Buffer systems of Slovak soils - Natural barriers to acidification

This paper describes the trends of the acidification in Slovak soils during the last decades with emphasis on the influence of anthropogenic sources o f acidification (acid atmospheric pollutants, fertilizers) and presents buf fer systems of Slovak soils acting against acidification. There were determ ined and mapped three dominant buffer systems according to Ulrich classific ation in Slovak soils: 1. carbonate, 2. silicate and cation exchange and 3. aluminium.