Plant growth and trace-element uptake on acidic coal refuse amended with lime or fly ash

Journal Article · Wed Apr 01 00:00:00 EST 1981 · J. Environ. Qual.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2134/jeq1981.00472425001000020006x· OSTI ID:6459719

Jastrow, J D ^[1]; Zimmerman, C A; Dvorak, A J; Hinchman, R R

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1. Argonne National Lab., IL

Two commonly used revegetation species, Kentucky 31 tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) and Lincoln smooth brome (Bromus inermis Leyss.), were grown for 60 days in pots containing coarse coal mine refuse (referred to as gob, pH = 3.5) amended with either lime or alkaline powerplant fly ash. Both species were also grown in pots containing a silt loam surface soil as a control. Morphological growth parameters were measured over time; dry weights and shoot/root ratios were determined at harvest. Concentrations of Al, As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, Se, V, and Zn in the plant shoots were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Plant growth of both species was not as good on either lime- or fly ash-amended gob as it was on surface soil; however, more vigorous growth occurred on lime-amended gob than on fly ash-amended gob. Significant differences (rho < 0.05) in the tissue concentrations of Cd, Co, Fe, Hg, Mn, Pb, V, and Zn were found among the plants grown on the three substrates. Except for Hg and Pb, these elements were higher in plants grown on at least one of the amended-gob substrates than in plants grown on surface soil. Significant substrate differences were not observed for Al, As, Cr, Cu, Ni, and Se. The tissue concentrations of some elements - notably Al, Cu, Fe, Mn, V, and Zn - were high enough in plants from one or more of the substrates to either approach or exceed concentrations which have been reported to be associated with toxic effects in some plant species.

• DOE Contract Number: W-31-109-ENG-38
• OSTI ID: 6459719
• Journal Information: J. Environ. Qual.; (United States), Vol. 10:2
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ALUMINIUM
TOXICITY
ARSENIC
CADMIUM
CHROMIUM
COBALT
COPPER
FLY ASH
GROUND DISPOSAL
IRON
LEAD
MANGANESE
MERCURY
METALS
UPTAKE
NICKEL
SELENIUM
VANADIUM
ZINC
ACID MINE DRAINAGE
CALCIUM OXIDES
CHEMICAL EFFLUENTS
COAL PREPARATION
FOSSIL-FUEL POWER PLANTS
GROWTH
LAND RECLAMATION
PLANTS
REVEGETATION
SOIL CHEMISTRY
SPOIL BANKS
TRACE AMOUNTS
WASTE MANAGEMENT
AEROSOL WASTES
ALKALINE EARTH METAL COMPOUNDS
ASHES
CALCIUM COMPOUNDS
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMISTRY
COMMINUTION
ELEMENTS
MANAGEMENT
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POWER PLANTS
RESIDUES
SEMIMETALS
THERMAL POWER PLANTS
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTES
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510500 - Environment
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