Effect of soil acidification on the formation of Fe-, Al-, and Mn-oxides and the stability of soil aggregates
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1
Institute of Soil Research, University of Agricultural Sciences, Gregor-Mendel-Str. 33, 1180 Vienna, Austria
 
2
Institute of Soil Science, Technical University Münich, D-85350 Freising-Weihenstephan, FRG
 
 
Acceptance date: 1998-10-20
 
 
Int. Agrophys. 1999, 13(3): 283-293
 
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ABSTRACT
The effect of intensive soil acidification on the genesis of Fe-, Al- and Mn-oxides and their relation to the soil aggregate stability were investigated in the Vienna Woods. Analyses were carried out on soil samples of 2 sites at 4 depths (0-5, 5-10, 10-20, and 20-30 cm) taken from the infiltration zone of the stemflow (S) of beech trees, which is strongly influenced by acid atmospheric depositions (soil-pH KCl 2.5 to 3.0), and from non-contaminated reference areas (R) between the trees, where the acid input is much lower (soil-pH KCl 5.5). The extreme soil acidification in the infiltration zone of stemflow led to intensive weathering of primary minerals, to neoformation and accumulation of crystallized, amorphous and organic-bound Fe-oxides, to lower concentrations of Al- and Mn-oxides and to a high increase in soil aggregate stability, reflecting the aggregation effect of Fe-oxides, and the concomitant leaching of Mn and Al at a very low soil pH. Moreover, chemical extractions of the fine earth (water saturation extract and BaCl2-extraction) showed that Fe had accumulated in the strongly acidified soils also as water-soluble and exchangeable cation.
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