Question

How does acid rain negatively affect plant growth?

Answer 1

Acid Rain - Due to atmospheric pollution, the gases like carbondioxide (nitrogen oxides and sulphur) react with the droplets of water in clouds to form sulphuric acid and nitric acids. Then the rain from these clouds falls as weak acids, which is known as Acid rain.

When plants get exposed to this acid rain, it dissolves the outer waxy layer of tissue that protects the plant from drying out, which destroy chloroplasts and eventually effect on the amount of photosynthesis. If many leaves are damaged then, the plant will become host for many pests and disease causing organisms.

This acid rain also have adverse effects on the soil where the plants are growing. These acid rains alters the pH of the soil, binds and dissolve vital minerals and even washes them away, that are essential for plant Growth. Gradually the Soil pH will fall down as this acid rain continues and leads to yellowing of viens on the leaves.

Acid rains also affect aquatic plants and their growth by releasing the toxic substances into the water that dissolves the essential nutrients like calcium, magnesium and potassium which results in their stunted growth.