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Effect of Sulfur Dioxide on Woody Boreal Forest Species Grown on Native Soils and Tailings
Author(s) -
Addison P. A.,
Malhotra S. S.,
Khan A. A.
Publication year - 1984
Publication title -
journal of environmental quality
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.888
H-Index - 171
eISSN - 1537-2537
pISSN - 0047-2425
DOI - 10.2134/jeq1984.00472425001300030001x
Subject(s) - evergreen , willow , deciduous , taiga , fumigation , alder , black spruce , botany , soil water , salicaceae , balsam , woody plant , horticulture , agronomy , biology , ecology
A study was carried out on the influence of 15.2 µ mol m −3 (0.34 ppm) (Canadian maximum acceptable limit) of SO 2 on net CO 2 assimilation rate (NAR) and visible symptom development of several boreal forest woody species. Fumigation with SO 2 significantly reduced NAR in all species and produced visible symptoms of injury in 2 to 20 d. The decrease in NAR of deciduous species {aspen ( Populus tremuloides Michx.), willow ( Salix sp.), green alder [ Alnus crispa (Ait.) Parsh], and paper birch ( Betula papyrifera Marsh)} was significantly more rapid than of conifers { jack pine ( Pinus banksiana Lamb.), white spruce [ Picea glauca (Moench) Voss], and black spruce [ P. mariana (Mill.) BSP]} or an evergreen angiosperm [Labrador tea ( Ledum groenlandicum Oeder)] when grown on a fertilized Brunisol. cases did not appear until NAR had decreased considerably. The response of these metabolic and visible responses appeared to be related to differences in S uptake owing in part to higher gas exchange rates for deciduous species than for conifers. Conifers growing in oil sands tailings responded to SO 2 with a significantly more rapid decrease in NAR as compared with those growing in the Brunisol. Because both soils were fertilized, nutrient status was ruled out as a cause. It is suggested that the conifers obtained from the railings dike were predisposed to SO 2 fumigation by either the presence of toxic material in the tailings sand or their history of exposure to moderate levels of SO 2 . Sulfur uptake and visible symptom development were not different on tailings as compared with the Brunisol.