HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Lepp, N. W. Articles by Eardley, G. T. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Lepp, N. W. Articles by Eardley, G. T. Agricola Articles by Lepp, N. W. Articles by Eardley, G. T.

Growth and Trace Metal Content of European Sycamore Seedlings Grown in Soil Amended with Sewage Sludge¹

ABSTRACT

Seedlings of European sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus L.) were grown under greenhouse conditions for 50 days in mixtures (by vol) of 100:0, 25:75, 50:50, 25:75, 0:100 commercial soil-based potting medium/metal contaminated sewage sludge. At harvest, measurements of stem height, leaf number, node number, total leaf area, stem girth, and plant dry weight were made, prior to the analysis of total plant metal burdens. The results showed that increasing proportions of metal-rich sewage had no detrimental effect on plant growth; indeed, in most cases, the seedlings from the high sludge treatment (75%) performed significantly better than those grown in 100% sludge or unamended potting medium. Total plant metal burdens were not excessive; the highest accumulations were found in the roots. The relevance of these results to proposals for using metal-contaminated sewage sludges in land reclamation schemes, or as nonagricultural soil amendments, is discussed.

Key Words: heavy metal effects on woody plants • tree growth

¹ Contribution from Dep. of Biology, Liverpool Polytechnic, Byrom St., Liverpool L3 3AF, Merseyside, U.K.

² Senior Lecturer in biology, Liverpool Polytechnic, and Technical Officer, Interlates Ltd., Sandy Lane Centre, Skelmersdale, Lancs, U.K., respectively.

Received for publication December 1, 1977.