Acidification and Chemical Properties of Fagus sylvatica L. Forest Soils

Exchangeable Al and acidity of Swedish beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) forest soils are documented and discussed on the basis of known changes in soil chemical properties during recent decades. It is concluded that the pH and base saturation decrease, which has occurred in most forest soils of the region, has been accompanied by increases in the amount of exchangeable and soil solution Al and a greater decrease of the Ca: AI ratio, particularly in the B horizon. An adverse nutritional state now seems to prevail in most beech forest B horizons. Conditions are more favourable in the topsoil due to the formation of Al-humus complexes which are less available to plant uptake, and in the case of very acid mor layers, a low Al content. However, in A (mull) horizons of intermediate acidity with a rather high clay content and low in humus, conditions approaching those of the B horizon may be found.