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Effect of simulated acid rain on plant growth behaviour of Solanum melongena Linn. and Vigna unguiculata ssp cylindrica (L.) Walp.

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Abstract

The aim of the present study was to assess the effect of simulated acid rain (SAR) on the growth of two crop plants, brinjal (Solanum melongena Linn.) and cowpea (Vigna unguiculata ssp. cylindrica (L.) Walpers. During experimentation, the brinjal plants were divided into 16 sets of 15 bags each. Similarly, 16 sets of 15 bags each were prepared with cowpea plants. One set of each plantwas used as a control and was treated with distilled water while the rest of the four trays of each set were provided varying SAR solutions treatment, one each at pH 5.6, 4.5, 3.5 and 2.5, respectively.Subsequent treatment of bags of both the plants was similar.This study revealed the effects of Simulated Acid Rain (SAR), on the growth of both the crop plants. In the present study, it was observed that decrease in pH to 2.5 adversely affected almost all the growth parameters in brinjal. In case of cowpea, however, this depression was quite discernible even at pH 3.5. On the other hand, substantial stimulation of all the growth parameters was observed in the case of both plants at pH 4.5.The inhibitory action of SAR on the process of plant growth and development has been attributed to the presence of biotoxic radicals i.e. sulphite and bisulphite. The acidificationalters the soil chemical composition and reduces the soil fertility, which ultimately affects the growth and yield of crop plants. To restore the sustainability of the environment and ecosystem, this issue requires further analysis and intensive investigation.

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Acknowledgements

We are thankful to the Department of Botany C.C.S. University, Meerut, UP, India and Department of Botany and Microbiology, Gurukul Kangri University, Haridwar, Uttarakhand, India for providing all facilities required while performing this experiment. We are also thankful to the Maharishi Markandeshwar (Deemed to be University), Mullana-Ambala, Haryana, India for data analysis and presentation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Botany, C.C.S. University, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, India

    Vasundhara Arora & Neeraj Malik

  2. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Maharishi Markandeshwar (Deemed to be University), Mullana-Ambala, India

    Bikram Jit Singh

  3. Department of Botany and Microbiology, Gurukul Kangri University, Haridwar, Uttarakhand, 249404, India

    Navneet Bithel

  4. Department of Biotechnology, Maharishi Markandeshwar (Deemed to be University), Mullana-Ambala, Haryana, 133207, India

    Sushil Kumar Upadhyay & Raj Singh

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  1. Vasundhara Arora
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Arora, V., Singh, B.J., Bithel, N. et al. Effect of simulated acid rain on plant growth behaviour of Solanum melongena Linn. and Vigna unguiculata ssp cylindrica (L.) Walp.. Environ Dev Sustain 26, 627–655 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-022-02726-4

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