Effect of Simulated Nitric and Sulphuric Acid Rains on the Nutrient Content of Amaranthus hybridus L.

Abstract

Aims: To evaluate the potential effects of simulated nitric and sulphuric acid rain on the proximate, minerals, vitamins and antinutrients contents of Amaranthus hybridus Linnaeus (A. hybridus). Study Design: The study was carried out in a complete randomized block design. Place and Duration: Department of Botany, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria between March and June, 2016. Methodology: Plants were harvested at two months post simulated nitric and sulphuric acid rain treatments. The leaf, stem and root were separated, dried, milled into powder and used for proximate, minerals, vitamins and antinutrients analysis according to standard methods. Simulated acid rain pH 2.0, pH 3.0, pH 4.0 and control pH 6.0 were used. Results: Results revealed significant (P = .05) decrease in proximate, minerals or elements, vitamins and antinutrients of A. hybridus treated with simulated nitric acid rain (SNAR) and simulated sulphuric acid rain (SSAR) when compared with the control. Reductions induced by acids rain were significant according to pH of acid concentrations. Nutrients composition in the plant parts varied with more protein, carbohydrate, moisture, K, Ca, Fe, and Cu in leaf. Stem part had more of ash, fat, fibre, Zn, vitamin C, hydrocyanic acid. Others had similar amounts in leaf, stem and root. Highest nutrient reductions induced by SNAR and SSAR occurred at pH 2.0 and lowest reductions at pH 4.0, pH 6.0 had the highest amount of nutrients. Reduction in minerals imposed by acid rain on iron in leaf at pH 2.0 were 6.30±0.01 (SNAR), 6.30±0.01 (SSAR) compared with control pH 6.0 value of 14.03±0.01 mg/100 g,  the stem had values of 5.01±0.01 (SNAR), 5.65±0.01 (SSAR) compared to 14.09±0.01 mg/100 g value for the control pH 6.0, reduction values for the root were 4.28±0.01 (SNAR), 4.28±0.01 (SSAR) when compared with control pH 6.0 value of 14.88±0.01 mg/100 g. Decrease in protein values caused by acid rain at pH 2.0, 3.0 and 4.0 had values of 12.69±0.01,12.97± 0.03, 13.76±0.03 for SNAR and 9.39± 0.01, 10.82±0.02, 11.82±0.06 g/100 g  for SSAR respectively in leaf.