Publication Date:
2011-05-06
Description:
Anthropogenic impact on biogenic Si pools in temperate soils Biogeosciences Discussions, 8, 4391-4419, 2011 Author(s): W. Clymans, E. Struyf, G. Govers, F. Vandevenne, and D. J. Conley Human land use changes directly affect silica (Si) mobilisation and Si storage in terrestrial ecosystems and influence Si export from the continents, although the magnitudes of the impact are unknown. Yet biogenic silica (BSi) in soils is an understudied aspect. We have quantified and compared total biogenic (PSi a ) and easily soluble (PSi e ) Si pools at four sites along a gradient of disturbance in southern Sweden. An estimate of the magnitude of change in temperate continental BSi pools due to human disturbance is provided. Land use clearly affects BSi pools and their distribution. Total PSi a and PSi e for a continuous forested site at Siggaboda Nature Reserve (66 900 ± 22 800 kg SiO 2 ha −1 and 952 ± 16 kg SiO 2 ha −1 ) are significantly higher than disturbed land use types from the Råshult Culture Reserve including arable land (28 800 ± 7200 kg SiO 2 ha −1 and 239 ± 91 kg SiO 2 ha −1 ), pasture sites (27 300 ± 5980 kg SiO 2 ha −1 and 370 ± 129 kg SiO 2 ha −1 ) and grazed forest (23 600 ± 6370 kg SiO 2 ha −1 and 346 ± 123 kg SiO 2 ha −1 ). Vertical PSi a and PSi e profiles show significant ( p
Print ISSN:
1810-6277
Electronic ISSN:
1810-6285
Topics:
Biology
,
Geosciences