Zn-contaminated Soils Research Articles

Adaptive and cross-protective responses against cadmium and zinc toxicity in cadmium-resistant bacterium isolated from a zinc mine

Cadmium (Cd) is a major environmental hazard, which usually is detected in its ionic form of Cd(2+). It also causes adverse toxic effects on human health and other living organisms. Cd-resistant bacteria were isolated from Cd-contaminated soils. One isolate, TAK1, was highly resistance level to Cd toxicity. TAK1 was isolated from soil contaminated with a high Cd concentration (204.1 mg.kg(-1)). The result of 16S rDNA sequence analysis found that the TAK1 showed the similarity to Ralstonia sp. Physiological adaptive and cross-protective responses to Cd and Zn killing were investigated in Ralstonia sp.TAK1. Exposure to a low concentration of Cd induced adaptive resistance to higher concentrations of Cd. In addition, pretreatment of Ralstonia sp.TAK1 with an inducing concentration of Cd conferred cross-protective response against subsequent exposure to the lethal concentrations of Zn. The induced adaptive and cross-protective response Ralstonia sp.TAK1 required newly synthesized protein(s). Cd-induced adaptive and cross-protective responses against Cd and Zn toxicity are the important mechanisms used by Ralstonia sp.TAK1 to survive in the heavy metal-contaminated environments. These findings might lead to the use of Ralstonia sp.TAK1 for microbial based remediation in Cd and Zn-contaminated soils.

Effect of microbially treated agro-wastes and simultaneously solubilized animal bone char on Zn and P uptake and growth of white clover in Zn-contaminated soil

Effect of microbially treated agro-wastes and simultaneously solubilized animal bone char on Zn and P uptake and growth of white clover in Zn-contaminated soil

Phytostabilisation—A Sustainable Remediation Technique for Zinc in Soils

Two studies were conducted to determine a feasible and practical phytoremediation strategy for Zn-contaminated soils. The aim of the first study was to identify promising plant species capable of Zn remediation for the soils and climatic conditions of British Columbia. The purpose of the second study was to assess the effects of soil amendments in modifying the soil properties and providing the right conditions for the plants to immobilise Zn. Promising plants for phytostabilisation in the first study (Lolium perenne, Festuca rubra and Poa pratensis) were tested in the presence of soil amendments (lime, phosphate and compost, both individually and in combination) in the second study. The efficiency of treatments to stabilise Zn was based on Zn fractionation in the soil and on absorption and partitioning of Zn in plants. Maximum Zn immobilisation was achieved in the soil by a combination of lime, phosphate and compost, in conjunction with growth of P. pratensis.

A combination method to study microbial communities and activities in zinc contaminated soil

Zinc (Zn) plays a special role in soil ecology and fertility because it can support the growth of soil organisms or inhibit their growth depending on its concentrations. In this work, the effects of different concentrations of Zn on soil microbial communities and activities were analyzed by loading five different doses of Zn (160–6000 μg g −1) into a wheat surface soil. The microbial metabolic process revealed a significant bimodal pattern at high concentrations of Zn (>1920 μg g −1). This phenomenon suggested that soil microorganisms were very sensitive to zincous poisoning. A variety of soil quality properties were also measured and assessed. The results showed slower bacterial growth in soil cultures polluted with high levels of Zn. In addition, two kinds of fungi were identified by morphology and glomalin-related soil protein content in the Zn-contaminated soil. The growth of the first kind was inhibited with increase in Zn concentration. By contrast, the second kind could survive and continue to grow with increasing doses of Zn at 160–1920 μg g −1 and its growth began to decline with further increase in Zn concentration. Finally, the fungus could not survive at very high (6000 μg g −1) Zn concentration. In this work, we conclude that soil microbial communities and activities can adapt to Zn pollution to a certain extent.

Adaptive and cross-protective responses against cadmium and zinc toxicity in cadmium-resistant bacterium isolated from a zinc mine

Cadmium (Cd) is a major environmental hazard, which usually is detected in its ionic form of Cd2+. It also causes adverse toxic effects on human health and other living organisms. Cd-resistant bacteria were isolated from Cd-contaminated soils. One isolate, TAK1, was highly resistance level to Cd toxicity. TAK1 was isolated from soil contaminated with a high Cd concentration (204.1 mg.kg-1). The result of 16S rDNA sequence analysis found that the TAK1 showed the similarity to Ralstonia sp. Physiological adaptive and cross-protective responses to Cd and Zn killing were investigated in Ralstonia sp.TAK1. Exposure to a low concentration of Cd induced adaptive resistance to higher concentrations of Cd. In addition, pretreatment of Ralstonia sp.TAK1 with an inducing concentration of Cd conferred cross-protective response against subsequent exposure to the lethal concentrations of Zn. The induced adaptive and cross-protective response Ralstonia sp.TAK1 required newly synthesized protein(s). Cd-induced adaptive and cross-protective responses against Cd and Zn toxicity are the important mechanisms used by Ralstonia sp.TAK1 to survive in the heavy metal-contaminated environments. These findings might lead to the use of Ralstonia sp.TAK1 for microbial based remediation in Cd and Zn-contaminated soils.

