Description:
AbstractFor 3 years (1986‐89), element fluxes with bulk deposition and throughfall were determined in a 40 yr. old pine plantation and a 80‐140 yr. old mixed pine/oak stand in the Grunewald forest in Berlin. Although SO4‐inputs are very high (60 kg S·ha−1.a−1) due to the urban character of the study site, acid inputs are moderate because of the buffering action of airborne alkaline dusts. This is reflected in the high Ca‐inputs (12 kg·ha−1a−1 in bulk precipitation). Acid neutralisation was also observed in the canopies and could be attributed to 60‐80% to increased Ca‐ and Mg‐fluxes in throughfall, stemming from foliage leaching and dust interception. Heavy metal inputs were low in comparison to other Central European study sites, the decrease in Pb‐inputs over the 3‐year period could be attributed to the increased use of unleaded gasoline since 1987. Total inputs and canopy leaching showed clear seasonal patterns for some elements: SO4‐, H‐, Ca‐ and Mg‐fluxes were higher in winter, on the other hand, K‐ and Mn‐enrichment in throughfall showed two peaks, in early summer and late fall.