The solute budget of a forest catchment and solute fluxes within a Pinus radiata and a secondary native forest site,southern Chile |
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| Authors: | Geertrui Y P Uyttendaele Andrs Iroum |
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| Institution: | Geertrui Y. P. Uyttendaele,Andrés Iroumé |
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| Abstract: | Solute concentrations and fluxes in rainfall, throughfall and stemflow in two forest types, and stream flow in a 90 ha catchment in southern Chile (39°44′S, 73°10′W) were measured. Bulk precipitation pH was 6·1 and conductivity was low. Cation concentrations in rainfall were low (0·58 mg Ca2+ l?1, 0·13 mg K+ l?1, 0·11 mg Mg2+ l?1 and <0·08 mg NH4–N l?1), except for sodium (1·10 mg l?1). Unexpected high levels of nitrate deposition in rainfall (mean concentration 0·38 mg NO3–N l?1, total flux 6·3 kg NO3–N ha?1) were measured. Concentrations of soluble phosphorous in bulk precipitation and stream flow were below detection limits (<0·09 mg l?1) for all events. Stream‐flow pH was 6·3 and conductivity was 28·3 μs. Stream‐water chemistry was also dominated by sodium (2·70 mg l?1) followed by Ca, Mg and K (1·31, 0·70 and 0·36 mg l?1). The solute budget indicated a net loss of 3·8 kg Na+ ha?1 year?1, 5·4 kg Mg2+ ha?1 year?1, 1·5 kg Ca2+ ha?1 year?1 and 0·9 kg K+ ha?1 year?1, while 4·9 kg NO3–N ha?1 year?1 was retained by the ecosystem. Stream water is not suitable for domestic use owing to high manganese and, especially, iron concentrations. Throughfall and stemflow chemistry at a pine stand (Pinus radiata D. Don) and a native forest site (Siempreverde type), both located within the catchment, were compared. Nitrate fluxes within both forest sites were similar (1·3 kg NO3–N ha?1 year?1 as throughfall). Cation fluxes in net rainfall (throughfall plus stemflow) at the pine stand generally were higher (34·8 kg Na+ ha?1 year?1, 21·5 kg K+ ha?1 year?1, 5·1 kg Mg2+ ha?1 year?1) compared with the secondary native forest site (24·7 kg Na+ ha?1 year?1, 18·9 kg K+ ha?1 year?1 and 4·4 kg Mg2+ ha?1 year?1). However, calcium deposition beneath the native forest stand was higher (15·9 kg Ca2+ ha?1 year?1) compared with the pine stand (12·6 kg Ca2+ ha?1 year?1). Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. |
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| Keywords: | water quality rainfall chemistry stream‐flow chemistry throughfall stemflow temperate rainforest Pinus radiata Chile |
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