Abstract
The effects of various concentrations of air pollutants on crop losses were investigated. Parsley, bean and carrots were fumigated using SO2 in concentrations ranging from 0.35 mg m-3 (0.13 ppm) to 4.5 mg m-3 (1.7 ppm) with and without lead/zinc/cadmium-containing particulate matter. It was concluded that a long-term exposure to low levels of SO2, even without visible plant injuries, resulted in more significant crop losses than short-term, high concentrations.
Measurements of root and leaf weight in carrot and parsley fumigated in exposure chambers with SO2 show that the ratio of root to leaf weight is dependent on the type and concentration of pollutants. This result leads to the conclusion that a mathematical model describing the above phenomena might be an useful tool in the assessment of crop losses due to known concentrations of air pollutants during the growth period.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Ashenden, T. W.: 1978, ‘Growth Reductions in Cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata L.) as a Result of SO2 Pollution’, Environ. Pollut. 15, 161–166.
Ashenden, T. W. and Mansfield, T. A.: 1978, ‘Extreme Pollution Sensitivity of Grasses When SO2 and NO2 Are Present in the Atmosphere Together’, Nature 273, 142.
Bell, J. N. B., Rutter, A. J., and Relten, J.: 1979, ‘Studies on the Effects of Low Levels of Sulphur Dioxide on Growth of Lolium perenne L.’, New. Phytol. 83, 627–643.
Bennett, T. H., Hill, A. C., Solezmani, A., and Edwards, D. M.: 1975, ‘Acute Effects of Combinations of SO2 and NO2 on Plants’, Environ. Pollut. 9, 127–132.
Crittenden, P. D. and Read, D. J.: 1978, ‘The Effects of Air Pollution on Plant Growth with Special Reference to Sulphur Dioxide. II Growth Studies with Lolium perenne L.’, New. Phytol. 80, 49–62.
Guderian, R. and Stratmann, H.: 1968, ‘Freilandversuche zur Ermittlung von Schwefeldioxidverbindungen auf die Vegetation’, III Forschungsberichte des Landes NW No 1920 Westdentscher Verlag Koeln und Opladen.
Guderian, R. and Küppers, K.: 1979, “Problems in Determining Dose-Response-Relationships as a Basic for Ambient Pollutant Standards’, Committee on Agricultural Problems, Timber Committee. Symposium on the Effects of Airborne Pollution on Vegetation. Warsaw, 20–24 August.
Horsman, D. C and Wellburn, A. R.: 1975, ‘Synergistic Effect of SO2 and NO2 Polluted Air upon Enzyme Activity in Pea Seedlings’, Environ. Pollut. 8, 123–133.
Jones, H. C., Cunningham, J. R., McLaughlin, S. B., Lee, N. T., and Ray, S. S.: 1973, ‘Investigation of Alleged Air Pollution Effects of Yield of Soybeans in the Vicinity of the Shawne Steam Plant’, TVA E-EB-73.3. Tennessee.
Krause, G. H. M.: 1978, ‘Phytotoxische Wechselwirkungen zwischen Schwefeldioxid und den Schwermetallen Zink und Cadmium’, Schriftenteihe der Landesanstalt für Imissions und Bodennutzungsschutz des Landes Nordrhein-Westfalen in Essen. H. 34, 86–91, Verlag W. Girardet, 43 Essen.
McLaughlin, S. B., Shriner, D. S., McConathy, R. K., and Mann, L. K.: 1979, ‘The Effects of SO2 Dosage Kinetics and Exposure Frequency on Photosynthesis and Transpiration of Kidney Beans Phaseolus Vulgaris L.’, Environ. Exp. Bot. 19, 179–191.
Marchwińska, E., Kucharski, R. et al.: 1979, ‘Accumulation of Heavy Metals in Plants as Influenced by Varying Air Pollution Composition’. U.S. EPA Grant JB 5-513-10. Unpublished report. EPAC Katowice, Poland.
Mejstřik, V.: 1980, ‘Influence of Low SO2 Concentrations on Growth Reduction of Nicotiana tabacum L. cv. Samsun and Cucumis sativus cv. unikat’, Environ. Pollut. Ser. A. 21, 73–76.
Pearsall, W. M.: 1927, ‘Growth Studies VI. On the Relative Sizes of Growing Plants’, Annals of Bot. No. 41, 549–556.
Tingey, D. T., Heck, W. Q., and Reinert, R. A.: 1971, ‘Effect of Low Concentrations of Ozone and Sulfur Dioxide on Foliage Growth and Yield of Radish’, J. Am. Soc. Hort. Sci. 96, 369–371.
Wellburn, A. R.: 1980, ‘Effects of SO2 and NO2 on Metabolic Function’, 32nd School in Agricultural Science ‘Effects of Gaseous Air Pollution in Agriculture and Horticulture’, University of Nottingham.
Wright, B. M.: 1950, ‘A New Dust Feed Mechanism’, J. Sci. Instr. 27, 12, 12–15.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Marchwińska, E., Kucharski, R. The combined influence of SO2 and heavy metal-containing particulates on beans, carrots and parsley. Environ Monit Assess 8, 11–25 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00396604
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00396604