Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Changes in soil structure and aeration due to liming and acid irrigation

  • Published:
Plant and Soil Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Biologic activity is one of the main factors controlling the floating equilibrium between loosening and compacting forces in humic forest soils. Therefore it can be expected that both acid deposition and compensatory liming indirectly influence the soil structure and soil aeration. To measure macro-pore structure, CO2 concentrations in the soil air, and respiration rates we used naturally structured soil cores from the “Höglwald” forest-ecosystem research plots with experimental acid deposition and liming, but standardized water supply. Results are integrated in an one-dimensional soil-aeration model. Compared to the control plot, in the top soil of the limed plot both gaseous diffusion coefficients and respiration rates are increased. Since the CO2 concentration in the soil air is decreased at the same time, the soil aeration status of the whole profile can be regarded as stabilized. On the acid irrigated plot, gas-diffusion coefficients are not significantly changed with regard to the control. In the top-mineral soil, in contrast to the working hypothesis, they are tendencially increased. In the case of liming, a stimulation of biologic activity and a positive feedback on the soil structure could be attributed to an increased earth-worm activity due in turn to decreased acidity and enhanced feeding conditions. The acid irrigation leads to increased Al3+ activity, which can stabilize the soil structure.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ammer S and Makeschin F 1994 Auswirkungen experimenteller saurer Beregnung und Kalkung auf die Regenwurmfauna (Lumbricidae, Oligochaeta) und die Humusform in einem Fichtenaltbestand (Höglwaldexperiment). Forstwiss.Centralbl. 113, 70–85.

    Google Scholar 

  • Anderson T H 1998 The influence of acid irrigation and liming on the soil microbial biomass in a Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) K.) stand. Plant Soil 199, 117–122.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Babel U 1990 Verteilung von Buchen-und Fichtenfeinwurzeln in Bezug zu Bodenhohlräumen und dichter Bodensubstanz. Allg. Forst Jagd Ztg., 161, 109–112.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bridge B J and Rixon A J 1976 Oxygen uptake and respiratory quotient of field soil cores in relation to their air-filled pore space. J. Soil Sci. 27, 279–286.

    Google Scholar 

  • Drew M C and Lynch J M 1980 Soil Anaerobiosis, Microorganisms, and Root Function. Ann. Rev. Phytopathol. 18, 37–66.

    Google Scholar 

  • Flühler J 1973 Sauerstoffdiffusion im Boden. Mitteilungen der Eidgenöss. Anstalt Forstl. Versuchswesen, Bd. 49, 2. Schweizerische Anstalt für das forstliche Versuchswesen, Birmensdorf (CH). 250 p.

  • Frede H G 1986 Der Gasaustausch des Bodens. Göttinger Bodenkundl. Berichte 87. 130 p.

  • Glinski J and Stepniewski W 1985 Soil Aeration and its Role for Plants. CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL. 229 p.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hahn G and Marschner H 1998 Effect of acid irrigation and liming on root growth of Norway spruce. Plant Soil 199, 11–22.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hartge K H and Horn R 1989 Die physikalische Untersuchung von Böden. 2 ed. Enke-Verlag, Stuttgart. 175 p.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hildebrand E E 1995 Forstliche Bodenbewirtschaftung. In Handbuch für Bodenkunde Eds. Blume et al. Part 6.2.2. pp 1–20. Ecomed Verlag, Landsberg.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jaynes D B and Rogowski A S 1983 Applicability of Fick's Law to gas diffusion. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 47, 425–430.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kreutzer K and Weiss T 1998 The Höglwald field experiments-aims, concept and basic data. Plant Soil 199, 1–10.

    Google Scholar 

  • Makeschin F 1991 Auswirkungen von saurer Beregnung und Kalkung auf die Regenwurmfauna (Lumbricidae: Oligochaeta) im Fichtenaltbestand Höglwald. In Ökosystemforschung Höglwald. Eds. K Kreutzer and A Göttlein pp 117–127. Paul Parey, Hamburg.

    Google Scholar 

  • Murach D, Ilse L, Klaproth F, Parth A and Wiedemann H 1993 Rhizotron-Experimente zur Wurzelverteilung der Fichte. Forstarchiv 64, 191–194.

    Google Scholar 

  • Novotny I, Dähne J, Klingelhöfer D and Rothe G M 1998 Effect of artificial soil acidification and liming on growth and nutrient status of mycorrhizal roots of Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.). Plant Soil 199, 29–40.

    Google Scholar 

  • Press W H, Flanner B P, Teukolsky S A and Vetterling W T 1988 Numerical Recipes in C. Cambridge Univ. Press, Cambridge 735 p.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pröbstle P 1993 Die Modellierung der Wasserbilanzen in einem 80 jährigen Fichtenbestand unter besonderer Berücksichtigung der räumlichen Heterogenität. Diss. Universität München. 184 p.

  • Richter J, Kersebaum K C and Willenbockel I 1991 Gaseous diffusion reflecting soil structure. Z. Pflanzenernähr. Bodenkd. 154, 13–19.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rolston D E 1986 Gas Diffusivity. Methods of Soil Analsis. In Methods of Soil Analysis 1. Physical and Mineralogical Methods. Agronomy Monograph no. 9, 2 Ed. A L Page. pp 1089–1102. ASA-SSSA, Madison, WI.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rothe A 1994 Saure Beregnung und Kalkung: Auswirkungen auf Bodenchemie und Wasserqualität. Allg. Forstz. 49, 754–758.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schack-Kirchner H 1994 Struktur und Gashaushalt von Waldböden. Berichte des Forschungszentrum Waldökosysteme, Göttingen, Reihe A 112. 145 p.

  • Schack-Kirchner H, Hildebrand E E and von Wilpert K 1993 Ein konvektionsfreies Sammelsystem für Bodenluft. Z. Pflanzenernähr. Bodenkd. 156, 307–310

    Google Scholar 

  • Schack-Kirchner H 1996 Ansätze zur Erhebung quantitativer Strukturparameter im Rahmen der Bodenzustandserfassung im Wald. Mitt. Dtsch. Bodenkd. Ges. 79, 157–160.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stolzy L H, Focht D D and Flühler H 1981 Indicators of soil aeration status. Flora 171, 236–265.

    Google Scholar 

  • Toutain F, Diagne A and Le Tacon F 1988 Possibilités de modification du type d'humus et d'amelioration de la fertilité des sols à moyen terme en hêtraie par apport d'éléments minéraux. Rev. For. 40, 99–107.

    Google Scholar 

  • Völker G 1992 Beziehungen und Aussagefähigkeit von Versauerungsindikatoren und Gefügekenngrößen in mineralischen Oberböden depositionsbelasteter Waldökosysteme. Berichte Forschungszentr. Waldökosysteme Göttingen Reihe A 96. 259 p.

  • Zausig J and Horn R 1992 Soil water relations and aeration status of single soil aggregates taken from a Gleyic Vertisol. Z. Pflanzenernähr. Bodenkd. 155, 237–245

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Soil Science and Forest Nutrition, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität, D-79085, Freiburg, Germany

    Helmer Schack-Kirchner & Ernst E. Hildebrand

Authors
  1. Helmer Schack-Kirchner
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Ernst E. Hildebrand
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Schack-Kirchner, H., Hildebrand, E.E. Changes in soil structure and aeration due to liming and acid irrigation. Plant and Soil 199, 167–176 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1004290226402

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1004290226402

Search

Navigation