Abstract
Untreated acid mine drainage (AMD) is being considered for crop irrigation on strategically limed soils, but foliar scorching is of potential concern. To test whether crops might be protected by antitranspirants, a field trial and two glasshouse pot trials were undertaken during the 2020/2021 growing seasons. Crops, namely Sorghum bicolor, Zea mays, Glycine max, Vigna unguiculata, Triticum aestivum, Avena sativa, Medicago sativa, and Pisum sativum, were exposed to acid water with pH levels of 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, 4.0, and 7.0. The first pot trial and field trial tested the effects of sulphuric acid solutions (to simulate AMD) on leaf scorching and the second pot trial focused on the effectiveness of an antitranspirant, Wiltpruf®, in protecting crops against leaf scorching. Leaf scorching occurred at pH levels of 2.0, 2.5, and 3, but only to a maximum of 6% leaf area damage in the worst-affected crop species. Crops are likely to recover from this injury. Contrary to expectations, the antitranspirant increased the propensity for foliar injury among crops, especially at pH 2.0 and 2.5. Metal cations commonly found in AMD should be included in follow-up leaf scorching studies to better simulate likely AMD irrigation waters. However, it appears that any crop growth problems possibly encountered when irrigating with AMD are likely to stem from root zone effects.
Resumen
El drenaje ácido de mina (DAM) sin tratar se está considerando para el riego de cultivos en suelos estratégicamente encalados, pero la quemadura foliar es una potencial consecuencia. En función de probar si los cultivos podrían protegerse con antitranspirantes, se llevó a cabo un ensayo de campo y dos ensayos en macetas de invernadero durante las temporadas de cultivo 2020/2021. Los cultivos, concretamente Sorghum bicolor, Zea mays, Glycine max, Vigna unguiculata, Triticum aestivum, Avena sativa, Medicago sativa y Pisum sativum, se expusieron a agua ácida con niveles de pH de 2,0, 2,5, 3,0, 4,0 y 7,0. El primer ensayo en macetas y el ensayo de campo probaron los efectos de las soluciones de ácido sulfúrico (para simular el AMD) en el quemado de las hojas y el segundo ensayo en macetas se centró en la eficacia de un antitranspirante, Wiltpruf®, en la protección de los cultivos contra el quemado de las hojas. El quemado de las hojas se produjo a niveles de pH de 2,0, 2,5 y 3, pero sólo hasta un máximo del 6% de superficie foliar dañada en las especies de cultivos más afectadas. Es probable que los cultivos se recuperen de este daño. Contrariamente a lo esperado, el antitranspirante aumentó la propensión a las lesiones foliares entre los cultivos, especialmente a pH 2,0 y 2,5. Los cationes metálicos que se encuentran comúnmente en AMD deberían incluirse en los estudios de seguimiento de quemaduras foliares para una mejor simulación de las probables aguas de riego de AMD. Sin embargo, parece que los problemas de crecimiento de los cultivos que puedan surgir al regar con AMD se derivan probablemente de los efectos en la zona radicular.
摘 要
未经处理的酸性矿井水(AMD)被考虑用于石灰土壤上种植农作物的灌溉,但灌溉引起地作物叶片灼伤是一个潜在的问题。为了测试抗蒸腾剂是否可以保护作物,我们在2020和2021年作物的生长季节进行了一项田间试验和两项温室盆栽试验。将高粱、玉米、大豆、豇豆、小麦、燕麦、苜蓿和豌豆分别置于pH为2.0、2.5、3.0、4.0和7.0的酸性水中。第一项盆栽试验和田间试验测试了硫酸溶液(模拟AMD)对叶片灼伤的影响,第二项盆栽试验重点研究了抗蒸腾剂Wiltpruf®在保护作物免受叶片灼伤的效果。结果表明:在pH值为2.0、2.5和3的情况下叶片会被灼伤,但在受影响最严重的作物品种中,仅造成6 %叶片面积的灼伤,作物可以自行恢复;与预期相反,使用抗蒸腾剂增加了作物叶片灼伤的倾向,尤其是pH值为2.0和2.5时。在后续的叶片灼伤研究中,应考虑AMD中常见的金属阳离子,以更好地模拟可能的AMD灌溉水。然而,在使用AMD灌溉时可能遇到的任何作物生长问题都可能源于根区效应。
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Acknowledgements
We thank the Water Research Commission (WRC) of South Africa for their funding of this work (grant 2021/2023-00555).
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Mabuza, M., Annandale, J., Steyn, M. et al. Leaf Scorching due to Foliar Application of Synthetic Acid Mine Drainage and the Effectiveness of an Antitranspirant in Protecting Leaves. Mine Water Environ 42, 98–110 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10230-023-00920-y
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10230-023-00920-y