Effect of simulated acid precipitation on algal fixation of nitrogen and carbon dioxide in forest soils

Journal Article · Sat Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1983 · Environ. Sci. Technol.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/es00107a005· OSTI ID:6183559

Chang, F H; Alexander, M

Three forest soils from areas exposed to acid precipitation were incubated for 21 days in the light to enhance the development of indigenous algae. The rates of nitrogen fixation (acetylene reduction) in the light and dark were significantly less if the soils were treated with simulated rain at pH 3.5 than at pH 5.6. The inhibition increased with increasing amounts of simulated rain at pH 3.5. The fixation of CO/sub 2/ in the light was significantly less in the three soils following their exposure to simulated precipitation at pH 3.5 than to the same solutions at pH 5.6, and the extent of suppression rose with increasing amounts of synthetic rain. It is suggested that algae in terrestrial ecosystems may be especially susceptible to acid precipitation.

• Research Organization: Cornell Univ., Ithaca, NY
• OSTI ID: 6183559
• Journal Information: Environ. Sci. Technol.; (United States), Journal Name: Environ. Sci. Technol.; (United States) Vol. 17:1; ISSN ESTHA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560303* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology-- Plants-- (-1987)
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ACID RAIN
ALGAE
ATMOSPHERIC PRECIPITATIONS
BENCH-SCALE EXPERIMENTS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
CARBON CYCLE
ECOSYSTEMS
FORESTS
INHIBITION
NITROGEN FIXATION
PH VALUE
PLANTS
RAIN
SOILS
TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEMS