Yield reductions in winter barley grown on a range of soils and exposed to simulated acid rain

Summary

Seedlings of winter barley were grown in a range of British soils and subjected to simulated acid rainfall treatments of 3 cm per week at pH's of 2.5, 3.5, 4.5 and 5.6. After 21 weeks, it was found that there were highly significant effects overall of the rainwater treatments on the dry weights of leaves, stems, roots, ears and total plant. There was a trend for lower yields with increasing acidities of rainwater treatments. It was calculated, as an averaged effect over the range of soil types, that yield reductions of 10–30% can occur in response to the critical pH range of rainfall of 3.5–4.5. It was concluded that there was an urgent need for further studies on a field trial basis.