FOREST VEGETATION AS A BIOLOGICAL FACTOR OF THE ELEMENT CYCLING IN SOILS
Jaroslav Fišák1, Petr Skřivan2, Miroslav Tesař3, Daniela Fottová4, Irena Dobešová2 & Tomáš Navrátil2
Institute of Atmospheric Physic, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Boční II 1401, 141 31
Prague 4, Czech Republic; fisak@ufa.cas.cz
2 Institute of Geology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Rozvojová 135, 165 02 Prague 6,
Czech Republic; skrivan@gli.cas.cz
3 Institute of Hydrodynamics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Pod Paťankou 6, 166 12
Prague 6, Czech Republic; miroslav.tesar@iol.cz
4 Czech Geological Survey, Klárov 3/131, 118 21 Prague 1, Czech Republic; fottova@cgu.cz
1
Abstract
Atmospheric inputs of elements/ions into the soil cover through bulk precipitation and throughfall
(precipitation below tree canopies) were monitored monthly at two forested catchments (Lesni Potok
and Liz) in central and southwestern Bohemia, respectively (Figure 1). The annual deposition fluxes
(expressed in μg/mg.m-2.yr-1) of Al, As, Ba, Be, Ca, Cd, Cl-, F-, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Ntot, Na, Ni, Pb, Rb,
SO42-, Sr and Zn between 1997 and 2005 were calculated from their concentrations in monthly
collected samples of both precipitation types. The flux of H + was calculated from the monthly pH
values as well. The more pristine character of the Liz catchment was manifested in lower inputs of
anions of strong inorganic acids (mostly of anthropogenic origin) and of H + in spite of higher
precipitation amounts at the site. The comparison of fluxes in bulk precipitation and throughfall has
shown significantly higher values for Rb, K, Mg, Mn, F -, Ca, SO42-, Sr, Ba and Cl- in the latter flux. It is
declared that high fluxes of these elements/ions in throughfall significantly affect the forest soil water
chemistry and that the forest vegetation significantly contributes to the mobilization of several
elements in soil and to their redistribution throughout the soil profile.
Key words: Throughfall, Bulk precipitation, Wet deposition, Soil chemistry
Fig. 1. Location of the Liz and Lesni Potok catchments within the Czech Republic.