The effects of acidic irrigation on soil microorganisms at Kevo, Northern Finland

Effects of simulated acid rain (a mixture of H(2)SO(4) and HNO(3); pH(3)) on soil microbiology were studied in a field experiment in northern Finland. Irrigated control plots received the same amount of spring water (pH 6) as the acid treated plots. Fungal lengths and total bacterial numbers were studied after the treatments had continued for three growing seasons. The numbers of bacteria in five physiological groups (those utilizing starch, protein, pectin, xylan, or cellulose) were measured by MPN (most probable number) techniques. The lengths of total and FDA active fungal hyphae were not significantly different between the acid treated and the control plots. The counts of total bacteria were not significantly different between treatments, but the MPNs of all five physiological groups of bacteria were approximately 60% lower in the acid treated plots than in the controls.