Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Dissolved organic sulphur in soil water under Pinus sylvestris L. and Fagus sylvatica L. stands in northeastern Bavaria, Germany variations with seasons and soil depth

  • Published:
Biogeochemistry Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Organically bound species have been identified as prominent and mobile forms of nitrogen and phosphorus in soils. Since a large portion of sulphur (S) in soil is bonded to carbon (C) also dissolved organic S likely is a significant constituent in soil water. To investigate the role of dissolved organic forms in leaching and cycling of S in forest soils, we examined concentrations, fluxes, and chemical composition of organic S in forest floor leachates and in soil solutions of Rendzic Leptosols under 90-year-old European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) and Haplic Arenosols under 160-year-old Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) for 27 months. These soils are low in adsorbed SO42- and receive little atmospheric S depositions at present. The chemical composition of organic S was estimated by fractionation with XAD-8 and wet-chemical characterisation (HI reduction) of binding forms. Although not as prominent as the organic forms of other nutrient elements, organic S proved to be an important contributor to S dissolved in forest floor leachates and in mineral soil solutions. Dissolved organic matter contained on average 29% of total S in forest floor leachates at the pine site and 34% at the beech site. The largest portion of organic S occurred in the subsoil solutions under beech in summer and autumn (up to 53%). Mean concentrations of organic S peaked (up to 1.1 mg l-1) in summer after rainstorms that followed dry periods. Fluxes with forest floor leachates and at 90 cm soil depth were largest in autumn because of huge amounts of rainfall. Organic S contributed significantly to the fluxes of S in the subsoils under beech comprising on average 39% of total dissolved S at 90 cm depth. Organic S produced in the forest floor layers was mainly in the hydrophilic fraction of dissolved organic matter (62 ± 6% at the pine site, 85 ± 4% at the beech site). The major binding form of organic S in the hydrophobic fraction was C-bonded S while in the hydrophilic fraction ester sulphate S, possibly associated with carbohydrates, was more prominent. Since the hydrophobic fraction increased in summer and autumn, C-bonded S was of greater importance during that time of the year than in winter and spring. With depth, concentrations and composition of organic S (and also of C) hardly changed at the pine site because of little retention of dissolved organic matter, presumably because of the small sorption capability of that soil. At the beech where organic C showed a marked decrease with depth, only a slight decrease in organic S, exclusively from the hydrophobic fraction, was found indicating that organic S was mobile compared with organic C. This was probably due to the concentration of S in the hydrophilic fraction of dissolved organic matter. Because of being concentrated in the mobile hydrophilic fraction, ester sulphate S was more mobile in the soil under beech than C-bonded S.

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.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • G.R. Aiken J.A. Leenheer (1993) ArticleTitleIsolation and chemical characterization of dissolved and colloidal organic matter Chem. Ecol. 8 135–151 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK2cXms1aktLc%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • C. Alewell (2001) ArticleTitlePredicting the reversibility of acidification: the European sulfur story Water Air Soil Pollut. 130 1271–1276 Occurrence Handle10.1023/A:1013989419580

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • S. Andersson I. Nilsson I. Valeur (1999) ArticleTitleInfluence of dolomitic lime on DOC and DON leaching in a forest soil Biogeochemistry 47 297–317 Occurrence Handle10.1007/BF00992911 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK1MXnt1CltLg%3D

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • A.K. Aufdenkampe J.I. Hedges J.E. Richey A.V. Krusche C.A. Llerena (2001) ArticleTitleSorptive fractionation of dissolved organic nitrogen and amino acids onto fine sediments within the Amazon Basin Limnol. Oceanogr. 46 1981–1935

    Google Scholar 

  • A.R. Autry J.W. Fitzgerald P.R. Caldwell (1990) ArticleTitleSulfur fractions and retention mechanisms in forest soils Can. J. Forest Res. 20 337–342 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK3cXlsFWgsrs%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • F. Beese R.R. van der Ploeg W. Richter (1977) ArticleTitleTest of a soil water model under field conditions Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 41 979–984

