Consumption of atmospheric carbonyl sulfide by coniferous boreal forest soils

A static enclosure method was used to determine the role of saturated and unsaturated soils and soil‐plant systems in carbonyl sulfide exchange with the atmosphere. The influence of several environmental factors on these exchange processes was also investigated by measuring fluxes in catchments that were experimentally manipulated. Results indicated that both vegetated and nonvegetated soil surfaces were active sinks for OCS, with rates of consumption ranging between 3.6 and 77.7 nmol m −2 h −1 . Both vegetation and microorganisms appeared to be involved in OCS uptake. Robust multiple regression analyses indicated that catchments receiving treatments of either nitrogen or lime consumed OCS 30% more rapidly than the control. Uptake of OCS in a recently clear‐cut site was 3.5 times greater than the control. Vegetated and water‐saturated soil surfaces consumed OCS 43% and 84% more rapidly than nonvegetated and unsaturated soils, respectively.