Effectiveness of Plant Species for Removing Atmospheric Ammonia

Six plant species of Yaupon, Eastern red cedar, American holly, Arizona cypress, Arborvitae and Roughleaf dogwood were utilized to determine their effectiveness in the removal of atmospheric ammonia. All species were exposed to three ammonia levels (1, 5 and 10 ppm) in an environmental chamber. Foliar ammonia content was quantified using an enzymatic technique. The effects of exposure to ammonia on the physiological responses (e.g. photosynthetic activity, stomatal conductance, and transpiration rate) of plants in ambient condition were also determined using an open design photosynthetic gas exchange system. Foliar ammonia content was significantly different among the six plant species (p<0.0001) with Eastern red cedar exhibiting the highest content. The physiological responses differed significantly depending on the plant species and the ammonia treatment level. The photosynthetic response of plants to the presence of ammonia was mixed. At low exposure level, all species except Arborvitae had decreased photosynthetic activity, reducing by as much as 44.5% for Yaupon. At the highest concentration, however, Yaupon’s photosynthetic activity improved by about 10%. Exposure to ammonia caused increased stomatal conductance and transpiration rate on American holly and Arizona cypress, making them more susceptible to water loss.

[1]  G. Avellone,et al.  Diurnal Regulation of Leaf Water Status in High- and Low-Mannitol Olive Cultivars , 2014, Plants.

[2]  R. Samson,et al.  Canopy Uptake of 15NH3 by Four Temperate Tree Species and the Interaction with Leaf Properties , 2012, Water, Air, & Soil Pollution.

[3]  T. Koike,et al.  Growth and Leaf Gas Exchange in Three Birch Species Exposed to Elevated Ozone and CO2 in Summer , 2012, Water, Air, & Soil Pollution.

[4]  P. Radhapriya,et al.  Assessment of air pollution tolerance levels of selected plants around cement industry, Coimbatore, India. , 2012, Journal of environmental biology.

[5]  M. Riedo,et al.  Temporal variability in bioassays of the stomatal ammonia compensation point in relation to plant and soil nitrogen parameters in intensively managed grassland , 2009 .

[6]  A. Legge.  Air quality and ecological impacts : relating sources to effects , 2009 .

[7]  A. Tuzet,et al.  Relationship between ammonia stomatal compensation point and nitrogen metabolism in arable crops: current status of knowledge and potential modelling approaches. , 2008, Environmental pollution.

[8]  Adrizal,et al.  Growth and Foliar Nitrogen Status of Four Plant Species Exposed to Atmospheric Ammonia , 2006, Journal of environmental science and health. Part. B, Pesticides, food contaminants, and agricultural wastes.

[9]  J. Roelofs.  The effect of airborne sulphur and nitrogen deposition on aquatic and terrestrial heathland vegetation , 1986, Experientia.

[10]  Anna M. Fan,et al.  Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment , 2005 .

[11]  Faisal Khan,et al.  Attenuation of Gaseous Pollutants by Greenbelts , 2000 .

[12]  M. Domingos,et al.  Leaf contents of nitrogen and phenolic compounds and their bearing with the herbivore damage to Tibouchina pulchra Cogn. (Melastomataceae), under the influence of air pollutants from industries of Cubatão, São Paulo , 1999 .

[13]  J. Schjoerring,et al.  Uptake and utilization of atmospheric ammonia in three native Poaceae species: leaf conductances, composition of apoplastic solution and interactions with root nitrogen supply , 1999 .

[14]  T. Dueck,et al.  Influence of ammonia and ozone on growth and drought sensitivity of Pinus sylvestris , 1998 .

[15]  J. Schjoerring,et al.  Ammonia Flux between Oilseed Rape Plants and the Atmosphere in Response to Changes in Leaf Temperature, Light Intensity, and Air Humidity (Interactions with Leaf Conductance and Apoplastic NH4+ and H+ Concentrations) , 1996, Plant physiology.

[16]  L. Sodek,et al.  MICROWAVE DRYING OF PLANT MATERIAL FOR BIOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS , 1995 .

[17]  C. Lovatt,et al.  Evaluating Analytical Procedures for Quantifying Ammonium in Leaf Tissue , 1995 .

[18]  P. Reich,et al.  Response Mechanisms of Conifers to Air Pollutants , 1995 .

[19]  L. Hove,et al.  Physiological effects of five months exposure to low concentrations of O3 and NH3 on Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) , 1994 .

[20]  L. J. van der Eerden,et al.  Effects of atmospheric ammonia on vegetation--a review. , 1994, Environmental pollution.

[21]  J. Raven,et al.  Implications of N acquisition from atmospheric NH3 for acid-base and cation-anion balance of Lolium perenne , 1993 .

[22]  G. Stewart,et al.  The deposition of atmospheric ammonia and its effects on plants. , 1993, The New phytologist.

[23]  F. Fehsenfeld,et al.  Natural Vegetation as a Source or Sink for Atmospheric Ammonia: A Case Study , 1992, Science.

[24]  A. S. Raghavendra.  Physiology of trees , 1991 .

[25]  L. Hove,et al.  The effect of wind velocity, air temperature and humidity on NH3 and SO2 transfer into bean leaves (phaseolus vulgaris L.) , 1990 .

[26]  O. Kooten,et al.  Physiological effects of long‐term exposure to low and moderate concentrations of atmospheric NH3 on poplar leaves , 1989 .

[27]  Alastair H. Fitter,et al.  Environmental physiology of plants , 1982 .

[28]  P. Kramer.  12 – The Importance of Water and the Process of Transpiration , 1979 .

[29]  Meirion Thomas,et al.  Plant Physiology. 3rd. Ed. , 1949 .