Acid Precipitation Effects on Forest Processes

Abstract

Acid rain can displace essential elements from plant leaves (Wood and Bormann 1975), and soil (Wiklander 1973/74), and it can inhibit element uptake by plants (Arnon et al. 1942; Black 1968). These processes of leaching and inhibition of uptake have the potential to disrupt the cycling of mineral elements upon which forest production is partly dependent. Quantification of the potential magnitude and consequence of this disruption of mineral cycling is critical to the development of alternative management policies. A balance is needed between the cost of reducing emission of acid forming oxides of sulfur and nitrogen into the atmosphere from the combustion of fossil fuels, and the value of forest production affected by acid rain.