Articles | Volume 20, issue 22
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-20-4577-2023
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-20-4577-2023
Research article
 | 
23 Nov 2023
Research article |  | 23 Nov 2023

Long-term additions of ammonium nitrate to montane forest ecosystems may cause limited soil acidification, even in the presence of soil carbonate

Thomas Baer, Gerhard Furrer, Stephan Zimmermann, and Patrick Schleppi

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Cited articles

Ahrends, B., Fortmann, H., and Meesenburg, H.: The influence of tree species on the recovery of forest soils from acidification in Lower Saxony, Germany, Soil Syst., 6, 40, https://doi.org/10.3390/soilsystems6020040, 2022. 
Amelung, W., Blume, H.-P., Fleige, H., Horn, R., Kandeler, E., Kögel-Knabner, I., Kretzschmar, R., Stahr, K., and Wilke, B.-M.: Scheffer/Schachtschabel Lehrbuch der Bodenkunde, 17th Edn., Springer, Berlin Heidelberg, 750 pp., ISBN 978-3-662-55871-3, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-55871-3, 2018. 
BAFU (Ed.): Luftqualität 2021, Messresultate des Nationalen Beobachtungsnetzes für Luftfremdstoffe, NABEL, Bundesamt für Umwelt, Bern, Umwelt-Zustand Nr. 2227, 29 pp., https://www.bafu.admin.ch/uz-2114-d (last access: 31 August 2023), 2022. 
Blaser, P., Graf Pannatier, E., and Walthert, L.: The base saturation in acidified Swiss forest soils on calcareous and noncalcareous parent material, A pH-base saturation anomaly, J. Plant Nutr. Soil Sci., 171, 155–162, 2008a. 
Blaser, P., Walthert, L., Zimmermann, S., Graf Pannatier, E., and Luster, J.: Classification schemes for the acidity, base saturation, and acidification status of forest soils in Switzerland, J. Plant Nutr. Soil Sci., 171, 163–170, 2008b. 
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Short summary
Nitrogen (N) deposition to forest ecosystems is a matter of concern because it affects their nutrient status and makes their soil acidic. We observed an ongoing acidification in a montane forest in central Switzerland even if the subsoil of this site contains carbonates and is thus well buffered. We experimentally added N to simulate a higher pollution, and this increased the acidification. After 25 years of study, however, we can see the first signs of recovery, also under higher N deposition.
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