TY - JOUR

T1 - The chemical composition of throughfall beneath oak, birch and pine canopies in Northwest Germany

AU - Herrmann, Martina

AU - Pust, Jürgen

AU - Pott, Richard

PY - 2006/6

Y1 - 2006/6

N2 - The chemical composition of rainwater is altered upon its passage through tree canopies. In order to investigate how rainwater chemistry is affected by canopy-dependent processes in characteristic forest types of Northwest German sandy lowland regions - oak-birch-forests, Betula pubescens Ehrh. swamp forests, and stands of Pinus sylvestris L. - comparative studies on the chemical composition of throughfall were carried out at seven forest sites, situated in close proximity within a nature reserve. Additionally, rainwater was sampled at three heathland sites for analysis of open-field precipitation and at three sites along an oak-birch-forest edge. Throughfall concentrations of most of the parameters analysed were significantly higher than open-field concentrations, especially with regard to electric conductivity, NH4-N, K +, and KMnO4-index. Ion concentrations in throughfall were the lowest in a 10-year-old stand of Betula pendula Roth. and Pinus sylvestris and in a Betula pubescens swamp forest and were highest beneath a stand of Pinus sylvestris. Except for Na+, Cl-, and NO 3 - , ion concentrations in both throughfall and open-field precipitation increased during the growing season (May-October). In throughfall, Ca2+, Mg2+, K+, and Mn2+ were strongly correlated. Enrichment ratios between throughfall and open-field deposition varied among sites and elements and were the highest for K ‰+, Mg2‰+, and Mn2‰+. Estimates of canopy leaching indicated high leaching rates of K ‰+ and Mn2‰+ and moderate leaching of Mg2‰+. The contribution of foliar leaching to throughfall deposition was higher at the deciduous than at the coniferous stands.

AB - The chemical composition of rainwater is altered upon its passage through tree canopies. In order to investigate how rainwater chemistry is affected by canopy-dependent processes in characteristic forest types of Northwest German sandy lowland regions - oak-birch-forests, Betula pubescens Ehrh. swamp forests, and stands of Pinus sylvestris L. - comparative studies on the chemical composition of throughfall were carried out at seven forest sites, situated in close proximity within a nature reserve. Additionally, rainwater was sampled at three heathland sites for analysis of open-field precipitation and at three sites along an oak-birch-forest edge. Throughfall concentrations of most of the parameters analysed were significantly higher than open-field concentrations, especially with regard to electric conductivity, NH4-N, K +, and KMnO4-index. Ion concentrations in throughfall were the lowest in a 10-year-old stand of Betula pendula Roth. and Pinus sylvestris and in a Betula pubescens swamp forest and were highest beneath a stand of Pinus sylvestris. Except for Na+, Cl-, and NO 3 - , ion concentrations in both throughfall and open-field precipitation increased during the growing season (May-October). In throughfall, Ca2+, Mg2+, K+, and Mn2+ were strongly correlated. Enrichment ratios between throughfall and open-field deposition varied among sites and elements and were the highest for K ‰+, Mg2‰+, and Mn2‰+. Estimates of canopy leaching indicated high leaching rates of K ‰+ and Mn2‰+ and moderate leaching of Mg2‰+. The contribution of foliar leaching to throughfall deposition was higher at the deciduous than at the coniferous stands.

KW - Betula pubescens swamp forest

KW - Foliar leaching

KW - Oak-birch-forests

KW - Rainwater chemistry

KW - Stands of Pinus sylvestris

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=33745711969&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1007/s11258-005-9072-5

DO - 10.1007/s11258-005-9072-5

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:33745711969

VL - 184

SP - 273

EP - 285

JO - Plant ecology

JF - Plant ecology

SN - 1385-0237

IS - 2

ER -