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598752 
Journal Article 
Effect of ambient gasess on respiration of soil supporting four crops in Central Saudi Arabia 
Akram, A; Ahmad, A; Ibrahim, A; Nagat, B 
2009 
Yes 
American Journal of Applied Sciences
ISSN: 1546-9239
EISSN: 1554-3641 
6 
3 
456-462 
Oleya and Industrial City) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to determine the effect of increased tropospheric gases on responses of in situ soil respiration (Rs) of wheat (Triticum aestivum cv. Giza 68), broad bean (Vicia faba cv. Lara), kidney bean (Phaseolus vulgaris cv. Giza 3) and pea (Pisum sativum cv. Perfection) rhizosphere soil. These plants were grown to a full-season in pots to receive four air quality treatments. Daily mean of O3, SO2, NO2 and CO2 concentrations were recorded by portable gas analysers in the centre of the studied localities. The Rs values were measured monthly before seed germination, during all growth stages and after harvesting (October, December, February, April and June) at three times during the day (morning, noon and afternoon) for each stage. The maximum values recorded for O3 in mid-June 2007 were 39, 77, 95 and 166 nl/l in Maseef, Naseem, Olea and Industrial City, respectively. Significant decreases in Rs were observed for all polluted localities. The greatest decreases in Rs were found at Industrial City, followed by Naseem and Oleya. More reductions in Rs were observed for the Industrial City treatments during flowering and grain filling stages, while normal respiration was observed in Maseef area (less polluted). This study concluded that O3 injury can reduce the Rs by decreasing the activities and reactions in soil supporting plants.