Yield Response of Davis Soybeans to Simulated Acid Rain and Gaseous Pollutants in the Field

Abstract

SUMMARYThe yield response of soybeans {Glycine max (L.) Merr. cv. Davis) to simulated acid rain in the presence of ambient or less-than-ambient levels of gaseous pollution was determined in the field. Open-top chambers were used to alter the levels of gaseous pollutants. An automatic rain simulation system was used to exclude ambient rain and apply rain simulants during natural rain events. These simulations mimicked natural rain events with respect to volume, duration, intensity and frequency. In addition, the intervals between simulated and natural rain events were the same, and therefore many of the potential experimental artifacts associated with scheduled rain simulant applications in earlier research were avoided. Variables measured in the experiment included seed, oil, and protein yield, stem weight, numbers of pods and seeds, and weight per seed. There were no statistically significant rain or chamber treatment effects on the measured variables except for weight per seed and protein yield. The presence of open-top chambers, when compared with plots without chambers, caused yield variables to be reduced 15 to 20%. There was no evidence to suggest that the response to rain acidity was affected by exposure to ambient or less-than-ambient levels of gaseous pollution.

Impacts of Simulated Acid Rain on the Growth and the Yield of Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) in the Mountains of Northern Vietnam

“…Similarly, for the yield index and yield components of soybean, the lower the pH of the rainwater, the more the soybean yield declines with the quantity and quality of the yield components. The effects of acid rain on the growth and development of crops have been documented in studies on corn [24,86,87], soybean [64,77,88], tomato [83,84], and cassava [85]. The damage by acid rain includes chlorosis, necrosis, stunting, and early senescence [27,84].…”

Gaseous pollutant and acidic rain impacts on crops in the United States: A comparison

“…'Williams,' 'Forrest,' 'Hodgson,' and 'Davis' soybeans were reported to be unaffected by ambient or higher levels (pH as low as 2.6) of rainfall acidity in studies at four different locations (6)(7)(8)(9).…”