Acidity Trends in Rainfall Worldwide and Their Effects on Plants and Soil

Abstract

Acid rain is of concern sto scientists and environmentalists because it kills nature and can possibly travel a long distance from where it is formed. Acid rain is any form of precipitation, such as rain or snow that increases the acidity of water with a pH value below 5.6. The primary causes of acid rain are some gases in the air, such as sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, ozone, and organic acids. These gases are either natural or anthropogenic. India is the largest emitter of sulphur dioxide and also is experiencing increasing nitrogen dioxide, hence exacerbating the acid rain issue. Vegetation, being stationary, is directly impacted by acid rain. It can impact their growth, the way they metabolize food, and the way they are able to grow. It may be in various forms, such as killing leaves and flowers or altering roots and soil. Acid rain also harms genes that render plants stress-resistant. Acid rain acidifies soil and disrupts important processes such as nitrogen and carbon metabolism, breakdown of plant material, and the way microbes and enzymes work. This piece explains why acid rain happens, the way rainwater pH has varied globally over time, and the impact of acid rain on plants and soil communities.

Keywords: PH of the soil, organic acids, plant physiology, yield, and acid rain