Nutrient losses from sandy soils during old-field succession [Since the cessation of farming in 1951, Eustis, Lakeland, and Fuquay soils, South Carolina]

Since the cessation of farming in 1951, concentrations of available P and exchangeable Ca have declined in the Ap horizons of the sandy soils of the Savannah River Plant, located near Aiken, South Carolina. During the 1st 10 years of succession, P and Ca concentrations declined rapidly Subsequently, P concentrations have changed little, if at all, whereas Ca concentrations have continued to decrease, at least in some soils. Exchangeable K concentrations decreased by 50% in Eustis soils but have changed little in Lakeland or Fuquay soils. Nutrients lost from the Ap horizons (i.e., the top 15 cm) do not appear to have been retained in the upper 1 m of the soil.