Question

An agronomist hypothesized that acid rain inhibits the growth of Bermuda grass seedlings. He planted three samples of grass and watered each with a different pH solution.

How did plant growth in the pH 3.1 group compare to plant growth in the other groups?

Answer 1

The seedlings watered with the pH 3.1 solution showed markedly reduced growth compared with the other groups. They were shorter, had less leaf area/biomass, showed chlorosis/necrosis more often, and had higher mortality. This supports the agronomist’s hypothesis that very acidic (acid‑rain‑like) conditions inhibit Bermuda grass seedling growth (likely by damaging roots and reducing nutrient uptake).