Abstract
The effects of the absorption of artificial acidic solutions only from below-ground parts on root systems were examined for 60 days in summer and 72 days in fall using cuttings and saplings of Japanese red cedar (Cryptomeria japonica D. Don). Cuttings and saplings absorbed the solutions through the potted soils from the reservoir of an autoirrigator and/or a simplified-autoirrigator. Nitric acid solutions of pH 2.0, 4.0 and 6.0 and distilled water (control) were used in summer, mixtures of H2SO4 and HNO3 solutions of pH 2.0, 3.0 and 4.0, HNO3 solution of pH 3.0, H2SO4 solution of pH 3.0 and distilled water (control) were used in fall. Although no detrimental effects of acidic solutions on saplings were observed, the rooting rate of cuttings treated at pH 2.0 in summer was significantly lower than that of the control. Root lengths and root dry weight per cutting at pH 2.0 in summer and fall were smaller than those of the control, and the difference in fall was significant. The present study revealed that the acidic treatment only from below-ground parts had detrimental effects on the root systems of cuttings, suggesting the importance of quantification of the effects on below-ground parts, as well as on above-ground parts, to evaluate the effects of acidic precipitation on trees.
Similar content being viewed by others
Literature cited
Clemensson-Lindell, A. and Persson, H. (1995) Fine-root vitality in a Norway spruce stand subjected to various nutrient supplies. Plant and Soil. 168, 169: 167–172.
Deans, J.D., Leith, I.D., Sheppard, L.J., Cape, J.N., Fowler, D., Murray, M.B., and Mason, P.A. (1990) The influence of acid mists on growth, dry matter partitioning, nutrient concentrations and mycorrhizal fruiting bodies in red spruce seedlings. New Phytol. 115: 459–464.
Evans, L.S. (1982) Biological effects of acidity in precipitation on vegetation: A review. Environ. Exp. Bot. 22: 155–169.
Futai, K., Kaneko, N., and Hijii, N. (1994) A review of the ecological studies on effects of acidic deposition on interactions of forest biological communities 2. Effects of acidic deposition on the interactions between trees and microorganisms. Jpn. J. Ecol. 44: 339–352. (in Japanese with English summary)
Hindawi, I.J., Rea, J.A., and Griffis, W.L. (1980) Response of bush exposed to acid mist. Am. J. Bot. 67: 168–172.
Izuta, T., Miwa, M., Miyake, H., and Totsuka, T. (1990a) Growth response ofCryptomeria seedlings to simulated acid rain. Man. Environ. 16: 44–53 (in Japanese with English summary)
Izuta, T., Yokota, F., Miyake, H., and Totsuka, T. (1990b) Effects of soil acidification on the growth ofCryptomeria seedlings. Man. Environ. 16: 55–61. (in Japanese with English summary)
Izuta, T., Ohtani, T., Yokoyama, M., Horie, K., and Totsuka, T. (1993) Effects of simulated acid rain on the growth of fir seedlings. J. Jpn. Soc. Air. Pollut. 28: 29–37. (in Japanese with English summary)
Koike, T., Sanada, M., and Ohta, S. (1993) Acid rain. 2. What about the effects of acid rain on plant ecosystem? Current status of forest ecosystem and research activities. Jpn. J. Soil Sci. Plant Nutr. 64: 704–710. (in Japanese)
Krause, G.H.M., Arndt, U., Brandt, C.J., Bucher, J., Kenk, G., and Matzner, E. (1986) Forest decline in Europe: Development and possible causes. Water Air. Soil Pollut. 31: 647–668.
Matsumoto, Y., Maruyama, Y., Morikawa, Y., and Inoue, T. (1992) Some negative results of simulative acid mist and ozone treatments toCryptomeria japonica D. Don seedlings in explanation of matureC. japonica decline in the Kanto plains in Japan. Jpn. J. For. Environ. 34: 85–97. (in Japanese with English summary)
Mengel, K., Hogrebe, A.M.R., and Esch, A. (1989) Effects of acidic fog on needle surface and water relations ofPicea abies. Physiol. Plant. 75: 201–207.
Miwa, M., Izuta, T., and Totsuka, T. (1993) Effects of simulated acid rain and/or ozone on the growth of Japanese cedar seedlings. J. Jpn. Soc. Air Pollut. 28: 279–287 (in Japanese with English summary)
Nouchi, I. (1990) Effects of acid precipitation on agricultural crops and forest trees. J. Jpn. Soc. Air Pollut. 25: 295–312. (in Japanese with English summary)
Pitelka, L.F. and Raynal, D.J. (1989) Forest decline and acidic deposition. Ecology 70: 2–10.
Qiu, Z., Chappelka, A.H., Somers, G.L., Lockaby, B.G., and Meldahl R.S. (1992) Effects of ozone and simulated acidic precipitation on above- and below-ground growth of loblolly pine (Pinus taeda). Can. J. For. Res. 22: 582–587.
Raynal, D.J., Roman, J.R., and Eichenlaub, W.M. (1982) Response of tree seedlings to acid precipitation—II. Effect of simulated acidified canopy throughfall on sugar maple seedling growth. Environ. Exp. Bot. 22: 385–392.
Schütt, P. and Cowling, E.B. (1985) Waldsterben, a general decline of forest in central Europe; symptoms, development and possible causes. Plant Dis. 38: 601–610.
Sekiguchi, K., Hara, Y., and Ujiiye, A. (1986) Dieback ofCryptomeria japonica and distribution of acid deposition and oxidant in Kanto district of Japan. Environ. Technol. Lett. 7: 263–268.
Sokal, R.R. and Rohlf, F.J. (1981) Biometry, 2nd ed. 859 pp, W.H. Freeman and Company, New York.
Takahashi, K., Okitsu, S., and Ueda, H (1986) Acid deposition and Japanese cedar decline in Kanto region, Japan. Jpn. J. For. Environ. 28: 11–17. (in Japanese)
Taoda, H. (1992) The outline of the monitoring project of forest decline caused by acid rain. Special report on the acidic deposition and forest environmental problems. Hokkaido Res. Ctr. For. Forest Prod. Res. Inst.: 50–51. (in Japanese) The titles are tentative translation from Japanese titles by the authers of this paper.
Tokuoka, M. (1973) Water suction of cuttings measured by autoirrigator. J. Jpn. For. Soc. 55: 35–38. (in Japanese)
Tokuoka, M., Uemura, H., and Hayashi, O. (1976) Investigation on the best method forChamaecyparis obtusa cutting (I). J. Jpn. For. Soc. 58: 218–221. (in Japanese)
Tsutsumi, T. (1962) Studies on nutrition and fertilization of some important Japanese conifers. Bull. Gov. For. Exp. Stn. 137: 1–158. (in Japanaese with English summary)
Wöllmer, H. and Kottke, I. (1990) Fine root studiesin situ and in the laboratory. Environ. Pollut. 68: 383–407.
Yagi, H., Sasaki, S., Siba, Y., Tange, K., Aizawa, S., and Ishizuka, S. (1990) Effects of acid rain onCryptomeria japonica. Synthesis of Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research on Priority Areas, Humanic-environmental systems. 1987–89. (G028-N11-01; The Ministry of Education, Science and Culture), 137–149. (in Japanese) The titles are tentative translation from Japanese titles by the authers of this paper.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
About this article
Cite this article
Hirano, Y., Yokota, T. Effects of the absorption of artificial acidic solutions on the root systems of Japanese red cedar (Cryptomeria japonica D. Don) cutting and saplings. J. For. Res. 1, 17–22 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02348334
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02348334