Effect of foliar application of dilute sulphuric acid on Scots pine seedlings

• Main Authors: Katainen, Heljä-Sisko, Kellomäki, Seppo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Finnish Society of Forest Science 1981-01-01
• Series: Silva Fennica
• Online Access: https://www.silvafennica.fi/article/5123

Needle damages, transpiration, photosynthesis and needle and stem height growth of Scots pine ( L.) seedlings treated with dilute sulphuric acid were studied. The acidity of the solution was pH 3. Application of a dilute solution of sulphuric acid equivalent to the normal amount of precipitation occurring during the growing season damaged the surface of two-year-old needles but not that of the current-year needles. A reduction in the photosynthetic rate of 10â30% was observed compared with the untreated seedlings. Transpiration of the seedlings was not affected by the treatment. Needle growth and stem height growth of the seedlings growing on a substrate representing poor sandy soil were reduced. Increased needle growth and stem height growth were characteristic for the seedlings growing on substrate representing fertile moraine.Pinus sylvestris