Impact of simulated acid rain of different ph on the growth and yield of NR 930025 cultivar of Manihot Esculenta (Crantz)‎

Abstract EN

The impact of simulated acid rain on the survival, growth and yield of NR 930025 cultivar of cassava Manihot esculenta (Crantz) is studied.

A field experiment was conducted from October 2012 to March 2013 at the Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo state, Nigeria.

Simulated acid rain was prepared with a mixed concentrated sulphuric acid (H2SO4) and concentrated nitric acid (HNO3) in a ratio 2 : 1 to get the desired pH using a Deluxe pH meter.

Plants was exposed to simulated acid rain of pH 2.0, 3.0, 4.0, 5.0, 6.0 and 7.0 which was the control, respectively.

Simulated acid rain induced morphological changes including chlorosis, early leaf senescence, necrosis, leaf abscission, leaf folding and death.

Plant height, leaf area, fresh weight, dry weight, relative growth rate , the chlorophyll content of the leaf and the harvest index was highest at 7.0 (control) and significantly (p < 0.05) decreased with increasing acidity.