Acid soil indicators in forest soils of the Cherry River Watershed, West Virginia
| Authors: | C. Farr, J. Skousen, P. Edwards, S. Connolly, J. Sencindiver |
| Year: | 2009 |
| Type: | Scientific Journal |
| Station: | Northern Research Station |
| Source: | Environmental Monitoring and Assessment. 158: 343-353. |
Abstract
Declining forest health has been observed during the past several decades in several areas of the eastern USA, and some of this decline is attributed to acid deposition. Decreases in soil pH and increases in soil acidity are indicators of potential impacts on tree growth due to acid inputs and Al toxicity. The Cherry River watershed, which lies within the Monongahela National Forest in West Virginia, has some of the highest rates of acid deposition in Appalachia. East and West areas within the watershed, which showed differences in precipitation, stream chemistry, and vegetation composition, were compared to evaluate soil acidity conditions and to assess their degree of risk on tree growth.