Effects of acid irrigation and liming on the production of fruit bodies by ectomycorrhizal fungi

The aim of this work was to examine the effects of an increase in acid rain upon community diversity and productivity of the ectomycorrhizal fungi in a Norway spruce stand and the possible amelioratory effects of liming. No obvious adverse effects on either the diversity or productivity were found. Acid irrigation appeared to enhance the fruiting of Russula ochroleuca, as did irrigation with 'normal' rain. A combination of acid irrigation and liming resulted in a large increase in the fruiting of Hygrophorus pustulatus. Thirty times more fruit bodies were recorded from this treatment than from the control. A principal component analysis of the fruit body data suggested that soil organic horizon pH may be an important determinant of ectomycorrhizal community structure within the spruce stand.