Soil degradation in the Wielkopolski National Park (Poland) as an effect of acid rain simulation

The aim of this study was to evaluate qualitatively as well as quantitative ly the response of typical soils of the Wielkopolski National Park to simul ated acid rain. The experiments with simulated acid precipitation were perf ormed on soil monoliths of unchanged structure. The artificial rain used fo r the simulations was diluted sulphuric acid of pH 2.0, 3.0 and for the con trol experiments distilled water was used. Changes in the soil pH and Ca/Al molar ratio of specified soil genetic horizons were described. A quantitat ive description of the leaching dynamics of calcium, magnesium, sodium pota ssium and aluminium, dependent on the kind of sprinkling was given. The res ults proved that simulated acid rain washed out significant amounts of nutr ients and released toxic amounts of aluminium. Humus and clay fraction coll oids were noted to have a buffer effect.