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The Agricultural Potential of Dredged Materials as Evaluated by Elemental Composition of Growing Plants¹

ABSTRACT

The potential for using dredged materials (DM) as a plant growth medium and as an amendment for marginally productive agricultural soils was evaluated by studying the elemental composition of plants grown on DM and soil-DM admixtures. Barley (Hordeum vulgate L.) and ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) grown on selected DM produced dry matter nearly equal to that of plants grown on Minnesota agricultural soils in the greenhouse. Plant growth on some sediments was limited by suspected P and Mg deficiencies. Reduced, species-dependent dry matter production was correlated with excessive tissue concentrations of Al, B, Cu, Mn, and/or Zn. Additions of fine-textured DM to coarse-textured, marginally productive soils resulted in increased dry matter production, while additions of coarse-textured DM to fine-textured soils reduced their yields. Barley was generally more susceptible to growth depressions than ryegrass.

Barley and ryegrass grown on some DM contained toxic levels of B (244 µg/g), Cu (39 µg/g), Mn (643 µg/g), and Zn (292 µg/g). Plant Zn was significantly correlated with sediment Zn concentrations, and was dependent upon pH and the Zn associated with extractable iron oxides. Barley generally accumulated more Cd than ryegrass.

Additions of fine-textured DM to coarse-textured, marginally productive soils resulted in species-dependent, increased elemental accumulations in barley and ryegrass. Additions of coarse-textured DM to corresponding fine-textured soils did not affect plant compositions.

Key Words: heavy metal content • barley • ryegrass • hydrous oxides • marginal soils • sediments • sand-clay mixtures

¹ Contribution from the Soil & Water Management Research Unit, Agric. Res. Service, U.S. Dep. of Agric., in cooperation with the Minnesota Agric. Exp. Stn., Paper no. 12,109, Scientific Journal Series.

² Research Asst., Soil Sci. Dep., Univ. of Wis., Madison, formerly at Univ. of Minn., St. Paul; Soil Scientist, USDA-ARS, and Prof., Univ. of Minn., St. Paul; Soil Scientist, USDA-ARS, St. Paul; Prof. and Head, Soil Sci. Dep., Univ. of Minn., formerly Soil Scientist, USDA-ARS, St. Paul; and Chairman, Dep. of Agronomy, Univ. of Nebraska, Lincoln, formerly of Soil Sci. Dep., Univ. of Minn., St. Paul.

Received for publication February 27, 1982.