Artificial acid rain (pH 3.0, 4.0 and 5.0) was treated on the seeded pots of 4 species to examine its effects on germination, leaf injury and seedling growth. Artificial acid rain was prepared by diluting sulfuric acid with ground water and ground wat...
Artificial acid rain (pH 3.0, 4.0 and 5.0) was treated on the seeded pots of 4 species to examine its effects on germination, leaf injury and seedling growth. Artificial acid rain was prepared by diluting sulfuric acid with ground water and ground water (pH 6.5) was used as control. Artificial acid rain was sprayed to seeded pots three times per week. About 5mm of artificial acid rain was treated each time from early April to early October, 1991. Germination, seedling establishment, leaf injury, soil acidity and seedling growth were measured and compared among the treatments. The results were summarized as follows; 1. Germination and seedling establishment rate of Pinus thunbergiana was highest on the pH 4.0 pot whereas that of Picea abies was highest on the pH 3.0 pot. Those of Pinus densiflora and Abies holophylla were not significantly differed among the treatments. 2. The differences in seedling height of all species were not significantly differed among the treatments. 3. Seedling dry weight of Pinus densiflora differed significantly among the treatments. but that of Pinus thunbergiana did not differ. 4. With decrease of pH value of artificial acid rain. the number of injured needle and injured individual tended to be increased. 5. The differences of soil acidity were significant among the treatments for all species.