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Name: Grant C.
Status: student
Age: 17
Location: N/A
Country: N/A
Date: Thursday, June 06, 2002
Question:
Is it true that sap from evergreen trees is acidic? If true, do they cause the prevention of undergrowth?

Replies:
The sap of conifers could be acidic. However, the lack of seedlings, herbaceous layer could be due to more prominent factors such as lack of sunlight and water. Decomposition of needles and other organic matter would probably be larger in affect upon the acidity of the soil. possibly of interest:

http://www.esf.edu/pubprog/brochure/soilph/soilph.htm

http://www.cof.orst.edu/cof/teach/for442/cnotes/sec6/sec6.htm

Anthony R. Brach, Ph.D.

Acidic pine needles retard the growth of some other plants beneath pine trees. See a good plant ecology book for more information.

J. Elliott


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