The effect of nitrogen form on rhizosphere soil pH and zinc phytoextraction by Thlaspi caerulescens

The phytoextraction of Zn may be improved by applying N fertilizers to increase the biomass and Zn content of shoots. Rhizosphere-pH change from uptake of different N forms will affect Zn phyto-availability in the rhizosphere and Zn phytoextraction. This glasshouse study examined the effect of N form on Zn phytoextraction by Thlaspi caerulescens (Prayon). The plants were grown in a Zn-contaminated soil (total Zn 250 mg kg −1 soil; pH water 5.7) and supplied with (NH 4) 2SO 4, Ca(NO 3) 2 or urea [(NH 2) 2CO]. The NH 4 + form was maintained by applying the nitrification inhibitor dicyandiamide. A biodegradable chelator ethylenediaminedisuccinic acid (EDDS) was included for comparison. The addition of N doubled the shoot biomass. The highest shoot Zn content occurred in the Ca(NO 3) 2 treatment and was associated with the highest rhizosphere pH. The lowest shoot dry weight occurred in the EDDS treatment. The Zn concentration in the shoots increased as the rhizosphere pH increased. A significant correlation occurred between Ca and Zn concentrations in the shoots. This study demonstrated that Ca(NO 3) 2 is a more effective treatment than NH 4 + , urea or EDDS for enhancing Zn phytoextraction in a mildly acidic soil.

Seasonal and annual variations of metal uptake, bioaccumulation, and toxicity in Trifolium repens and Lolium perenne growing in a heavy metal-contaminated field

The reclamation of nonferrous metal-polluted soil by phytoremediation requires an overall and permanent plant cover. To select the most suitable plant species, it is necessary to study metal effects on plants over the time, thereby checking that metals remain stored in root systems and not transferred to aerial parts. In this purpose, the seasonal and annual variations of metal bioaccumulation, transfer, and phytotoxicity in Trifolium repens and Lolium perenne grown in a Cd-, Pb-, and Zn-contaminated soil were also studied. The experimental site was located near a closed smelter. In spring 2004, two areas were sown with T. repens and L. perenne, respectively. Thereafter, the samplings of plant roots and shoots and surrounding soils were realized in autumn 2004 and spring and autumn 2005. The soil agronomic characteristics, the Cd, Pb, and Zn concentrations in the surrounded soils and plant organs, as well as the oxidative alterations (superoxide dismutase [SOD], malondialdehyde [MDA], and 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine [8-OHdG]) in plant organs were carried out. Whatever the sampling period, metal concentrations in soils and plants were higher than background values. Contrary to the soils, the fluctuations of metal concentrations were observed in plant organs over the time. Bioaccumulation and transfer factors confirmed that metals were preferentially accumulated in the roots as follows: Cd>Zn>Pb, and their transfer to shoots was limited. Foliar metal deposition was also observed. The results showed that there were seasonal and annual variations of metal accumulation in the two studied plant species. These variations differed according to the organs and followed nearly the same pattern for the two species. Oxidative alterations were observed in plant organs with regard to SOD antioxidant activities, MDA, and 8-OHdG concentrations. These alterations vary according to the temporal variations of metal concentrations. Metal concentrations in surrounded soils and plant organs showed the effective contamination by industrial dust emissions. Metals absorbed by plants were mainly stored in the roots. With regard to this storage, the plants seemed to limit the metal transfer to their aerial parts over the time, thereby indicating their availability for metal phytostabilization. Aerial deposition was another source of plant exposure to nonferrous metals. Despite the occurrence of metal-induced oxidative alterations in plant organs, both plant species seemed to tolerate a high metal concentration in soils. Taken together, these results indicated that T. repens and L. perenne were able to form a plant cover on highly Cd-, Pb-, and Zn-polluted soils, to limit the metal transfer to their aerial parts and were relatively metal-tolerant. All these characteristics made them suitable for phytostabilization on metal-contaminated soils. These findings also highlighted the necessity to take into account seasonal and annual variations for a future phytomanagement. In this work, the behavior of plant species grown in metal-polluted soil has been studied during 2 years. Obviously, this time is too short to ensure that metals remain accumulated in the root system and few are transferred in aerial parts over the time. It is why regular monitoring should be achieved during more than a decade after the settlement of the plant cover. This work will be completed by the study of the T. repens and L. perenne effects on mobility of metals in order to evaluate the quantities of pollutants which could be absorbed by the biota and transferred to groundwater. Bioaccessibility tests could be also realized on polluted soils in order to evaluate the phytostabilization impacts on the exposition risks for humans.

