Abstract
Soil samples from the Norwegian catchment of Langtjern were analysed. These samples were air-dried before determining cations concentrations applying the ICP-AES technique and pH measurements. The results were used to calculate the effective cation exchange capacity and base saturation. The results are presented and compared with earlier studies from the same catchment. It is difficult to make a conclusion about the general tendencies of the effective cation exchange capacity from the 1983 study until the present study. However, the values of the base saturation, show a clear increasing tendency.
Critical loads were calculated for all the profiles in this study using the Steady State Mass Balance Model. The results were then evaluated and compared with sulphur and nitrogen deposition data from the same catchment in order to discuss whether the critical loads are exceeded or not. This study indicates that the terrestrial ecosystems of the Langtjern catchment can tolerate higher sulphur and nitrogen deposition.