The Relations between the Sulphur Forms and the Organic and Mineral Components in Soils Developed under Spruce Forests in the Mont Lozere (France)

Mean interannual (1981–1985) hydrochemical input-output budgets indicate net gains of sulphur in forested and unforested watersheds (1150–1450m deviation range) of Mont Lozere (2). The values of the sulphur gains, ranging from 5 to 10 kg/ha/yr. according to the watersheds are underestimated, since dry deposition is not considered in the budgets (1). It is now well known (3,4) that sulphur accumulation in forest catchments is mediated physically by sulphate adsorption on mineral amorphous surfaces and microbially by incorporation of sulphur into soil organic matter. To get a better assessment of these processes, in order to foresee their long term effects upon the proton-budgets and biogeoch…