chinese Fir Seedlings.

Nitrogen (N) is an essential macronutrient for plant function and growth and a key component of amino acids, which form the building blocks of plant proteins and enzymes. However, misuse and overuse of N can have many negative impacts on the ecosystem, such as reducing soil exchangeable base cations (BCs) and causing soil acidification. In this research, we evaluated clonal Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata (Lamb.) Hook) seedlings grown with exponentially increasing N fertilization (0, 0.5, 1, 2 g N seedling-1) for a 100-day trial in a greenhouse. The growth of seedlings, their nutrient contents, and soil exchangeable cations were measured. We found that N addition significantly increased plant growth and N content but decreased phosphorous (P) and potassium (K) contents in plant seedlings. The high nitrogen (2 g N seedling-1) treated seedlings showed a negative effect on growth, indicating that excessive nitrogen application caused damage to the seedlings. Soil pH, soil exchangeable base cations (BCs), soil total exchangeable bases (TEB), soil cation exchange capacity (CEC), and soil base saturation (BS) significantly decreased following N application. Our results implied that exponential fertilization resulted in soil acidification and degradation of soil capacity for supplying nutrient cations to the soil solution for plant uptake. In addition, the analysis of plants and BCs revealed that Na+ is an important base cation for BCs and for plant growth in nitrogen-induced acidified soils. Our results provide scientific insights for nitrogen application in seedling cultivation in soils and for further studies on the relationship between BCs and plant growth to result in high-quality seedlings while minimizing fertilizer input and mitigating potential soil pollution.

Characteristics and acidic soil amelioration effects of biochar derived from a typical halophyte Salicornia europaea L. (common glasswort).

Glycophyte biomass - derived biochars have proven to be effective in the amelioration of acidic soil. However, there is scarce information on the characteristics and soil amelioration effects of halophyte-derived biochars. In this study, a typical halophyte Salicornia europaea, which is mainly distributed in the saline soils and salt-lake shores of China, and a glycophyte Zea mays, which is widely planted in the north of China, were selected to produce biochars with a pyrolysis process at 500 °C for 2 h. S. europaea-derived and Z. mays-derived biochars were characterized in elemental content, pores, surface area, and surface functional groups, and then by using a pot experiment their potential utilizable value as acidic soil conditioner was evaluated. The results showed that compared with Z. mays-derived biochar, S. europaea-derived biochar displayed higher pH, ash contents, base cations (K+, Ca2+, Na+, and Mg2+) contents and exhibited more larger surface area and pore volume than Z. mays-derived biochar. Both biochars had abundant oxygen-containing functional groups. Upon treating the acidic soil, the pH of acidic soil was increased by 0.98, 2.76, and 3.36 units after the addition of 1%, 2%, and 4% S. europaea-derived biochar, while it was increased only by 0.10, 0.22, and 0.56 units at 1%, 2%, and 4% Z. mays-derived biochar. High alkalinity in S. europaea-derived biochar was the main reason for the increase of pH value and base cations in acidic soil. Thus, application of halophyte biochar such as S. europaea-derived biochar is an alternative method for the amelioration of acidic soils.

Combined Multivariate Statistical Techniques and Water Quality Index (WQI) to Evaluate Spatial Variation in Water Quality.

In present study, Water Quality Index (WQI) has been assessed of the Rawal Lake which is a major source of drinking water for people in the Federal Capital, Islamabad, and its adjacent city Rawalpindi in Pakistan. For this, the principal component analysis (PCA) and WQI were applied as an integrated approach to quantitatively explore difference based on spatial variation in 11 water quality parameters of the five major feeding tributaries of the Rawal Lake, Pakistan. The results of temperature in water, total dissolved solids, pH, electrical conductivity, chlorides and sulfates were well within the allowable World Health Organisation's (WHO) limits. However, the heavy metals like cadmium and lead were above permissible limits by the WHO in tributaries of Bari Imam and Rumli. Moreover, this has been proven by the Pearson correlation which suggested strong positive correlation (0.910*) between lead and cadmium. The results of present study were subjected to statistical analysis, i.e., PCA which gave three major factors contributing 96.5% of the total variance. For factor 1, pH, TDS, alkalinity, chlorides, sulfates and zinc have highest factor loading values (>0.60) and presented that these parameters were among the most significant parameters of first factor. As per the WQI results, the water was categorised in two major classes indicating that water of Bari Imam and Rumli is highly contaminated with heavy metals and totally unsuitable for drinking purposes. Based on the results of the present study, it is suggested to make heavy metals consideration as an integrated component in future planning for maintaining water quality of the Rawal Lake and its tributaries.

