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Effects of Simulated Acid Rain on Soil Solution Composition and Orchardgrass Seedling Viability
Author(s) -
Haun G. Wesley,
Wolt Jeff,
Reynolds John H.
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
soil science society of america journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.836
H-Index - 168
eISSN - 1435-0661
pISSN - 0361-5995
DOI - 10.2136/sssaj1988.03615995005200040026x
Subject(s) - seedling , soil water , soil ph , acid rain , cation exchange capacity , chemistry , forage , dactylis glomerata , agronomy , soil acidification , zoology , environmental science , soil science , biology , poaceae , organic chemistry
Acid, low cation exchange capacity (CEC) surface soils in low intensity management forage ecosystems may be sensitive to acid rain. Alteration of surface soil chemical properties by acid rain may influence establishment of small seeded forage grasses. Viability of orchardgrass ( Dactylis glomerata L.) seedlings was monitored concurrently with simulated acid rainfall applications (pH 4.3‐2.5) on Etowah (Typic Paleudults) and Statler (Humic Hapludults) surface soils sampled from established sod which had been unfertilized in the prior 2 yr. Simulated rainfall of pH 3.1 tended to result in increased seedling viability in comparison to other rainfall pH, but the effect of rainfall pH was significant in only six of 16 counting dates. Maximum seedling numbers and days to maximum were unaffected. Increased rainfall acidity (pH 4.3‐3.1) increased total seedling dry weight. Soil solutions from the surface 1.5 cm obtained by vacuum displacement were analyzed for pH, electrical conductivity (EC), and total concentrations of Ca, Mg, K, Na, Al, NH 4 , Cl, NO 3 , and SO 4 . Soil solution pH decreased and EC increased with increasing acidity of simulated rainfall. Generally, increasingly acid rainfall resulted in linear (sometimes quadratic) increases in cation and anion components of soil solution with the exception of Al, Na, and NH 4 . The rainfall pH × soil interaction was not significant for any solution component. Calcium ion activity was unaffected, while Al 3+ activity increased from 5.62 × 10 −8 to 3.16 × 10 −6 with increased rainfall acidity (rainfall pH 4.3‐2.5). The Ca/Al activity ratio decreased 64‐fold with increasing acidity of simulated rainfall. No association between orchardgrass seedling responses and soil solution composition was apparent.