Effects of Ozone and Sulfur Dioxide on Yield of Winter Wheat

Abstract

In studies conducted in consecutive years, winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), was exposed to O3 alone and to O3 and SO2 alone and in combination, to evaluate impacts on yield. In both years, exposure to O3 resulted in significant reductions in yield, although the shapes of the response curves were different. The variation in the curves for the 2 yr may be attributable to differences in precipitation and subsequent effects on the growth of the plants and their sensitivity to O3. Sulfur dioxide, either alone or in combination with O3, had no effect on yield even after multiple intermittent exposures at 0.363 ppm.