    Google Scholar 

  • J.M. Boissier D. Fontvieille (1993) ArticleTitleBiodegradable dissolved organic carbon in seepage waters from two forest soils Soil Biol. Biochem. 25 1257–1261 Occurrence Handle10.1016/0038-0717(93)90222-W

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • M.B. David M.J. Mitchell T.J. Scott (1987) ArticleTitleImportance of biological processes in the sulfur budget of a northern hardwood ecosystem Biol. Fert. Soils 5 258–264 Occurrence Handle10.1007/BF00256911

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • FAO–Unesco 1990. Soil Map of the WorldRevised Legend. World Soil Resources Report 60, FAO, Rome.

  • E. Gorham J.K. Underwood J.A. Janssens B. Freedman W. Maass D.H. Waller J.G. Ogden SuffixIII (1998) ArticleTitleThe chemistry of streams in southwestern and central Nova Scotiawith particular reference to catchment vegetation and the influence of dissolved organic carbon primarily from wetlands Wetlands 18 115–132

    Google Scholar 

  • B. Gu J. Schmitt Z. Chen L. Liang J.F. McCarthy (1995) ArticleTitleAdsorption and desorption of different organic matter fractions on iron oxide Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 59 219–229 Occurrence Handle10.1016/0016-7037(94)00282-Q Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK2MXjsFeksrY%3D

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • G. Guggenberger W. Zech (1994) ArticleTitleComposition and dynamics of dissolved carbohydrates and lignin-degradation products in two coniferous forests, N.E. BavariaGermany Soil Biol. Biochem. 26 19–27 Occurrence Handle10.1016/0038-0717(94)90191-0 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK2cXhvFSnsr8%3D

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • L.O. Hedin J.J. Amesto A.H. Johnson (1995) ArticleTitlePatterns of nutrient loss from unpollutedold-growth temperate forests: evaluation of biochemical theory Ecology 76 493–509

    Google Scholar 

  • P.S. Homann M.J. Mitchell H. van Miegroet D.W. Cole (1990) ArticleTitleOrganic sulfur in throughfall, stem flow, and soil solutions from temperate forests Can. J. Forest Res. 20 1535–1539 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK3MXotVCmtw%3D%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • D. Houle R. Carigan M. Lachance J. Dupont (1995) ArticleTitleDissolved organic carbon and sulfur in southwestern Quhc)bec lakes: relationships with catchment and lake properties Limnol. Oceanogr. 40 710–717 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK2MXos1GmsLY%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • D. Houle R. Carigan R. Ouimet (2001) ArticleTitleSoil organic sulfur dynamics in a coniferous forest Biogeochemistry 53 105–124 Occurrence Handle10.1023/A:1010703511904 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3MXktVOkurg%3D

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • B. Huwe K.U. Totsche (1995) ArticleTitleDeterministic and stochastic modelling of waterheat and nitrogen dynamics on different scales with WHNSIM J. Contam. Hydrol. 20 265–284 Occurrence Handle10.1016/0169-7722(95)00073-9 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK2MXhtVSgt7zN

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • K. Kaiser (2001) ArticleTitleDissolved organic phosphorus and sulphur as influenced by sorptive interactions with mineral subsoil horizons Eur. J. Soil Sci. 52 489–493 Occurrence Handle10.1046/j.1365-2389.2001.00396.x Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3MXntFKhsr8%3D

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • K. Kaiser G. Guggenberger W. Zech (2000) ArticleTitleOrganically bound nutrients in dissolved organic matter fractions in seepage and pore water of weakly developed forest soils Acta Hydrochim. Hydrobiol. 28 411–419 Occurrence Handle10.1002/1521-401X(20017)28:7<411::AID-AHEH411>3.0.CO;2-D Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3MXlvFSmtbw%3D

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • K. Kaiser G. Guggenberger L. Haumaier W. Zech (2001a) ArticleTitleSeasonal variations in the chemical composition of dissolved organic matter in organic forest floor layer leachates of old-growth Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) and European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) stands in northeastern BavariaGermany Biogeochemistry 55 103–143 Occurrence Handle10.1023/A:1010694032121 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3MXmvVelsL8%3D

