Acidification of forest soils in the Hrubý Jeseník region

Abstract

The Hrubý Jeseník Natural Forest Region (NFR) is a border mountain territory which belongs to the areas most heavily impacted by air pollution in the Czech Republic. This paper compares results for soil properties investigated in non-limed forest stands during the years 1994 to 2007. Differences between the 2007 and 2000/01 surveys concerning Al, Ca and Mg content and pH in particular soil horizons are depicted using kriged maps. This means of interpreting laboratory analysis results allowed us to highlight the most endangered NFR areas from an acidification standpoint. Evaluation of results for Al, Ca and Mg content, their available forms and pH values in the Hrubý Jeseník NFR in the 1994–2007 period revealed the presence of an ongoing acidification process. The southern (Praděd region) and northwestern areas (Králický Sněžník region) may be singled out as the most depleted.