Throughfall chemistry beneath Quercusrubra: atmospheric, foliar, and soil chemistry considerations

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Abstract
Concentration of inorganic ions were measured in bulk rainfall and bulk throughfall collected beneath northern red oak (Quercus rubra L.) trees growing in fertile, limestone-derived soil and less fertile sandstone/shale-derived soil. Rainfall passing through the crowns at both sites was enriched with SO42-, PO43-, Ca2+, Mg2+, K+, Mn2+, and Fe2+, but lost NH4+ to the crowns. Concentrations of Na+ and H+ in incident rainfall were higher at the infertile site. There was no difference in ionic leaching from red oak crown leaves exposed to simulated acid rain solutions. Rainfall volume, leaf area, and large particle dryfall ionic concentrations were all larger at the fertile rather than the infertile site. Concentrations of Ca2+, Mg2+, NH4+, Mn2+, and SO42- measured in throughfall at the fertile site were higher than those of the infertile site. These differences in throughfall chemistry are likely due to site differences in (i) the ability of tree crowns to capture dry deposition, (ii) dry deposition chemistry and occurrence, and (iii) rainfall volume.