[Assessment of Critical Loads of Nitrogen Deposition in Natural Ecosystems of China].

Excessive nitrogen (N) deposition causes a series of environmental problems, including biodiversity loss. Therefore, assessing current N deposition thresholds of natural ecosystems is critical for regional N management and pollution control. In this study, the critical loads of N deposition in mainland China were estimated using the steady-state mass balance method, and the spatial distribution of ecosystems that exceeded the critical load was evaluated. The results showed that areas with critical loads of N deposition higher than 56, in the range of 14-56, and lower than 14 kg·(hm2·a)-1 accounted for 6%, 67%, and 27% of that in China, respectively. The areas with higher critical loads of N deposition were mainly distributed in the eastern Tibetan Plateau, northeastern Inner Mongolia, and parts of south China. Lower critical loads of N deposition were mainly distributed in the western Tibetan Plateau, northwest China, and parts of southeast China. Moreover, the areas where N deposition exceeded the critical loads accounted for 21% of that in mainland China, being mainly distributed in southeast and northeast China. The exceedances of critical loads of N deposition in northeast China, northwest China, and the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau were generally lower than 14 kg·(hm2·a)-1. Therefore, the management and control of N in these areas that exceeded the critical load of deposition is more worthy of future attention.

Seasonal precipitation regulates magnitude and direction of the effect of nitrogen addition on net ecosystem CO2 exchange in saline-alkaline grassland of northern China.

Increased nitrogen (N) deposition and altered precipitation regimes have profound effects on carbon (C) flux in semi-arid grasslands. However, the interactive effects between N enrichment and precipitation alterations (both increasing and decreasing) on ecosystem CO2 fluxes and ecosystem resource use efficiency (water use efficiency (WUE) and carbon use efficiency (CUE)) remain unclear, particularly in saline-alkaline grasslands. A four-year (2018-2021) field manipulation experiment was conducted to investigate N enrichment and precipitation alterations (decreased and increased by 50 % of ambient precipitation) and their interactions on ecosystem CO2 fluxes (gross- ecosystem productivity (GEP), ecosystem respiration (ER), and net ecosystem CO2 exchange (NEE)), as well as their underlying regulatory mechanisms under severe salinity stress in northern China. Our results showed that N addition and precipitation alteration alone did not significantly affect the GEP, ER and NEE. While the interaction of N addition and increased precipitation over the four years significantly improved the mean GEP and NEE by 24.9 % and 15.9 %, respectively. The interactive effects of N addition and increased precipitation treatment significantly stimulated the mean value of WUE by 39.1 % compared with control, but had no significant effects on CUE over the four years. Based on the four-year experiment, the magnitude and direction of the effects of N addition on the NEE were related to seasonal precipitation. Nitrogen addition increased the NEE under increased precipitation and decreased it during extreme drought. Soil salinization (pH and base cations) could directly or indirectly affect GEP and NEE via plants productivity, plant communities, as well as ecosystem resource use efficiency (WUE and CUE) based on structural equation model. Our results address lacking investigations of ecosystem C flux in saline-alkaline grasslands, and highlight that precipitation regulates the magnitude and direction of N addition on NEE in saline-alkaline grasslands.

Soil acidification and loss of base cations in a subtropical agricultural watershed.

