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How Might Acid Rain Affect the Plants in an Ecosystem?

Acid rain refers to precipitation containing high amounts of sulfuric acid. The causes of this increased acid content includes natural sources, such as volcanoes and rotting plant debris, and man-made sources like the burning of fossil fuels. The deposit by acid rain of toxic chemicals in soil can cause significant harm to any plant life relying on the soil for nourishment. Acid rain can also directly damage plants by dissolving nutrients and destroying the protective waxy layer on leaves.

Effects On Soil
- Effects on soil vary from region to region due to a difference in a soil trait called buffering capacity. Buffering capacity is the degree to which the soil is able to neutralize the acidity in rainwater. Soils with a high buffering capacity protect affected plant life from nearly all effects of acid rain. Soils with low buffering capacity have a very poor ability to absorb rain acidity, which leads to an increase of acidity of the soil. This can lead to severe damage to plants in the area. Buffering ability depends on the density of the soil and the types of chemical elements present.
Effects On Trees
- While acid rain does not kill trees directly, it does cause an especially harmful effect to a tree's leaves. The destruction of its leaves leads to a stunting of the tree's ability to absorb nutrients. Secondarily, acid rain can dissolve nutrients on leaves and in the soil before trees can digest them. Acid rain also introduces toxic substances into the soil, which poisons trees from the ground up.
Effects On Vegetation
- While food crops are spared some of the more damaging effects of acid rain due to the protection given them by farmers, natural vegetation pays a heavy toll. Plant growth may be stunted due to weakened roots brought on by acid rain exposure. As with trees, other plants suffer from damaged leaves and lost nutrients washed away by acid rain. Plants that are not killed by acid rain remain weak and more easily killed by environmental hazards like strong winds.
Solutions
- Acid rain causes heavy damage to plants all over the globe. Fortunately, steps are being taken to stop acid rain at the source. Regulations exist to limit the release of the harmful chemicals contained within acid rain. Many industrial manufacturing plants filter their smoke stacks to reduce toxins such as sulphur dioxide. Coal burning plants wash coal to reduce toxins. On the individual level, reducing the use of electric power also leads to a reduction in sulphur production, due to the reduction of coal burning to produce electricity.

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