Acid rain and nitrogen deposition in a sub-tropical watershed (Piracicaba): ecosystem consequences

High levels of wet N and acidic deposition were measured in southeast Brazil. In this study we addressed the sensitivity of water bodies and soils to acidification and N deposition in the Piracicaba River basin (12,400 km^2). Average acid neutralization capacity (ANC) at 23 river sampling sites varied from 350 to 1800 (mu)eq l-1. Therefore, rivers and streams in the Piracicaba basin are well buffered, if the lower limit of 200 (mu)eq l-1 is assumed as an indication of poorly buffered waters. ANC is increased by untreated wastewaters discarded into rivers and streams of the region. Average NO3 concentrations varied from 20 to 70 (mu)eq l-1. At the most polluted river sites, NO3 concentration is not highest, however, probably due to NO3 reduction and denitrification. Most of the nitrogen in streams is also provided by wastewaters and not by wet deposition. The majority of the soils in the basin, however, are acidic with a low base cation content and high aluminum concentration. Therefore, soils in this basin are poorly buffered and, in areas of forest over sandy soils, acidification may be a problem.