Abstract
In a greenhouse, seven identical mini-ecosystems, simulating soft water ponds, were exposed to different types of artificial rain water. The effects of rain water containing H2SO4 and nitrate, and rain water containing ammonium sulphate on water quality and vegetation were studied and compared. Causal relations were established between rain water quality, water chemistry and changes in floristic composition. Ammonium sulphate deposition, particularly, strongly affected water quality and vegetation development. Although ammonium sulphate deposition was only slightly acid, due to nitrification it acted as an important acid source, causing acidification to pH=3.8. Under acidified conditions, ammonium sulphate deposition lead to a luxuriant growth ofJuncus bulbosus andAgrostis canina. In the mini-ecosystems, H2SO4 deposition with a pH of 3.5 only decreased the pH of the water to 5.1 within 1 yr. The acidification of water appeared to be coupled with changes in alkalinity, sulphate, Al, Cd, Ca, Mg, K and inorganic-N. It is concluded that in NH3-affected regions in The Netherlands, the high atmospheric deposition of ammonium sulphate probably contributes to a large extent in the acidification, eutrophication and floristic changes of oligotrophic soft waters.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
van Breemen, N., Driscoll, C.T., and Mulder, J.: 1984,Nature 307, 599.
Drabløs, D., and Tollan, A. (eds.): 1980,Ecological impact of acid precipitation, SNSF project, Oslo, Norway, 383 pp.
Galloway, J.N. and Dillon, P.J. : 1983, In: Ecological effects of acid deposition, NSEPB, report PM 1636, 145–160.
Henriksen, A.: 1982, “Susceptibility of surface waters to acidification”, in Johnson, R.E. (ed.),Acid Rain/Fisheries, Proc. Int. Symp. Acid. Precip. Fish. Imp., American Fisheries Society, Bethesda, Maryland, p. 103–121.
Leuven, R.S.E.W., Kersten, H.L.M., Schuurkes, J.A.A.R., Roelofs, J.G.M., and Arts, G.H.P.: 1986,Water, Air & Soil Pollut, in press.
Nihlgard, B.: 1985,Ambio,14, 2.
Roelofs, J.G.M., Schuurkes, J.A.A.R., and Smits, A.J.M.: 1984,Aquat. Bot.,18, 389.
Schindler, D.W., and Turner, M.A.: 1982,Water, Air and Soil Pollut,18, 259.
Schuurkes, J.A.A.R.: 1986,Experientia,42, 351.
Schuurkes, J.A.A.R., Kok, C.J. and den Hartog, C.: 1986,Aquatic Botany,24, 131.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Schuurkes, J.A.A.R., Heck, I.C.C., Hesen, P.L.G.M. et al. Effects of sulphuric acid and acidifying ammonium deposition on water quality and vegetation of simulated soft water ecosystems. Water Air Soil Pollut 31, 267–272 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00630842
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00630842