title: Effects of simulated acid rain on the morphology, phenology and dry biomass of a local variety of maize (Suwan-1) in Southwestern Nigeria.
abstract: Effects of acid rain on the morphology, phenology and dry biomass of maize (Suwan-1 variety) were investigated. The maize seedlings were subjected to different pH treatments (1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 4.0, 5.0 and 6.0) of simulated acid rain (SAR) with pH 7.0 as the control for a period of 90 days. The common morphological defects due to SAR application were necrosis and chlorosis. It was observed that necrosis increased in severity as the acidity increased whilst chlorosis was dominant as the acidity decreased. SAR encouraged rapid floral and cob growth but with the consequence of poor floral and cob development in pH 1.0 to 3.0 treatments. The result for the dry biomass indicates that pH treatments 2.0 to 7.0 for total plant biomass were not significantly different (P > 0.05) from one another, but were all significantly higher (P < 0.05) than pH 1.0. Therefore, it may be deduced that Suwan-1 has the potential to withstand acid rain but with pronounced morphological and phenological defects which, however, have the capacity to reduce drastically the market value of the crop. Therefore, it may be concluded that Suwan-1 tolerated acid rain in terms of the parameters studied at pH 4.0 to 7.0 which makes it a suitable crop in acid rain-stricken climes. This research could also serve as a good reference for further SAR studies on maize or other important cereals.
authors.affiliation: Environmental Biology and Public Health Unit, Department of Biology, Federal University of Technology, PMB 704, Akure, 340001, Ondo State, Nigeria. babajidemacaulay@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Babajide Milton
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Macaulay
authors.affiliation: Environmental Biology and Public Health Unit, Department of Biology, Federal University of Technology, PMB 704, Akure, 340001, Ondo State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Gloria Ebarunosen
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Enahoro
mesh_terms: D015258:Acid Rain / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D018533:Biomass; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008954:Models, Biological; D009549:Nigeria; D010935:Plant Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D036226:Seedlings / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D003313:Zea mays / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development*
chemical_list: D015258:Acid Rain
keywords: Dry biomass; Maize; Morphology; Phenology; Simulated acid rain; Suwan-1 variety; pH