Sensitivity of Twenty Soybean Cultivars to Simulated Acid Rain

Abstract

Efforts to assess the effect of acid rain on soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] have shown variable results. Simulated acid rain has been reported to cause increases, decreases, and no significant effect on yield. Although few parameters were identical among the diverse studies reported in the literature, one common difference was the choice of cultivar. In this study, 20 soybean cultivars were screened to determine their relative sensitivity to simulated acid rain. Soybean was grown in 1984, 1985, and 1986 in field plots in east central Illinois. Plots were protected from ambient rain and treated twice weekly with simulated rain of pH 5.6 (control) or pH 3.0. Early each growing season visible leaf injury was noted for all 20 cultivars, and level of injury was significantly higher for plants receiving the more acidic treatment (pH 3.0). Average yield for the 20 cultivars was approximately the same when plants were treated with simulated rain of pH 3.0 as when plants were treated with stimulated rain of pH 5.6. Over all 3 yr, the group V cultivars Essex and Forrest yielded more grain and had more chaff dry matter, pods per hectare, and pods per plant with the more acidic pH treatment than with the control treatment. Only 'Williams 82' yielded significantly less with the more acidic pH treatment than with the control treatment. The results suggest soybean cultivars may respond differently to applications of highly acidified rainfall, but none of the cultivars tested were extremely sensitive to growth and yield reduction.

The Effect of Simulated Acid Rain on Plant Growth Component of Cowpea ( Vigna Unguiculata ) L. Walps

“…All the plant growth parameters that studied the plant height, leaf area and fresh weight of V. unguiculata were decreased significantly at all acidity levels with respect to the control set; the highest reductions were observed at pH 2.0 level ( Table 1). The adverse effects of simulated acid rain on plant growth parameters on several crops were also observed by Evans et al (1997), Banwart et al (1990), Chevone et al (1984) and Liu et al (2010).…”

Ecophysiological Response of <i>Capsicum annuum</i> L. Exposed to Simulated Acid Rain

“…The highest reduction was observed at pH 2.0 level (Table 1 and 3). The adverse effects of simulated acid rain on plant growth parameters on several crops were also reported by Banwart et al (1990), Evans et al(1997) and Halman et al (2008). Photosynthetic pigments were also inhibited in response to acidity levels.…”

Impacts of Simulated Acid Rain on the Growth and the Yield of Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) in the Mountains of Northern Vietnam

“…Leaf lesions were also recorded in 20 soybean cultivars when they were exposed to simulated acid rain at pH 5.6 and 3.0. This study indicates that leaf damage is greater at pH 3.0 [78]. Plant pigment changes were observed in soybean leaves after 20 days of exposure to simulated acid rain at pH 3.5 (1% H 2 SO 4 and 1% HNO 3 ) [79].…”