Effects of acidic precipitation on vegetation

Conference · Sat Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1977 · Proc. Int. Clean Air Cong.; ()

OSTI ID:5553279

Jacobson, J S; van Leuken, P

An experimental study of the effect of simulated acidic rain on greenhouse and field grown conifers and herbaceous vegetation was conducted. Pinus strobus (Eastern white pine), P. sylvestris (Scotch pine), Helianthus annus (sunflower), Phaseolus vulgaris (bean) and Spinacea oleracea (spinach) were sprayed with simulated rain. pH of solutions was adjusted by H/sub 2/SO/sub 4/ and HNO/sub 3/ to a range of 2.2 to 3.4. Plants were examined for injury following completion of treatment(s). Symptoms consisted of necrotic lesions. On pine, lesions developed at the apical and mid-portion of needles. Dormant conifers were tolerant while injury developed more readily on older needles. White pine was more susceptible than Scotch pine. On bean leaves, lesions were scattered over the leaf and were tan to dark brown. Symptoms on sunflower and spinach leaves consisted of light brown irregularly shaped lesions. Foliar injury to herbaceous plants increased with increasing treatment time and acidity. Injury was induced at pH 2.6 after one minute, at pH 3.0 after 1.5 hours, at pH 3.2 after 3 hours and at pH 3.4 after 9 hours. No aberrant growth or development was observed in conifers. Necrosis is the typical response to acidic rain. A relationship between treatment duration and pH is drawn. It shows that long duration at a pH as high as 3.4 can produce necrosis of herbaceous species. Herbaceous species are more susceptible than conifers.

• OSTI ID: 5553279
• Report Number(s): CONF-770557-
• Conference Information: Journal Name: Proc. Int. Clean Air Cong.; ()
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

500200 -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
560303* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology-- Plants-- (-1987)
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ACID RAIN
ACUTE EXPOSURE
ATMOSPHERIC PRECIPITATIONS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
CHRONIC EXPOSURE
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
CONIFERS
DOSE-RESPONSE RELATIONSHIPS
FOOD
INJURIES
LEAVES
LEGUMINOSAE
PHASEOLUS
PINES
PLANTS
RAIN
SENSITIVITY
SIMULATION
SPINACH
SUNFLOWERS
SYMPTOMS
TREES
VARIATIONS
VEGETABLES