Key features include nutrient and water storage capacity,
the ability of the soil to buffer acidity formed during
net nitrification, and to prevent or diminish the leaching
of nitrate and other nutrients. This type of stability
corresponds to Ulrich’s ‘elasticity’ (Ulrich, 1987) or
is simply expressed as ‘buffer capacity’ (Jorgensen and
Mejer, 1977; Ulrich, 1992). System resilience can be
conferred by mineral weathering, which provides the
system with available nutrients. Weathering of silicate
minerals is an important stability parameter, especially
in managed forests characterized by a significant export
of base cations due to harvest and deposition of acid
compounds, since it is the main natural base cation
source. Further, natural and anthropogenic (pollution)
airborne sources of elements may contribute to nutrient
supply and thereby to system resilience.