Effects of simulated acid precipitation on growth and nodulation of leguminous plants

Effects of acid-forming emissions on soil microorganisms and microbially-mediated processes /

“…Other aspects of this study illustrate some of the difficulties of acid rain studies, e.g., rain adjusted to either pH 6 or 3.2 substantially reduced nodulation when applied to the foliage only as compared to application to the soil only. Chang and Alexander (1983a) also observed decreased nodulation with simulated acid rain in an acid soil. However, the "control" rain resulted in increased soil pH which would have enhanced nodulation.…”

Effect of simulated acid rain on mycorrhizal infection of Pinus strobus L.

“…Rain in the northeastern part of the United States currently has an average pH of 4.0, and the pH of the precipitation is frequently between 3.5 and 4.5 (Evans, 1982). Although such acidic rain is widely believed to be harmful to species in aquatic ecosystems (Schofield, 1976), the effects on plants and other organisms in terrestrial ecosystems have been difficult to document and are undoubtedly complex (Fuhrer and Fuhrer-Fries, 1982;Irving, 1983).…”

“…Lee et al (1980) reported that root crops were the most likely to be affected by acid rain, and Blum and Tingey (1977) suggested that reduced root development is a general response to atmospheric pollutants. Species of Rhizobium or their symbiosis with legumes may also be affected by acidity (Chang and Alexander, 1983;Shriner and Johnston, 1981). The importance of mycorrhizae to forest trees is well established (Ruehle and Marx, 1979), but the effects of acid rain on this symbiosis have been largely ignored.…”