Abstract
Acidification or alkalinization of soils occurs through H � transfer
processes involving
vegetation, soil solution and soil minerals. A permanent change in
the acid neutralizing capacity
of the inorganic soil fraction (ANC(s)), Le. soil acidification (AANC
< 0) or soil alkalinization
(AANC > 0), results from an irreversible H � flux. This irreversible
H � flux can be caused
either by direct proton addition or depletion, by different mobility
of components of the
ANC(s ) or by a permanent change in redox conditions. The contributions
of (a) acidic atmospheric
deposition, (b) nitrogen transformations, (c) deprotonation of CO
2 and of organic
acids and protonation of their conjugate bases, (d) assimilation of
cations and anions by the
vegetation, (e) weathering or reverse weathering of minerals and (f)
stream output to changes in
the ANC(s ) are illustrated by means of H � budgets for actual soils
and watersheds.
Users
Please
log in to take part in the discussion (add own reviews or comments).