Growth and elemental content of two tree species growing on abandoned coal fly ash basins. [Liquidambar styraciflua L. ; Platanus occidentalis]

Journal Article · · Journal of Environmental Quality; (United States)

OSTI ID:5263786

Carlson, C L; Adriano, D C ^[1]

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1. Savannah River Ecology Lab., Aiken, SC (USA)

Differences in aboveground tissue concentrations of trace elements were assessed for sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua L.) and sycamore (Plantanus occidentalis L.) growing on two abandoned coal fly ash basins and a control soil. The wet basin (pH = 5.58) had originally received precipitator ash in an ash-water slurry, while the dry basin (pH = 8.26) had received both precipitator and bottom ash in dry form. In general, trees from the wet basin exhibited elevated trace element concentrations in comparison to the controls, while the dry basin trees exhibited reduced concentrations. On eof the most striking differenced in elemental concentrations among the ash basin and control trees was observed for Mn, with the control trees exhibiting concentrations orders of magnitude greater than the ash basin trees. Differences in foliar trace element concentrations among the sites can generally be explained by differences in substrate trace element concentrations and/or substrate pH. While trees from the wet ash basin generally had the highest trace element concentrations, these trees also attained the greatest height and diameter growth, suggesting that the elevated trace element concentrations in the wet basin substrate are not limiting the establishment of these two species. The greater height and diameter growth of the wet basin trees is presumably a result of the greater water-holding capacity of the substrate on this site. Differences in growth and tissue concentrations between sweetgum and sycamore highlight the importance of using more than one species when assessing metal toxicity or deficiency on a given substrate.

• DOE Contract Number: AC09-76SR00819
• OSTI ID: 5263786
• Journal Information: Journal of Environmental Quality; (United States), Vol. 20:3; ISSN 0047-2425
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
FLY ASH
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
TREES
PLANT GROWTH
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
ELECTROSTATIC PRECIPITATORS
ELEMENTS
FOSSIL-FUEL POWER PLANTS
LEAVES
MANGANESE
TRACE AMOUNTS
UPTAKE
WASTE STORAGE
AEROSOL WASTES
ASHES
COMBUSTION PRODUCTS
EQUIPMENT
EVALUATION
GROWTH
MANAGEMENT
METALS
PLANTS
POLLUTION CONTROL EQUIPMENT
POWER PLANTS
RESIDUES
STORAGE
THERMAL POWER PLANTS
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTES
560300* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
540220 - Environment
Terrestrial- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)
010900 - Coal
Lignite
& Peat- Environmental Aspects