EDTA-Enhanced Washing for Remediation of Pb- and/or Zn-Contaminated Soils

The effects of the operating conditions, the initial concentrations of heavy metals in soils, and the competition among heavy metals during ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA)-enhanced soil washing were extensively investigated using batch experiments with Pb- and/or Zn-contaminated soils aiming to determine the heavy-metal removal for different types of contaminations and to optimize the process parameters. Pb or Zn removal efficiency was found to be dependent on contact time, pH, concentrations of EDTA, and their initial concentrations in contaminated soils. The experimental results showed that the heavy-metal removal efficiency increased with a higher initial concentration of heavy metals in soils, and the concentrations of heavy metals in the solutions after washing were linearly correlated with their initial concentrations in soils. The study of the competition among heavy metals indicated that when EDTA was present in solution with the concentration less than the stoichiometric requirements, Pb removal efficiency was higher than that of Zn; on the other hand, when EDTA concentration was greater, Pb and Zn removal efficiencies were almost the same.

EXAFS signature of structural Zn at trace levels in natural and synthetic trioctahedral 2:1 phyllosilicates

EXAFS spectroscopy has been used to determine the medium-range structural environment (within a radius of 7 A) of trace levels of Zn2+ ions within the octahedral sheets of trioctahedral 2:1 phyllosilicates. EXAFS signatures of trace quantities (800–4000 ppm) of Zn in natural and synthetic trioctahedral 2:1 phyllosilicates (talcs and biotite) were analyzed using ab initio FEFF calculations (FEFF 8.10 code) in which various second-neighbor atomic configurations around a Zn-containing octahedral site were examined. Comparison of the results of these model calculations with observed Zn K -edge EXAFS spectra provides constraints on the distribution of Zn within the octahedral sheet. Zn was found to be randomly distributed within the octahedral sheets of the synthetic talc containing 4000 ppm Zn. In the natural biotite containing 800 ppm Zn, the distribution of Zn could not be determined because of significant Fe content, which precluded unambiguous FEFF analysis. Finally, FEFF analysis of single-scattering and multiple-scattering contributions to the EXAFS data of the Zn-dilute talc sample, followed by comparison with EXAFS data from a natural dioctahedral illite sample containing 140 ppm Zn, allowed unambiguous identification of spectral features characteristic of Zn2+ ions incorporated within the octahedral sheets of trioctahedral phyllosilicates. These results indicate that EXAFS spectroscopy can be used to distinguish between incorporation of trace levels of Zn2+ ions within the octahedral sheet of di- or trioctahedral phyllosilicates. They also provide a strong basis for determining the speciation of Zn at trace concentration levels in natural phyllosilicates from Zn-contaminated soils and sediments using Zn K -edge EXAFS spectroscopy. Because the crystal chemistry of other potentially toxic first-row divalent transition elements (i.e., Co2+, Ni2+, and Cu2+) is similar to that of Zn2+, this FEFF-based EXAFS approach could be used to (1) complement existing FTIR and polarized-EXAFS approaches in assessing the distribution of these elements within the octahedral sheets of di- and trioctahedral plyllosilicates and (2) better determine the speciation of these elements in contaminated soils and sediments.

Long‐term exposure to elevated zinc concentrations induced structural changes and zinc tolerance of the nitrifying community in soil

A series of long-term Zn-contaminated soils was sampled around a galvanized pylon. The potential nitrification rate (PNR) was unaffected by the soil total Zn concentrations up to 25 mmol Zn kg(-1) whereas spiking the uncontaminated control soil with ZnCl(2) to identical total concentrations completely eliminated nitrification. The larger sensitivity of the PNR to spiked ZnCl(2) than to the Zn added in the field was equally found when relating the PNR to the Zn concentrations in the pore water of these soils, suggesting differences in Zn tolerance of the nitrifying communities. Zinc tolerance in the long-term Zn-contaminated soil was demonstrated by showing that (i) the nitrifying community of long-term Zn-contaminated soil samples was less sensitive to Zn than that of the uncontaminated control soil when both communities were inoculated in sterile ZnCl(2)-contaminated soil samples, and, that (ii) addition of ZnCl(2) to the long-term Zn-contaminated soil samples affected nitrification less than equal additions of ZnCl(2) to uncontaminated control samples. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis fingerprinting of polymerase chain reaction amplified 16SrRNA gene fragments of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria showed that the community structure in uncontaminated and long-term contaminated soil samples was different and could be related to soil Zn concentrations.