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • K. Kaiser G. Guggenberger W. Zech (2001b) ArticleTitleIsotopic fractionation of dissolved organic carbon in shallow forest soils as affected by sorption Eur. J. Soil Sci. 52 585–597 Occurrence Handle10.1046/j.1365-2389.2001.00407.x Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD38XltVKruw%3D%3D

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • K. Kaiser G. Guggenberger M. Kaupenjohann W. Zech (2002) Refractory organic substances in aggregated forest soils – retention versus translocation F.H. Frimmel (Eds) Refractory Organic Substances in the Environment Wiley-VCH Weinheim 413–436

    Google Scholar 

  • K. Kalbitz S. Solinger J.-H. Park B. Michalzik E. Matzner (2000) ArticleTitleControls on the dynamics of dissolved organic matter in soils: a review Soil Sci. 165 277–304 Occurrence Handle10.1097/00010694-200004000-00001 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3cXjtVKrsLY%3D

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • B. Köstner (2001) ArticleTitleEvaporation and transpiration from forests in Central Europe – relevance of patch-level studies for spatial scaling Meteorol. Atmos. Phys. 76 69–82 Occurrence Handle10.1007/s007030170040

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • C.G. Kowalenko (1993) Total and fractions of sulfur M.R. Carter (Eds) Soil Sampling and Methods of Analysis Lewis Publishers Boca Raton, FL 231–246

    Google Scholar 

  • M.J. Mitchell M.D. David D.G. Maynard S.A. Telang (1986) ArticleTitleSulfur constituents in soils and streams of a watershed in the Rocky Mountains of Alberta Can. J. Forest Res. 16 315–320 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaL28Xkt1emsbc%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • M.J. Mitchell C.T. Driscoll R.D. Fuller M.B. David G.E. Likens (1989) ArticleTitleEffect of whole-tree harvesting on the sulfur dynamics of a forest soil Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 53 933–940

    Google Scholar 

  • S.I. Nilsson S. Andersson I. Valeur T. Persson J. Bergholm A. Wirhc)n (2001) ArticleTitleInfluence of dolomite lime on leaching and storage of C, N and S in a Spodosol under Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) Forest Ecol. Manage. 146 55–73 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0378-1127(00)00452-7

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • S.C. Nodvin C.T. Driscoll G.E. Likens (1986) ArticleTitleThe effect of pH on sulfate adsorption by a forest soil Soil Sci. 142 69–75 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaL28Xltlars7w%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • A. Peck H. Mayer (1996) ArticleTitleEinflußvon Bestandesparametern auf die Verdunstung von Wäldern Forstwiss. Centralbl. 115 1–9

    Google Scholar 

  • S.S. Perakis L.O. Hedin (2002) ArticleTitleNitrogen loss from unpolluted South American forests mainly via dissolved organic compounds Nature 415 416–419 Occurrence Handle10.1038/415416a Occurrence Handle11807551

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • A. Prechtel C. Alewell M. Armbruster J. Bittersohl J.M. Cullen C.D. Evans R. Helliwell J. Kopacek A. Marchetto E. Matzner H. Meesenburg F. Moldan K. Moritz J. Vesely R.F. Wright (2001) ArticleTitleResponse of sulphur dynamics in European catchments to decreasing sulphate deposition Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. 5 311–325

    Google Scholar 

  • J. Prietzel C. Weick J. Korintenberg G. Seybold T. Thumerer B. Treml (2001) ArticleTitleEffects of repeated (NH4)2SO4 application on sulfur pools in soil, soil microbial biomass, and ground vegetation of two watersheds in the Black Forest/Germany Plant Soil 230 287–305 Occurrence Handle10.1023/A:1010362316906 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3MXjt12qs7c%3D

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • R.G. Qualls B.L. Haines (1991) ArticleTitleGeochemistry of dissolved organic nutrients in water percolating through a forest ecosystem Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 55 1112–1123

