Effect of Particulates (Dust) on Cotton Growth, Photosynthesis, and Respiration¹

Abstract

Wind erosion suspends large quantities of dust in the atmosphere that settle back to the earth's surface and are deposited on plant leaves when wind velocities decrease. The object of this research was to determine the effect of wind-erodible size dust particles on upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum (L.) 'Dunn I20') growth and physiology.Dust ( < O.I06 mm) at concentrations of 0, I0.8, I5.2, I6.5, 22.I, 28.6, 38.5, and 5l.I l'g m-2 was settled onto leaves of 22-day-old growth-chamber-grown cotton plants in a dust chamber. Net photosynthesis, dark respiration, dust concentration, leaf area, and dry weight were measured I, 3, 7, and I4 days after dust was applied. Applied dust(> I5.2 l'g m-2 ) resulted in reduced dry weight at 3, 7, and I4 days after application, but dry weight accumulation was not reduced by increasing dust concentration after day 3. The dry weight reduction was due to reduced photosynthesis, I and 3 days after dust application, and increased dark respiration, I, 3, and 7 days after application when dust application rates exceeded 28.6 l'g m -2 • This study indicates that particulate deposits can alter cotton growth without physical damage to the plant and without toxic materials present in the dust. However, rapid removal of particulates by wind and rain and low natural deposition rates (1.5 l'g m-2 day-') indicate that dust deposits on leaves should not be a major problem in cotton production.

Urban dust load impact on gas-exchange parameters and growth of Sophora japonica L. seedlings

“…The road dust was sieved with a nylon fine screen to get the particles smaller than 106 μm in diameter (Armbrust 1986).…”

Effects of road dust on the growth characteristics of Sophora japonica L. seedlings

“…The biomass of wheat and S. tomentosa increased and then deceased with dust load (Singh and Siddiqui, 2003;Kuki et al, 2009). Biomass and pigments of cotton fluctuated and then decreased with a series of rising dust loads (Armbrust, 1986). Pigments of wheat increased and then deceased with increasing dust loads of fly ash (Singh and Siddiqui, 2003).…”

“…Loam effects on photosynthesis and biomass were studied (Armbrust, 1986;Hirano et al, 1995). However, the effects of road dust and loam on growth characteristics were not compared before.…”

“…Studies on the effects of dust loads outnumber those on dust composition and grain size. In previous artificial dusting studies, several dust load treatments were compared (Armbrust, 1986;Shukla et al, 1990;Charlesworth et al, 2003;Kuki et al, 2009), concerning loam, fly ash, iron dust, and cement dust. As for the dust composition's effects on plants, in the ore dust studies, ore element contents and plant characteristics were often linked (Kuki et al, 2008;Neves et al, 2009).…”

“…To highlight the dust composition effects of road dust, we used loam from an unpolluted rural area for comparison. Loam is often used to study the physical effects of dust on plants (Armbrust, 1986;Hirano et al, 1995). Road dust and loam were the two dust composition treatments used in our study.…”