Nutrient imbalances may negatively affect the health status of forests exposed to multiple stress factors, including drought and bark beetle calamities. We studied the origin of base cations in runoff from a small Carpathian catchment underlain by base-poor flysch turbidites using magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca) and strontium (Sr) isotope composition of 10 ecosystem compartments. Our objective was to constrain conclusions drawn from long-term hydrochemical monitoring of inputs and outputs. Annual export of Mg, Ca and Sr exceeds 5-to-15 times their atmospheric input. Mass budgets per se thus indicate sizeable net leaching of Mg, Ca and Sr from bedrock sandstones and claystones. Surprisingly, δ26Mg, δ44Ca and 87Sr/86Sr isotope ratios of runoff were practically identical to those of atmospheric deposition and soil water but significantly different from bedrock isotope ratios. We did not find any carbonates in the studied area as a hypothetical, easily dissolvable source of base cations whose isotope composition might corroborate the predominance of geogenic base cations in the runoff. Marine carbonates typically have lower δ26 Mg and 87Sr/86Sr ratios, and silicate sediments often have higher δ26Mg and 87Sr/86Sr ratios than runoff at the study site. Mixing of these two sources, if confirmed, could reconcile the flux and isotope data.

• Klíčová slova
• Calcium, Forest catchment, Isotopes, Magnesium, Nutrient imbalances, Strontium,
• MeSH
• ekosystém MeSH
• hořčík * analýza   MeSH
• izotopy stroncia analýza   MeSH
• izotopy MeSH
• kationty MeSH
• monitorování životního prostředí MeSH
• uhličitany MeSH
• vápník * analýza   MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• hořčík * MeSH
• izotopy stroncia MeSH
• izotopy MeSH
• kationty MeSH
• uhličitany MeSH
• vápník * MeSH

The forests of central Europe have undergone remarkable transitions in the past 40 years as air quality has improved dramatically. Retrospective analysis of Norway spruce (Picea abies) tree rings in the Czech Republic shows that air pollution (e.g. SO2 concentrations, high acidic deposition to the forest canopy) plays a dominant role in driving forest health. Extensive soil acidification occurred in the highly polluted "Black Triangle" in Central Europe, and upper mineral soils are still acidified. In contrast, acidic atmospheric deposition declined by 80% and atmospheric SO2 concentration by 90% between the late 1980s and 2010s. In this study we oserved that annual tree ring width (TRW) declined in the 1970s and subsequently recovered in the 1990s, tracking SO2 concentrations closely. Furthermore, recovery of TRW was similar in unlimed and limed stands. Despite large increases in soil base saturation, as well as soil pH, as a result of repeated liming starting in 1981, TRW growth was similar in limed and unlimed plots. TRW recovery was interrupted in 1996 when highly acidic rime (originating from more pronounced decline of alkaline dust than SO2 from local power plants) injured the spruce canopy, but recovered soon to the pre-episode growth. Across the long-term site history, changes in soil chemistry (pH, base saturation, Bc/Al soil solution ratio) cannot explain observed changes in TRW at the two study sites where we tracked soil chemistry. Instead, statistically significant recovery in TRW is linked to the trajectory of annual SO2 concentrations or sulfur deposition at all three stands.

• MeSH
• koncentrace vodíkových iontů MeSH
• lesy MeSH
• půda MeSH
• retrospektivní studie MeSH
• smrk * MeSH
• znečištění ovzduší * MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• půda MeSH

Early efforts at remediation of contaminated soils involve overturn or removal of the uppermost soil horizons. We find that such disruption is counterproductive, as it actually increases the mobility of the heavy metals involved. In our study, we sought to replicate in a controlled manner this commonly used remediation strategy and measure Pb, Zn, Cu and As concentrations in all soil horizons-both prior to and 1 year after disruption by trenching. BCR analyses (sequential leaching) indicate that Pb is affected to the greatest degree and is most highly mobile; however, Zn and As remain insoluble, thus partially ameliorating the detrimental effect. Differences in vegetation cover (i.e. spruce vs. beech forest) have little influence on overall element mobility patterns. The Krušné hory (Ore Mts., Czech Republic) study area is one of the more heavily contaminated areas in Central Europe, and thus the results reported here are applicable to areas affected by brown-coal-burning power plants.

