Aerial deposition at two research stations in Hungary

The composition of precipitation and element loads originating from rainwater were examined monthly between 2005 and 2008 at two experimental stations (Őrbottyan in the Danube–Tisza Interfluve region and Nagyhorcsok in the Mezőfold region of Hungary) of the Research Institute for Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry (RISSAC) of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences. Twenty-five characteristics were analysed: pH, EC, NO 3 -N, NH 4 -N, and concentrations of the main macro- and microelements. The observation represents the dry and wet deposition together. Measurements were carried out by ICP-OES device, with the exception of carbonate, chloride, ammonia and nitrate. The main results can be summarized as follows: – Generally, the lower amounts of monthly precipitation resulted in higher EC, pH; NH 4 -N, Ca, Na and K concentrations. The highest element yields, however, were typical of the wet months. Acidic precipitation (below pH 5) was rich in nitric acid forming NO 3 -N, but poor in NH 4 -N at the Őrbottyan ...