Effect of acid rain on the growth and nutrient content of two species of hardwood tree seedlings, and on the pH, microflora and nutrient content of the soil
The purpose of this study was to determine the sensitivity of two hardwood tree species and three soils to simulated acid rain. The value of infecting tree seedlings with mycorrhizal fungi before transplanting into acid-leached soils was also examined. Dundas silt loam, Hayden loam and Luther loam supporting coleus and sorghum were leached three times each week for 20 weeks with a mixture of H/sub 2/SO/sub 4/ and HNO/sub 3/ adjusted by dilution to pH 5.5, 4.0 or 2.5 Ninety seedlings each of green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica Marsh.) and silver maple (Acer saccharinum L.) were transplanted into the soils and were misted twice weekly with the acid solutions. Ash seedlings misted with the pH 2.5 solution were shorter, had a smaller total leaf area and produced less leaf and stem material than ash seedlings misted wth pH 5.5 solution. In contrast, the growth and weight of the maple seedlings increased in response to the pH 2.5 treatments. Leaves of the ash exposed to the pH 2.5 treatment were covered with numerous small lesions, and the cuticular wax was partially worn away. Nitrogen concentrations in the leaves, stems and roots of both species increased with increasing acidity, while phosphorus concentration in the leaves decreased. Soils became increasingly acidic as the acid treatments continued.
- OSTI ID:
- 6134796
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: Thesis (Ph. D.)
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
ACID RAIN
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
SOILS
ACIDIFICATION
LEACHING
AIR POLLUTION
BACTERIA
CHRONIC EXPOSURE
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
FUNGI
INHIBITION
INJURIES
LEAVES
MAPLES
MYCORRHIZAS
PLANT GROWTH
SEEDLINGS
SIMULATION
STIMULATION
ATMOSPHERIC PRECIPITATIONS
DISSOLUTION
GROWTH
MICROORGANISMS
PLANTS
POLLUTION
RAIN
SEPARATION PROCESSES
TREES
560303* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology- Plants- (-1987)
560302 - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology- Microorganisms- (-1987)