Dg. Weston, THE EFFECTIVENESS OF BUFFER ZONES IN CONIFER-AFFORESTED CATCHMENTS, Journal of the Institution of Water and Environmental Management, 9(4), 1995, pp. 396-404
This paper reports upon a study to determine whether buffer strips cou
ld improve the quality of soil-water draining from conifer-afforested
slopes. Three sites in the Monachyle Glen catchment in the Trossachs (
West Central Scotland) were sampled and several chemical indices were
determined. Buffer strips engendered some variable and qualified impro
vements in soil-water concentrations of some ions, although the improv
ement was accompanied by the anticipated loss of bases. Improvements i
n soil-water quality were related to soil characteristics - soils cont
aining organic matter being more effective than mineral soils.