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From Air Pollution to Plant Survival. |
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by Vivian Nabisere | 25-11-2021 05:14
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From Air Pollution to Plant Survival.
Air pollution is a threat to food security and livelihood especially in developing countries like Uganda where there's high dependence on crop cultivation and animal rearing for food source as well as an economic activity. Air pollutants such as ozone, nitrogen oxides and sulphur dioxide have both direct and indirect adverse effects on animal and crop yields. Directly, air pollutants cause visible injury to plants and also alter metabolic processes when they enter through stomata. For instance, Ozone, a pollutant formed due to subsequent reactions of primary air pollutants like nitrogen oxide and volatile organic compounds in the atmosphere, inhibits carbon fixation in leaves which lowers photosynthesis rate. Ozone also accelerates leaf senescence and inhibits pollen tube growth. Soot, which is released from burning of wood fuel and in exhaust gas, is opaque and therefore reduces light available to plants. It also clogs leaf stomata, thereby preventing transpiration and plant breathing which decreases plant productivity. Sulphur dioxide causes bleaching in plant leaves, turning them yellow which reduces photosynthesis and further decreases crop yields. Indirectly, air pollutants such as sulphur dioxide contribute to acid rain, which destroys the protective waxy layer in leaves, chlorophyll in the plant and causes soil acidification. Soil acidification decreases availability of nutrients and prevents proper nitrogen fixation in the soil. All these decrease the plant productivity and can cause it's death. Consequently, air pollution causes a decline in the crop yields which further reduces food available to both livestock and humans, therefore heightening mortality rates through increased starvation. References 1. Ozone Research and Vegetative impacts by Ray Knighton. 2. Soil acidity https://agriculture.vic.gov.au/farm-management/soil/soil-acidity 3. What Is Acid Rain: Tips For Safeguarding Plants From Acid Rain Damage Https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/environmental/acid-rain-damage.htm 2. Want to feed the world? Tackle pollution from ozone and soot https://theconversation.com/want-to-feed-the-world-tackle-pollution-from-ozone-and-soot-33761 Image source: Wikimedia Commons |
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3 Comments
Hello Vivian, this is your mentor Hannah. Sorry for the late comment.
Great report on how some air pollutants affect plants.
As nature always does, I think air pollution influence animal&plants, and animal&plants influence air pollution.
It's all about interaction, right?
Thank you for your great article and please keep up with your wonderful work :)
Sincerly,
Hannah
Posted 07-12-2021 00:48
Your direction to this phenomenon is rather weird and very nice to me. I have been ranting around about air pollution but I have never really sat down to think of its implications on plants, I think this piece of yours has enlightened me, thank you and green cheers!
Posted 25-11-2021 12:58
Hello Vivian, this is your mentor Joon!
Air pollution is a real deal causing serious direct and side effects. As the word Air pollution is wide and general, there could be different pollutants such as Ozone, Soot, Sulphur Oxides, and so on. As it is not possible to deal with every problems, we should first set up the priority by evaluating seriousness and price-cost efficiency. Though we can't be free from all air pollutions, we could still bring it down to bearable levels.
Well read your article, and let's keep up!
Best,
Joon
Posted 25-11-2021 12:48