Long-term monitoring study on rain, throughfall, and stemflow chemistry in evergreen coniforous forests in Hokkaido, Northern Japan

Long-term study on acid precipitation monitoring at suburban forests in Sapporo city showed that bulk precipitation pH were below 4.8 in recent years. Throughfall and stemflow chemistry for two main coniferous species (Abies sachalinensis and Picea jezoensis) showed different regime for pH and element deposition. The mean annual pH values of throughfall and stemflow in Picea stand were 1.0 to 1.3 units higher than that of rain collected outside the forest. In contrast, mean annual pH of throughfall and stemflow in Abies stand were 0.3 to 0.5 units higher than that of rain. Mean annual inorganic nitrogen input via throughfall and stemflow were estimated 0.41 +/- 0.11 gN/m(2)/yr in Abies stand, 0.44 +/- 0.13 gN/m(2)/yr in Picea stand. Cation input via throughfall, especially for K, in Picea stand was 1.4 times as large as that in Abies stand. Mean annual input of S in both stands was the same level. The possible effects on surface soil properties and nutrient cycling in northern evergreen conifers was discussed.