Abstract: Peatland is a large carbon reservoir, which can act as a source or sink of greenhouse gases. Recent researches show that the SO₄^2- from acid rain can stimulate sulfate-reducing bacteria into a population capable of outcompeting methanogens for substrates, and thereby, can suppress methane emission. This microbemediated interaction may have a significant effect on northern peatlands’ and global methane emission. It is most likely that sulfate concentration, sulfur cycling, substrates, and temperature are the main factors limiting the competition of sulfate-reducing bacteria with methane-producing bacteria in peatlands. Through rapid sulfate cycling, acid deposition could suppress the production and emission of methane from peatland, but at present, the effects of acid deposition on the carbon pool and carbon cycling in peatland were still not drawn a conclusion. This paper reviewed the research advances in the effects and action mechanisms of acid deposition on the methane emission and carbon cycling in peatland, and put forward the prospects for the future researches in China.

Key words: Aluminum, Soybean, Photosynthetic character