• Klíčová slova
• BCR sequential extraction, Contamination, Forest soils, Hazardous elements, Mobility, Načetín,
• MeSH
• kyselý déšť analýza   statistika a číselné údaje   MeSH
• látky znečišťující půdu analýza   MeSH
• lesy MeSH
• monitorování životního prostředí * MeSH
• olovo analýza   MeSH
• půda chemie   MeSH
• těžké kovy analýza   MeSH
• zinek analýza   MeSH
• znečištění životního prostředí analýza   statistika a číselné údaje   MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Česká republika MeSH
• Evropa MeSH
• Názvy látek
• kyselý déšť MeSH
• látky znečišťující půdu MeSH
• olovo MeSH
• půda MeSH
• těžké kovy MeSH
• zinek MeSH

Nitrogen leaching owing to elevated acid deposition remains the main ecosystem threat worldwide. We aimed to contribute to the understanding of the highly variable nitrate losses observed in Europe after acid deposition retreat. Our study proceeded in adjacent beech and spruce forests undergoing acidification recovery and differing in nitrate leaching. We reconstructed soil microbial functional characteristics connected with nitrogen and carbon cycling based on community composition. Our results showed that in the more acidic spruce soil with high carbon content, where Acidobacteria and Actinobacteria were abundant (Proteo:Acido = 1.3), the potential for nitrate reduction and loss via denitrification was high (denitrification: dissimilative nitrogen reduction to ammonium (DNRA) = 3). In the less acidic beech stand with low carbon content, but high nitrogen availability, Proteobacteria were more abundant (Proteo:Acido = 1.6). Proportionally less nitrate could be denitrified there (denitrification:DNRA = 1), possibly increasing its availability. Among 10 potential keystone species, microbes capable of DNRA were identified in the beech soil while instead denitrifiers dominated in the spruce soil. In spite of the former acid deposition impact, distinct microbial functional guilds developed under different vegetational dominance, resulting in different N immobilization potentials, possibly influencing the ecosystem's nitrogen retention ability.

• MeSH
• Bacteria klasifikace   metabolismus   MeSH
• buk (rod) růst a vývoj   MeSH
• denitrifikace * MeSH
• dusičnany analýza   MeSH
• koncentrace vodíkových iontů MeSH
• mikrobiota * MeSH
• půda chemie   MeSH
• půdní mikrobiologie * MeSH
• smrk růst a vývoj   MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Evropa MeSH
• Názvy látek
• dusičnany MeSH
• půda MeSH

The release of hazardous elements from the wastes of high-temperature processes represents a risk to the environment. We focused on the alteration of fly ash (FA) from glassworks collected from an electrostatic filter. FA contains elevated concentrations of Zn and Ba, among other elements. Overtime, small amounts of FA have been emitted from the factory and settled into the surrounding environment (soil). In order to assess the possible risks to the environment, samples of FA were placed in small nylon bags and deposited in 11 different soil horizons (containing diverse vegetation cover such as spruce and beech and also unforested areas). Samples of the FA in bags were exposed in the soils for 1 year. Then, the bags were collected, and the exposed soils in the direct vicinity of the FA bags were sampled. The total concentrations of Zn and Ba in the FA, as well as in the soil samples (original and exposed), were determined by ICP MS. The "mobile fraction" was determined as the exchangeable (acid extractable) fraction of the modified BCR sequential extraction procedure (SEP). The SEP results indicate that Zn and Ba may pose a potential environmental risk. Their concentrations in the first, most mobile, and bioavailable fraction increased in all the exposed soils. The most significant increases were observed in the upper soil horizons (litter and A horizon). The risk to the environment was evaluated on the basis of the Risk Assessment Code.

• MeSH
• baryum chemie   MeSH
• chemická frakcionace MeSH
• látky znečišťující půdu analýza   MeSH
• látky znečišťující vzduch analýza   MeSH
• monitorování životního prostředí * MeSH
• půda chemie   MeSH
• zinek chemie   MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• baryum MeSH
• látky znečišťující půdu MeSH
• látky znečišťující vzduch MeSH
• půda MeSH
• zinek MeSH