Effect of sulfur dioxide on woody boreal forest species grown on native soils and tailings

Journal Article · · J. Environ. Qual.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5929024

Addison, P A; Malhotra, S S; Khan, A A

A study was carried out on the influence of 15.2 ..mu..mol m/sup -3/ (0.34 ppm) (Canadian maximum acceptable limit) of SO/sub 2/ on net CO/sub 2/ assimilation rate (NAR) and visible symptom development of several boreal forest woody species. Fumigation with SO/sub 2/ significantly reduced NAR in all species and produced visible symptoms of injury in 2 to 20 d. The decrease in NAR of deciduous species (aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.), willow (Salix sp.), green alder (Alnus crispa (Ait.) Parsh), and paper birch (Betula papyrifera March)) was significantly more rapid than of conifers (jack pine (Pinus banksiana Lamb.), white spruce (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss), and black spruce (P. mariana (Mill.) BSP)) or an evergreen angiosperm (Labrador tea (Ledum groenlandicum Oeder)) when grown on a fertilized Brunisol. Cases did on appear until NAR had decreased considerably. The response of these metabolic and visible responses appeared to be related to differences in S uptake owing in part to higher gas exchange rates for deciduous species than for conifers. Conifers growing in oil sands tailings responded to SO/sub 2/ with a significantly more rapid decrease in NAR as compared with those growing in the Brunisol. Because both soils were fertilized, nutrient status was ruled out as a cause. It is suggested that the conifers obtained from the tailings dike were predisposed to SO/sub 2/ fumigation by either the presence of toxic material in the tailings sand or their history of exposure to moderate levels of SO/sub 2/. Sulfur uptake and visible symptom development were not different on tailings as compared with the Brunisol.

• Research Organization: Northern Forest Research Centre, Edmonton, Alberta
• OSTI ID: 5929024
• Journal Information: J. Environ. Qual.; (United States), Vol. 13:3
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
04 OIL SHALES AND TAR SANDS
OIL SAND TAILINGS
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
TOXICITY
SHRUBS
INJURIES
PHOTOSYNTHESIS
SULFUR DIOXIDE
TREES
AIR POLLUTION
CARBON DIOXIDE FIXATION
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
LAND POLLUTION
PLANT GROWTH
SULFUR
UPTAKE
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DATA
ELEMENTS
GROWTH
INFORMATION
NONMETALS
NUMERICAL DATA
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PHOTOCHEMICAL REACTIONS
PLANTS
POLLUTION
SOLID WASTES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SULFUR OXIDES
SYNTHESIS
TAILINGS
WASTES
560303* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology- Plants- (-1987)
041000 - Oil Shales & Tar Sands- Environmental Aspects