The Effects of Acids & Bases on Trees

• Wildfires, volcanic ash and urban pollution can all contribute to soil imbalances. Mark Lewis/Photodisc/Getty Images

  Acids and bases (alkalis) affect trees in a multitude of ways. Whether from the atmosphere in the form of rain or ambient moisture or in the form of chemical spills in ground soil, trees suffer under highly acidic or highly alkaline conditions. If you think that pH levels in your soil or tree's water source might be to blame for a lack of health in your trees, test your soil's pH level. Anything test reading below 7.0 indicates acidic soil, and anything above 7.0 indicates alkaline soil. Scientists consider a pH of 7.0 neutral.

Compounded Damage

• Damage caused by acidity seems to prevail in the trees in mountainous regions, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Essentially, acid rain comes from acidic moisture in clouds, and the cloud cover on trees located at a higher distance from sea level causes the erosion of certain important nutrients in leaves and needles. The lack of nutrients then leads to the inability of the leaves and needles to withstand certain elements, such as cold. Eventually, without the ability of a plant's leaves to survive cold or wind damage, the production of chlorophyll stalls or completely ends, which leads to sickness and death in the tree.

The Inability to Procreate

• Alkaline or acidic soil might prevent new plants from growing, according to information from Rich Soil. Every plant has a prime soil acidity level. Additionally, certain plants neutralize --- eliminate the acidity or alkalinity --- the surrounding soil. For this reason, plants such as peat moss can add to the soil's acidity at a dangerous level for trees. Not only does alkalinity or acidity of soil cause nutrients to break down before their absorption by adult plants, but by baby trees as well. Seedlings cannot grow in conditions that are too alkaline or too acidic.

Toxic Release

• According to the EPA, acids such as those found in acid rain and alkalis in household chemicals cause the release of certain elements into soil that later prove toxic to trees. For example, the element aluminum slowly dissolves in acid rain, causing trace amounts of aluminum to creep into the soil and then into the tree roots. Alkaline chemicals can introduce salts into the environment that are not natural to slightly acidic soil, according to the description of acid-base reactions by GSU. Aluminum and certain salts could prevent nutrient absorption and can eventually poison the tree.