Long‐term changes in soil pH across major forest ecosystems in China. Issue 3 (10th February 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Yang, Yuanhe; Li, Pin; He, Honglin; Zhao, Xia; Datta, Arindam; Ma, Wenhong; Zhang, Ying; Liu, Xuejun; Han, Wenxuan; Wilson, Maxwell C.; Fang, Jingyun
• Is Part Of: Geophysical research letters. Volume 42:Issue 3(2015:Feb.)
• Page Start: 933
• Page End: 940
• Publication Date: 2015-02-10
• Subjects: artificial neural network -- data synthesis -- national soil inventory -- soil pH dynamics; Geophysics -- Periodicals; Planets -- Periodicals; Lunar geology -- Periodicals; 550
• DOI: 10.1002/2014GL062575
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0094-8276

Abstract

Abstract: Atmospheric acidic deposition has been a major environmental problem since the industrial revolution. However, our understanding of the effect of acidic deposition on soil pH is inconclusive. Here we examined temporal variations in topsoil pH and their relationships with atmospheric sulfur and nitrogen deposition across China's forests from the 1980s to the 2000s. To accomplish this goal, we conducted artificial neural network simulations using historical soil inventory data from the 1980s and a data set synthesized from literature published after 2000. Our results indicated that significant decreases in soil pH occurred in broadleaved forests, while minor changes were observed in coniferous and mixed coniferous and broadleaved forests. The magnitude of soil pH change was negatively correlated with atmospheric sulfur and nitrogen deposition. This relationship highlights the need for stringent measures that reduce sulfur and nitrogen emissions so as to maintain ecosystem structure and function. Key Points: Long‐term changes of topsoil pH in forest ecosystems were explored Different pH dynamics were observed in broadleaved and coniferous forests Deposition of sulfur and nitrogen regulated the magnitude of soil pH change