The effects of winter exposure to acid soil conditions on the subsequent survival and growth of herbaceous, forest perennials: a preliminary investigation
U. Falkengren-grerup, The effects of winter exposure to acid soil conditions on the subsequent survival and growth of herbaceous, forest perennials: a preliminary investigation, ANN BOTANY, 82(6), 1998, pp. 893-897
For many plant species, growth is limited in acid soils, which are characte
rized by high levels of potentially-toxic elements and low nutrient availab
ility. Although plant-soil interactions are traditionally studied during th
e growing season, the highest concentrations of toxic elements in the soil
may occur during the winter months. The present study investigated the effe
cts of a 3-month exposure to either an acid or a reference soil, at tempera
tures fluctuating around freezing point, on subsequent survival and growth
of eight herbs (Brachypodium sylvaticum, Carex pilulifera, Geum urbanum, Lu
zula pilosa, Mycelis muralis, Silene dioica, Stellaria nemorum, Veronica of
ficinalis). The plants were exposed to ambient weather conditions from Dece
mber to March, after which they were replanted in fresh reference soil and
transferred to a glasshouse. Their biomass was measured 5 weeks later. The
plant species differed in their responses to the soils, in a manner reflect
ing their natural field distributions. All plants of the most acid-tolerant
species survived in both treatments, whereas the more sensitive species sh
owed lower survival rates after growth in the acid than in the reference so
il. Similar results were found for the regrowth: C. pilulifera and L. pilos
a, the most acid-tolerant species, were unaffected by the soil treatments (
ratios between biomass in acid compared to reference soils were 0.8 and 1.1
, respectively), whereas G. urbanum, M. muralis, S. nemorum and V. officina
lis were negatively affected (ratios 0.3-0.5). Effects on above- and below-
ground biomass were broadly similar. This preliminary evidence indicates th
at soil chemistry during the winter can be important for both survival and
growth during the vegetative period that follows. (C) 1998 Annals of Botany
Company.