Sewage sludge and Pisolithus tinctorius ectomycorrhizae: their effect on growth of pine seedlings

Journal Article · Wed Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1976 · For. Sci.; (United States)

OSTI ID:7328059

Berry, C R; Marx, D H

Four levels of dried sludge (0, 69, 138, and 275 metric tons/ha) and infestation of soil with the fungal symbiont Pisolithus tinctorius or control inoculum were combined factorially in heavy clay soil from a severely eroded site to determine their effects on growth of Pinus taeda and P. echinata seedlings. Addition of sludge to soil caused highly significant increases in growth of both pine species. Seedlings of both pine species with Pisolithus ectomycorrhizae were significantly taller than those with ectomycorrhizae formed by naturally occurring fungi. Loblolly pine seedlings with Pisolithus ectomycorrhizae also had significantly greater stem diameters and foliar and root fresh weights than control seedlings. Foliar zinc increased and foliar aluminum decreased with increased sludge levels. Loblolly seedlings with Pisolithus ectomycorrhizae also had significantly less foliar zinc than control seedlings. There were no correlations between sludge levels or Pisolithus ectomycorrhizae and amounts of 13 other elements in the foliage. The effects of Pisolithus ectomycorrhizae were greatest at the intermediate sludge level (138 tons/ha) on both loblolly and shortleaf pine seedlings. Based on these results, the interaction of dried sewage sludge with Pisolithus ectomycorrhizae appears to have valuable potential in the improvement of pine growth on eroded forest sites.

• Research Organization: Southeastern Forest Experiment Station, Athens, GA
• OSTI ID: 7328059
• Journal Information: For. Sci.; (United States), Journal Name: For. Sci.; (United States) Vol. 22:3; ISSN FOSCA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
010900 -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Environmental Aspects
510200* -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
510500 -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Site Resource & Use Studies-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
553000 -- Agriculture & Food Technology
560303 -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology-- Plants-- (-1987)
60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ALUMINIUM
BIOLOGICAL ACCUMULATION
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL RECOVERY
BIOMASS
COAL MINING
CONIFERS
ELEMENTS
ENERGY SOURCES
EROSION
FUNGI
GROWTH
LAND POLLUTION
LAND RECLAMATION
METALS
MINING
NUTRIENTS
PINES
PLANT GROWTH
PLANTS
POLLUTION
RECOVERY
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
REVEGETATION
SEEDLINGS
SEWAGE
SEWAGE SLUDGE
SOILS
SURFACE MINING
SYMBIOSIS
TRACE AMOUNTS
TREES
WASTES
ZINC