The practice of adding salt to roadways during winter months in the northeast is very common. While the exact quantitative effects of this road salt are relatively unknown, it is known that increased soil salinity causes a drastic reduction in growth and biomass of the ecosystem's vegetation (Gleeson et al. 2003). This places those who live and travel in an area with large amounts of snowfall and use these salts partly responsible for the affected ecosystem. Using field and mathematical techniques, this research will (1) determine the effects road salt has on Quercus rubra (Northern Red Oak), and (2) quantitatively measure such effects (if any) on the Q rubra.
[...] Blasius, BJ and RW Merritt Field and laboratory investigations on the effects of road salt (NaCl) on stream macroinvertebrate communities. Environmental Pollution 120: 219-231. Forman, RT and R Deblinger The ecological road-effect zone of Massachusetts (U.S.A.) suburban highway. Conservation Biology 14:36-46. Gleeson, M Lelu-Walter and M Parkinson Influence of exogenous proline on embryogenic cultures of larch (Larix leptoeuropaea Dengler), sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis (Bong.) Carr.) and oak (Quercus robur L.) subjected to cold and salt stress. Ann. For. Sci. 61:125-128. [...]
[...] Every winter, the will be plowed, and an appropriate amount of road salt will be dispersed onto these paved roads. Plot 3 will receive the densest covering, and plot 4 will receive no salt at all. Non-winter months will receive no treatments. The only maintenance done to the plots at those times will be to ensure the integrity of the simulated roads. The non-winter months will also server as times when measurements of the forest are taken. In order to estimate the biomass of the P. [...]
[...] While the effect of salt on seed germination is varying, the effects on biomass are thought to be relatively constant (Agboola 1998). In fact, it has been shown to drastically reduce growth (Gleeson et al. 2003). Such reductions have even shown to affect crop yields in agricultural areas (Inubushi 1998). However, it is important to quantify such reductions, which will be shown through experimental design. Figure 2. Map of mean December snowfall over several states within the US between 1961-1990. [...]
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