BIOELEMENT LEACHING FROM NORWAY SPRUCE EC OSYSTEMS IN BAVARIA AFTER WINDTHROW

For 13 different windthrown forest sites in Bavaria soil solution comp osition was determined during a 3.5-year period. Excess nitrification, associated with high concentrations of nitrate on the majority of the sires, and enlarged amounts of seepage water during the first 4 years acidify the soil. Depending on the acidification status of the soils the produced protons are buffered by release of Ca, Mg, or Al. Bioelem ent leaching during 5 years after the windthrow caused estimated losse s of (2) 70 to 310 kg nitrate-N, 26 to 320 kg Ca, 8 to 61 kg Mg, and 0 to 43 kg K per hectare. Simultaneously with the growth of grasses and herbs, concentrations of nitrate and metal cations are substantially reduced.