    Google Scholar 

  • R.G. Qualls B.L. Haines (1992) ArticleTitleBiodegradability of dissolved organic matter in forest throughfall, soil solution, and stream water Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 56 578–586 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK38XktFequro%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • R.G. Qualls B.L. Haines W.T. Swank S.W. Tyler (2000) ArticleTitleSoluble organic and inorganic nutrient fluxes in clearcut and mature deciduous forests Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 64 1068–1077 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3cXms1Cjs7w%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • I.A. Raastad J. Mulder (1999) ArticleTitleDissolved organic matter (DOM) in acid forest soils at Gårdsjön (Sweden): natural variabilities and effects of increased input of nitrogen and of reversal of acidification Water Air Soil Pollut. 114 199–219 Occurrence Handle10.1023/A:1005198512594 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK1MXls1yhsr0%3D

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • J.J. Schoenau J.R. Bettany (1987) ArticleTitleOrganic matter leaching as a component of carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulfur cycles in a forestgrasslandand gleyed soil Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 51 646–651 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaL2sXkslKrs7Y%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • E.-D. Schulze L. Lange R. Oren (1989) Forest decline and air pollution Ecological Studies Vol. 77. Springer Verlag New York

    Google Scholar 

  • J. Simunek M. Sejna M.T. van Genuchten (1996) HYDRUS-2D for Windows 2.05 International Ground Water Modeling CenterColorado School of Mines Golden, CO

    Google Scholar 

  • F.J. Stevenson M.A. Cole (1999) Cycles of soil Carbon, Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Sulfur Micronutrients John Wiley & Sons New York

    Google Scholar 

  • T.C. Strickland W.J. Fitzgerald (1987) ArticleTitleBacterial production of organic sulphur in a forest litter extract Soil Biol. Biochem. 19 771–774 Occurrence Handle10.1016/0038-0717(87)90062-9 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaL1cXht1yhsL0%3D

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • T.C. Strickland W.J. Fitzgerald J.T. Ash W.T. Swank (1987) ArticleTitleOrganic sulfur transformations and sulfur pool sizes in soil and litter from a southern Appalachian hardwood forest Soil Sci. 143 453–458 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaL2sXltFCkurY%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • B. Ulrich (1989) Effects of acidic precipitation on forest ecosystems in Europe D.C. Adriano A.H. Johnson (Eds) Acidic Precipitation Vol. 2: Biological and Ecological Effects, Advances in Environmental Science 4 Springer Verlag New York 189–272

    Google Scholar 

  • I. Valeur S. Andersson S.I. Nilsson (2000) ArticleTitleCalcium content of liming material and its effect on sulphur release in a coniferous forest soil Biogeochemistry 50 1–20 Occurrence Handle10.1023/A:1006355532514 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3cXktVKgsr8%3D

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • K. Xia F. Weesner W.F. Bleam P.R. Bloom U.L. Skyllberg P.A. Helmke (1998) ArticleTitleXANES studies of oxidation states of sulfur in aquatic and soil humic substances Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 62 1240–1246 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK1cXmvVOqt7c%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • F.J. Zhao J. Wu S.P. McGrath (1996) Soil organic sulfur and its turnover A. Piccolo (Eds) Humic Substances in Terrestrial Ecosystems Elsevier Science Amsterdam 467–506

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Soil Science and Soil Geography, University of Bayreuth, 95440, Bayreuth, Germany

    Klaus Kaiser & Georg Guggenberger

  2. Soil Biology and Soil Ecology, Institute of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Weidenplan 14, 06108, Halle, Saale, Germany

    Klaus Kaiser & Georg Guggenberger

Authors
  1. Klaus Kaiser
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Georg Guggenberger
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Klaus Kaiser.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Kaiser, K., Guggenberger, G. Dissolved organic sulphur in soil water under Pinus sylvestris L. and Fagus sylvatica L. stands in northeastern Bavaria, Germany variations with seasons and soil depth. Biogeochemistry 72, 337–364 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10533-004-0155-5

Download citation

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10533-004-0155-5

Keywords

Search

Navigation