Phytotoxicity of depleted uranium on three grasses characteristic of different successional stages
- Colorado State Univ., Fort Collins, CO (United States)
- Univ. of Texas, El Paso, TX (United States)
In response to a paucity of data on the chemical toxicity of uranium (U) to plants, a factorial experiment employing five U concentrations (0, 50, 500, 5000, 25,000 mg kg{sup -1}) and three moisture regimes (low, medium, and high) was performed using three native grasses. Buchloe dactyloides (buffalograss; mid/late-seral), Schizachyrium scoparium (little bluestem; late-seral), and Aristida purpurea (purple threeawn; early/mid-seral) were grown in monocultures and as a mixture of two species under all combinations of U and moisture levels. This design allowed for the analysis of U effects, as well as possible interactions with moisture stress. Several measures of plant health and viability were made, including: percent emergence, plant survival, shoot biomass, and number and weight of inflorescences. Decreases in plant biomass, fecundity, and long-term survivability were observed only at the highest U level (25 000 mg kg{sup -1}). No significant differences (P < 0.05) between the U treatment levels were observed in terms of seedling emergence and survival. Drought stress also negatively impacted survival and biomass, but acted independently of U stress. 18 refs., 4 figs., 3 tabs.
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- OSTI ID:
- 494212
- Journal Information:
- Journal of Environmental Quality, Vol. 26, Issue 3; Other Information: PBD: May-Jun 1997
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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