Nutrient Losses from Sandy Soils during Old-field Succession

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Abstract
Since the cessation of farming in 1951, concentrations of available P and exchangeable Ca have declined in the Ap horizons of the sandy soils of the Savannah River Plant, located near Aiken, South Carolina [USA]. During the first 10 yr of succession, P and Ca concentrations declined rapidly. Subsequently, P concentrations changed little, if at all; Ca concentrations continued to decrease, at least in some soils. Exchangeable K concentrations decreased by 50% in Eustis soils but have changed little in Lakeland or Fuquay soils. Nutrients lost from the Ap horizons (i.e., the top 15 cm) do not appear to have been retained in the upper 1 m of the soil.