Soil acidification along with base cations loss degrades soil quality and is a major environmental problem, especially in agroecosystems with extensive nitrogen (N) fertilization. So far, the rates of proton (H+) production and real soil acidification (loss of base cations) remain unclear in subtropical agricultural watersheds. To assess the current status and future risk of soil acidification in subtropical red soil region of China, a two-year monitoring was conducted in a typical agricultural watershed with upland, paddy fields, and orchards where high N fertilizers are applied (320 kg N ha-1 yr-1). H+ production, neutralization and base cations losses were quantified based on the inputs (rainwater, inflow of water, and fertilizer) and outputs (outflow of water, groundwater drainage, and plant uptake) of major elements (K+, Ca2+, Na+, Mg2+, Al3+, NH4+, NO3-, SO42-, Cl-, and H+). The result showed that total H+ production in the watershed was 5152 molc ha-1 yr-1. N transformation was the most important H+ source (68%), followed by excess plant uptake of cations (25%) and H+ deposition (7%). Base cations exchange and weathering of minerals (3842 molc ha-1 yr-1) dominated H+ neutralization, followed by SO42- adsorption (1081 molc ha-1 yr-1), while H+ and Al3+ leaching amounted to 431 molc ha-1 yr-1, only. These results state clearly that despite significant soil acidification, the acidification of surface waters is minor, implying that soils have buffered substantially the net H+ addition. As a result of soil buffering, there was abundant loss of base cations, whose rate is significantly higher than the previously reported weathering rate of minerals in red soils (3842 vs 230-1080 molc ha-1 yr-1). This suggests that the pool of exchangeable base cations is being depleted in the watershed, increasing the vulnerability of the watershed, and posing a serious threat to future recovery of soils from acidification.

Are bog plant/lichen tissue concentrations of Ca, Mg, K, and P affected by fugitive dust released from oil sands development in the Fort McMurray region of Alberta?

Bogs are ombrotrophic, relying solely on atmospheric deposition for new inputs of elements. Increased element deposition through anthropogenic activities has the potential to alter nutrient availability, and hence ecosystem function, in bogs. Further, because of efficient element retention, bogs may function as effective monitors of element deposition. To assess the potential effects of particulate fugitive dust from oil sands development in Alberta, Canada, we quantified plant/lichen tissue Ca, Mg, K, and P concentrations in 6 bogs ranging from 12 to 77 km from the oil sands industrial center. Deposition of Ca and Mg, but not K or P, quantified using ion exchange resin collectors, to bogs decreased with distance from the oil sands industrial center. Concentrations of Ca and Mg, but not K or P, in tissues of lichens (Cladonia mitis, Evernia mesomorpha) and Sphagnum (S. capillifolium, S. fuscum) decreased with distance from the oil sands industrial center. Tissue Ca concentrations were positively correlated with growing season Ca and Mg deposition in all species except Vaccinium oxycoccos, Rhododendron groenlandicum, and Picea mariana; leaf Mg concentrations were positively correlated with growing season Mg deposition for all species except P. mariana. Tissue concentrations of K and P were not correlated with growing season K and P deposition. For each species, receptor modeling identified two distinct sources, one dominated by Ca and Mg, presumed to represent particulate fugitive dust from oil sands activities, and a second dominated by K and P, which may reflect tight internal cycling and upward translocation of K and P in peat and/or K and P deposition as particulates generated in wildfires. Increasing Ca2+ and Mg2+ deposition may acidify bog porewaters through cation exchange in peat.

Impact of tree species diversity on throughfall deposition in a young temperate forest plantation.

Throughfall deposition is an important pathway via which particles, aerosols and gases can move from the atmosphere to the forest floor, which can greatly impact forest biodiversity and functioning. Although throughfall deposition biochemistry has been well studied in forest ecosystems, less is known about how throughfall deposition is modified by tree species diversity. To disentangle the effects of tree species identity and diversity on throughfall deposition, we installed rain gauges in a 10-year-old tree diversity experiment. With these rain gauges, we monitored throughfall biweekly, and performed chemical analyses monthly for all the major ions (Na+, Cl-, SO42--S, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+, PO43--P, NO3--N and NH4+-N), for a period of one year. Based on these data, we analysed species identity (i.e. whether throughfall deposition depended on the tree species present in the overstorey), and diversity effects (i.e. whether throughfall deposition depended on tree species richness). We confirmed species identity effects on throughfall deposition. Presence of pine led to higher throughfall deposition of inorganic nitrogen, and lower amounts of phosphorus, calcium and magnesium reaching the forest floor. Additionally, species characteristics and stand structural characteristics, i.e. basal area and canopy cover, emerged as key factors driving throughfall deposition of sodium, chloride, nitrate, sulphate and potassium. Tree species diversity effects on throughfall deposition were also present, mostly via increased basal area and canopy cover, leading to increased throughfall deposition of inorganic nitrogen, sulphate, chloride, sodium and potassium. Our findings thus suggest that tree species diversity enhances throughfall deposition of most ions that we analysed, potentially increasing nutrient availability for below-canopy plant communities. Given that inorganic nitrogen and sulphur are major atmospheric pollutants, increased deposition in mixed plots might affect ecosystem functioning. Further research will be needed to determine the extent of this impact.

