Fifty years of reduction in sulphur deposition drives recovery in soil pH and plant communities

Seaton, Fiona M. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2022-7451; Robinson, David A. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7290-4867; Monteith, Don ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3219-1772; Lebron, Inma ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8610-9717; Bürkner, Paul ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5765-8995; Tomlinson, Sam ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3237-7596; Emmett, Bridget A. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2713-4389; Smart, Simon M. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2750-7832. 2023 Fifty years of reduction in sulphur deposition drives recovery in soil pH and plant communities. Journal of Ecology, 111 (2). 464-478. https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2745.14039

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Abstract/Summary

1. Sulphur deposition through rainfall has led to species loss and ecosystem degradation globally, and across Europe huge reductions in sulphur emissions since the 1970s were expected to promote the recovery of acidified ecosystems. However, the rate and ecological impact of recovery from acidification in terrestrial ecosystems is still unclear as is the influence of management and climate, as to date there has been no long-term spatially extensive evaluation of these changes. 2. Here, we present data from thousands of sites across Great Britain (pH range 3.3–8.7) surveyed repeatedly from 1978–2019 and assess change in soil pH and plant acidity preference (Ellenberg R) in response to atmospheric deposition of sulphur and nitrogen. We analyse change in grasslands managed for pasture, referred to as high-intensity habitats, and compare to seminatural habitats comprising rough grassland, broadleaved woodland, bog and heathland, referred to as low-intensity habitats. 3. Soil pH increased from 1978 to 2007 but then decreased between 2007 and 2019, resulting in a net increase of ~0.2 pH units in low-intensity habitats but no change in high-intensity habitats. The community average Ellenberg R increased in seminatural habitats by ~0.2 units but remained stable in intensive grasslands. 4. In seminatural habitats, but not intensive grasslands, these changes in plant community composition were associated with the soil pH changes which were in turn linked to decreasing sulphur deposition and differences in rainfall. 5. Nitrogen deposition, which was relatively stable over the survey period, showed no additional effect upon soil acidity once sulphur deposition was accounted for. 6. Synthesis: Our results provide conclusive evidence that reductions in acid emissions are stimulating the gradual recovery of chronically acidified terrestrial ecosystems at a whole-country scale, while also suggesting this recovery is being compromised by changing climate and land management.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2745.14039
UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:	Pollution (Science Area 2017-) Soils and Land Use (Science Area 2017-) Water Resources (Science Area 2017-)
ISSN:	0022-0477
Additional Information. Not used in RCUK Gateway to Research.:	Open Access paper - full text available via Official URL link.
Additional Keywords:	atmospheric deposition, nitrogen deposition, plant community, precipitation, soil acidity, vegetation
NORA Subject Terms:	Ecology and Environment Agriculture and Soil Science Botany
Date made live:	27 Jan 2023 16:43 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/533627

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