A Review of the Key Mechanisms of Acidic Forest Soils to Buffer Acid Deposition

Abstract:

Acidic forest soils are highly weathered with low pH and base saturation (BS), and thus a weak acid buffering capacity. However, whether or not these acidic forest soils can continue buffering elevated anthropogenic acid deposition remain largely unknown and controversial. The acidification processes in acidic forest soils from domestic and foreign studies were reviewed, aiming to advance people's understanding of the response patterns and key buffering mechanisms of acidic forest soils to elevated anthropogenic acid deposition. The adverse effects of acid deposition-induced soil acidification in forest ecosystems will be predicted and disposed, and some references to forest management and maintaining the stability of those affected forest ecosystems and their services were also provided.

Key words:Acid deposition;Soil acidification;Cation exchange capacity;Acid buffering capacity;Soil organic matter