Stream bacterial diversity peaks at intermediate freshwater salinity and varies by salt type.

Anthropogenic freshwater salinization is an emerging and widespread water quality stressor that increases salt concentrations of freshwater, where specific upland land-uses produce distinct ionic profiles. In-situ studies find salinization in disturbed landscapes is correlated with declines in stream bacterial diversity, but cannot isolate the effects of salinization from multiple co-occurring stressors. By manipulating salt concentration and type in controlled microcosm studies, we identified direct and complex effects of freshwater salinization on bacterial diversity in the absence of other stressors common in field studies using chloride salts. Changes in both salt concentration and cation produced distinct bacterial communities. Bacterial richness, or the total number of amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) detected, increased at conductivities as low as 350 µS cm-1, which is opposite the observations from field studies. Richness remained elevated at conductivities as high as 1500 µS cm-1 in communities exposed to a mixture of Ca, Mg, and K chloride salts, but decreased in communities exposed to NaCl, revealing a classic subsidy-stress response. Exposure to different chloride salts at the same conductivity resulted in distinct bacterial community structure, further supporting that salt type modulates responses of bacterial communities to freshwater salinization. Community variability peaked at 125-350 µS cm-1 and was more similar at lower and upper conductivities suggesting possible shifts in deterministic vs. stochastic assembly mechanisms across freshwater salinity gradients. Based on these results, we hypothesize that modest freshwater salinization (125-350 µS cm-1) lessens hypo-osmotic stress, reducing the importance of salinity as an environmental filter at intermediate freshwater ranges but effects of higher salinities at the upper freshwater range differ based on salt type. Our results also support previous findings that ~300 µS cm-1 is a biological effect concentration and effective salt management strategies may need to consider variable effects of different salt types associated with land-use.

Striking a balance between N sources: Mitigating soil acidification and accumulation of phosphorous and heavy metals from manure.

Manure amendment has been shown to effectively prevent red soil (Ferralic Cambisol) acidification from chemical nitrogen (N) fertilization. However, information is lacking on how much manure is needed to mitigate acidification and maintain soil productivity while preventing accumulation of other nutrients and heavy metals from long-term inputs. This study determined the effects of various combinations of manure with urea-N on acidification and changes in soil P, K, and heavy metals in a 9-year maize field experiment in southern China. Treatments included chemical N, P and K fertilization only (NPKM0), and NPK plus swine manure, which supplied 20% (NPKM20), 40% (NPKM40), and 60% (NPKM60) of total N at 225 kg N ha-1 year-1. Soil pH, exchangeable acidity, available P and K, and maize yield were determined annually from 2009 to 2018. Soil exchangeable base cations, total and phytoavailable Cr, Pb, As, Ni, Cd, Cu, and Zn were measured in 2018. A significant decrease in soil pH occurred under NPKM0 and NPKM20 from initial 4.93 to 4.46 and 4.71, respectively. Whereas, under NPKM40 and NPKM60 no change or a significant increase in soil pH (to 5.47) occurred, as well as increased exchangeable base cations, and increased yields. Manure application markedly increased soil available P (but not K) to 67.6-182.6 mg kg-1 and significantly increased total Pb, Cu, and Zn and available Cu and Zn in soil. The results indicate sourcing 40% or greater of total N from manure can prevent or reverse acidification of red soil, and provide all P required, however, additional K inputs are required for balanced plant nutrient supply. An integrated approach of increasing N use efficiency, reducing chemical input, and reducing heavy metal concentrations in animal feed are all necessary for sustainable use of manure in soil acidity and nutrient management as well as minimizing environmental risks.