Effects of simulated sulfuric acid rain on yield, growth, and foliar injury of several crops

Technical Report · Wed Oct 01 00:00:00 EDT 1980

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6560198· OSTI ID:6560198

Lee, J. J.; Neely, G. E.; Perrigan, S. C.; Grothaus, L. C.

This study was designed to reveal patterns of response of major United States crops to sulfuric acid rain. Potted plants were grown in field chambers and exposed to simulated sulfuric acid rain (pH 3.0, 3.5 or 4.0) or to a control rain (pH 5.6). At harvest, the weights of the marketable portion, total aboveground portion and roots were determined for 28 crops. Of these, marketable yield production was inhibited for 5 crops (radish, beet, carrot, mustard greens, broccoli), stimulated for 6 crops (tomato, green pepper, strawberry, alfalfa, orchardgrass, timothy), and ambiguously affected for 1 crop (potato). In addition, stem and leaf production of sweet corn was stimulated. Visible injury of tomatoes might have decreased their marketability. No statistically significant effects on yield were observed for the other 15 crops. The results suggest that the likelihood of yield being affected by acid rain depends on the part of the plant utilized, as well as on species. Effects on the aboveground portions of crops and on roots are also presented. Plants were regularly examined for foliar injury associated with acid rain. Of the 35 cultivars examined, the foliage of 31 was injured at pH 3.0, 28 at pH 3.5, and 5 at pH 4.0. Foliar injury was not generally related to effects on yield. However, foilar injury of swiss chard, mustard greens and spinach was severe enough to adversely affect marketability.

• Research Organization: Environmental Protection Agency, Corvallis, OR (USA). Environmental Research Lab.
• OSTI ID: 6560198
• Report Number(s): PB-82-126285; EPA-600/J-81-401; ON: DE83901556
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES
ACID RAIN
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
ECONOMIC IMPACT
CROPS
PLANT GROWTH
NITROGEN OXIDES
SULFUR DIOXIDE
SULFURIC ACID
AIR POLLUTION
ALFALFA
BEETS
BRASSICA
CARROTS
DEPOSITION
FOLIAR UPTAKE
FRUITS
GRASS
INJURIES
LEAVES
MAIZE
PEPPERS
POTATOES
RADISHES
ROOTS
SIMULATION
SPINACH
TOMATOES
YIELDS
ATMOSPHERIC PRECIPITATIONS
CEREALS
CHALCOGENIDES
FOOD
GRAMINEAE
GROWTH
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INORGANIC ACIDS
LEGUMINOSAE
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PLANTS
POLLUTION
RAIN
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SULFUR OXIDES
TUBERS
UPTAKE
VEGETABLES
560303* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology- Plants- (-1987)
500200 - Environment
Atmospheric- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)
553000 - Agriculture & Food Technology