Growth responses of woody species to long- and short-term fumigation with sulfur dioxide

Abstract

Height growth of silver maple, white ash, yellow-poplar, sycamore, eastern cottonwood, and white spruce seedlings was not significantly influenced by 0.15 ppm SO₂ for 8 hours/day, 5 days/week. A fumigation treatment of 0.25 ppm SO₂ for 8 hourd/day, 5 days/week did not significantly affect height growth of black alder, yellow-poplar and white spruce seedlings but significantly reduced the height growth of eastern cottonwood, green ash, and sycamore seedlings. Exposure to toxic concentrations of SO₂ (1 to 4 ppm) for 2 to 8 hours significantly affected the height growth and caused leaf injury in silver maple and yellow-poplar seedlings. Growth was only suppressed for 14 days after the toxic fumigation because by that time new leaves had formed and normal growth had resumed.

Citation

Jensen, Keith F.; Dochinger, Leon S. 1979. Growth responses of woody species to long- and short-term fumigation with sulfur dioxide. Res. Pap. NE-442. Broomall, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Forest Experiment Station. 7p.