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Effect of Acid Precipitation on Soil Microbial Activity: II. Field Studies
Author(s) -
Bitton G.,
Volk B. G.,
Graetz D. A.,
Bossart J. M.,
Boylan R. A.,
Byers G. E.
Publication year - 1985
Publication title -
journal of environmental quality
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.888
H-Index - 171
eISSN - 1537-2537
pISSN - 0047-2425
DOI - 10.2134/jeq1985.00472425001400010013x
Subject(s) - acid rain , transect , urease , precipitation , environmental chemistry , nitrification , chemistry , environmental science , soil respiration , soil water , ecology , nitrogen , soil science , biology , biochemistry , enzyme , meteorology , physics , organic chemistry
The effects of acid precipitation on selected microbiological processes were investigated under field conditions. The study site, near Lake McCloud, FL, was composed of three transects, each including three plots. Each transect was spray‐irrigated with lake water at various levels of acidity. Acid rain did not significantly reduce dehydrogenase, phosphatase, or urease activity; protease activity was decreased. Similarly, soil respiration was not altered by acid rain of pH 3.7 or 3.0. It was, however, observed that acid rain significantly reduced nitrification at both pH levels. Laboratory and field data were compared and discussed.