Temporal Trends in Ca, Mg and K Concentrations of Grassland and Garden Soils in West Virginia, U.S.A. between 1986 and 1999

Authors: McDonald L.M.¹; Balasko J.A.²

Source: Water, Air, and Soil Pollution, Volume 146, Numbers 1-4, June 2003 , pp. 351-363(13)

Publisher: Springer

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Abstract:

The effects of acidic deposition on agricultural soils have not received much attention because they are regularly limed and receive acid forming fertilizers far in excess of what would accumulate in these soils from atmospheric acidic deposition. However, not all agricultural soils are managed with equal intensity, and some may be prone to element specific effects from acidic deposition. Using data from the West Virginia University Soil Testing Laboratory and the National Atmospheric Deposition Program, it was found that soil Mg concentrations were decreasing up to 2.6% yr^-1 in hay and pasture soils where acidic deposition was the highest. Rainfall amounts and biomass removal did not appear to be related to this effect. By comparison, no trends in Mg depletion with acidic deposition were found for the more intensely managed home garden soils. Nor were there regional trends in Ca or K for either hay and pasture or home garden soils. While the correlation Mg depletion and acidic deposition does not in and of itself indicate causality, it does suggest the Mg status of unmanaged or moderately managed grasslands may be adversely affected by acidic deposition.

Keywords: acidic deposition; Mg depletion; regional trends; sulfate

Language: English

Document Type: Research article

Affiliations: 1: Division of Plant and Soil Sciences, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, U.S.A. (author for correspondence, e-mail: LMMcdonald@mail.wvu.edu, Fax: (304) 293 2960) 2: Division of Plant and Soil Sciences, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, U.S.A.

Publication date: 2003-06-01