The Direct Effects of Simulated Acid Rain (SAR) - 2013 Experiment


 
Green house set up in 2013

Overview: This experiment examines the direct foliar effects of acute, short-term exposure to simulated acid rain (SAR) on seedlings of three domesticated plant species: sunflower, radish, and clover. Simulated acid rain of pH 3.5 and pH 2 (tapwater acidified with a 2:1 molar ratio of sulfuric:nitric acids) is sprayed onto the above-soil foliage of 10 day old seedlings once daily to completely wet the foliage and moisten the soil surface for a total of 20 daily applications. The controls are similarly treated with plain tap water (typically ~pH 6.8-7.4). The seedlings are watered to soil saturation once daily with tapwater either several hours before or after treatment application.There are 18 replicates (pots of seedlings) per species per treatment group in 2013. Upon completion of the treatment phase, the plants are measured for stem length and leaf area, dry biomass per plant, the proportion of plants that exhibit any damage (dead cells, lesions, spotting, etc.), and the percent leaf area exhibiting damage. Leaf wettability is examined by placing drops (20-30 ul) on the leaves and observing retention and drop shape (contact angle). Leaf samples are also prepared and viewed using a scanning electron microscope to document microscale effects on tissues, surface structures, and epicuticular wax (view poster of 2008 experiment SEM images).

Seedling Establishment 2013 (1/22/13 - Day 1 SAR application)

 

Day 14 of SAR Applications (2-4-2013)

Click the individual images to see larger overview of plants in each treatment group.

 CLOVER
 
RADISH
 
SUNFLOWER
 
 DAY 14 pH 2.0 Leaf damage details
 

Appearance at data collection (2-10-2013)
SAR applications were stopped on Feb 10th, 2013.
Click the individual images to see larger overview of plants in each treatment group.

 

CLOVER
 

  RADISH
 
 
 SUNFLOWER

 

 Click to see side views | Control stems  pH 3.5 stems  pH 2.0 stems
 
 

Droplet formation images

 

 


ARCHIVAL PHOTOS OF TYPICAL EFFECTS OF SIMULATED ACID RAIN IN THIS EXPERIMENT

Following are detail shots of the typical physical effects of the acid treatment on the pH 2 plants. These photos are from various years, but typify direct effects we see routinely in this experiment.


 

 
pH 2 sunflower with true leaf petiole
growing from cotyledon position on stem
.
 
Abnormal leaf development in sunflowers. These were seen in pH 3.5 and control.

 
Same as above.
 
Sunflower pH 2 stem lesions day 19.

 SEM acid burn

Scanning electron micrograph of acid burn on a sunflower leaf treated with pH 2 simulated acid rain.

 

2011 Bates College
Modified on 1-4-2011 GA