Erigeron annuus (L.) Pers., as a green manure for ameliorating soil exposed to acid rain in Southern China

Background, aims, and scope Increasing soil acidification is a growing concern in southern China. The traditional green manures applied in the fields mostly comprise legumes that tend to accelerate soil acidification. Moreover, acid deposition can act as a source of nitrogen. Hence, we looked for new plant species that would enhance nutrient concentrations when used as green manure and would reduce soil acidity or at least not worsen it.Materials and methods We studied the use of Erigeron annuus (L.) Pers. for ameliorating acid soil in a pot experiment with simulated acid rain (SAR) treatments (pH 5.8 to 3.0) in an open area in Guangzhou City. The pots were divided into two groups named A and B groups. On day 0, pots of A group were filled with soil and planted with Erigeron annuus seedlings. Pots of B group were only filled with soil as the control. On day 40, seedlings of E. annuus were harvested and buried in the corresponding pots. On day 54, two seeds of Phaseolus vulgaris L. were sown in each pot in both groups. The growth and bean yield of P. vulgaris seedlings were then used to evaluate the effects of E. annuus on acid soil. Plant and/or soil samples were collected on days 0, 40, 54, and 150; corresponding parameters were measured.Results Results showed that E. annuus could maintain a good growth even on very acid soil. On day 40, the pH decreased significantly (P?

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