Photosynthesis and biomass of red spruce and loblolly pine seedlings as influenced by soil lead and acidic deposition

Conference · Tue Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1986 · Plant Physiol., Suppl.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5325177

Seiler, J R; Paganelli, D J

Native red spruce and loblolly pine soils were amended with either 0, 150, 300, 600 and 1200 mg/kg lead as lead chloride. Six-month-old spruce and six-week-old pine seedlings were treated for 19 weeks with simulated rain of either pH 4.5 or 3.0. Rain was applied directly to the soils at a rate of 1.5 cm per week. Photosynthesis (mg CO/sub 2/ hr/sup -1/g/sup -1/), height, and needle, shoot and root weight were measured at the completion of the experiment. Rain pH had no significant effect on the growth of either species. However, red spruce photosynthesis was higher at a rain pH of 3.0, averaging 2.7 compared to 2.0 at pH 4.5. Loblolly pine photosynthesis exhibited the same pattern but differences were not significant. Growth and photosynthesis of red spruce were reduced even at the lowest lead level with additional lead resulting in successive reduction. Photosynthesis ranged from 3.7 in control seedlings to 1.5 at the 1200 mg/kg lead level. Loblolly pine growth was less sensitive to lead with growth being reduced only at the higher concentrations. Loblolly pine photosynthesis exhibited no decline even at the highest lead level.

• Research Organization: Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State Univ., Blacksburg
• OSTI ID: 5325177
• Conference Information: Journal Name: Plant Physiol., Suppl.; (United States) Journal Volume: 80:4
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560303* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology-- Plants-- (-1987)
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ACID RAIN
ATMOSPHERIC PRECIPITATIONS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOMASS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CONIFERS
CROPS
ELEMENTS
ENERGY SOURCES
GROWTH
LEAD
METALS
PHOTOCHEMICAL REACTIONS
PHOTOSYNTHESIS
PINES
PLANT GROWTH
PLANTS
PRODUCTIVITY
RAIN
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
SEEDLINGS
SPRUCES
SYNTHESIS
TREES