Effect of earthworms on the phytoremediation of zinc-polluted soil by ryegrass and Indian mustard

In this paper, the effects of earthworms on the growth and Zn uptake of ryegrass and Indian mustard in artificially Zn-contaminated soils were studied. Earthworm inoculation increased plant shoot biomass by 29–83% for ryegrass and by 11–42% for Indian mustard, respectively, as compared to the treatments without earthworms, while the roots’ biomass of both plants were increased much more than their corresponding shoots. Earthworms also increased shoot Zn concentrations in both ryegrass and Indian mustard, although the increases in ryegrass did not show significant difference. Except for soil without Zn contamination, the Zn contents of both ryegrass and Indian mustard roots were significantly increased by earthworm addition. Generally, Zn contents of roots were relatively higher than those of shoots for both plants, which were independent of earthworms inoculation. Earthworm increased soil bioavailable metal (diethylenetriamine-pentaacetic acid–Zn) (DTPA-Zn) concentrations, which resulted in a direct increase in Zn uptake by the plants, since a significant correlation was observed between the DTPA–Zn contents and plant Zn uptake. However, the main reason for the increase in plant Zn uptake under earthworm inoculation was probably the increase in dry matter production stimulated by earthworms.

Effectiveness of autochthonous bacterium and mycorrhizal fungus on Trifolium growth, symbiotic development and soil enzymatic activities in Zn contaminated soil

This study investigates how autochthonous micro-organisms [bacterium and/or arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi] affected plant tolerance to Zn contamination. Zinc-adapted and -nonadapted Glomus mosseae strains protected the host plant against the detrimental effect of Zn (600 microg g(-1)). Zn-adapted bacteria increased root growth and N, P nutrition in plants colonized by adapted G. mosseae and decreased the specific absorption rate (SAR) of Cd, Cu, Mo or Fe in plants colonized by Zn-nonadapted G. mosseae. Symbiotic structures (nodule number and extraradical mycelium) were best developed in plants colonized by those Zn-adapted isolates that were the most effective in increasing plant Zn tolerance. The bacterium also increased the quantity and quality (metabolic characteristics) of mycorrhizal colonization, with the highest improvement for arbuscular vitality and activity. Inocula also enhanced soil enzymatic activities (dehydrogenase, beta-glucosidase and phosphatase) and indol acetic acid (IAA) accumulation, particularly in the rhizosphere of plants inoculated with Zn-adapted isolates. Glomus mosseae strains have a different inherent potential for improving plant growth and nutrition in Zn-contaminated soil. The bacterium increased the potential of mycorrhizal mycelium as inoculum. Mycorrhizal performance, particularly that of the autochthonous strain, was increased by the bacterium and both contributed to better plant growth and establishment in Zn-contaminated soils.

Study on Optimal Conditions for Recovery of EDTA from Soil Washing Effluents

The recovery of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) from washing effluents is essential to reduce the cost of EDTA-enhanced soil washing and the production of wastewater. This study evaluated a recovery method, in which Pb or Zn was first dissociated from Pb– or Zn–EDTA complex through the replacement reaction by adding FeCl3 and then removed as phosphate precipitates through adding Na2HPO4. Finally, Fe(III) was removed as Fe(OH)3 precipitates through adding Ca(OH)2. As a result, EDTA was recovered as Ca–EDTA for further use in soil washing process. The optimal conditions for EDTA recovery, including the molar ratios of FeCl3 and Na2HPO4 to EDTA as well as the pH after adding Na2HPO4 and adding Ca(OH)2, were well investigated. Under the optimal conditions, 96% of Pb or 83% of Zn was removed from the Pb– or Zn–EDTA, respectively. The four-cycle recovery and reuse of EDTA experiments indicated the recovered EDTA from soil washing effluents did not lose much chelating capacity for Pb removal. However, there is a loss of 15% of its chelating capacity in the first cycle reuse for Zn-contaminated soil washing due to substantial Zn residual in the recovered EDTA solution.

Quantitative Ultrastructure of Metal-Sequestering Cells Reflects Intersite and Interspecies Differences in Earthworm Metal Burdens

Morphometric analysis of transmission electron micrographs was used to compare the effects of metals on the multifunctional, metal-sequestering, chloragocyte cells of two epigeic earthworm species, Dendrodrilus rubidus and Lumbricus rubellus, inhabiting three field soils: a clean circumneutral reference soil (Dinas Powys); an acidic moderately Pb- and Zn-contaminated soil (Cwmystwyth); and a calcareous Cd-, Pb-, and Zn-contaminated soil (Draethen). The main findings were: (1) D. rubidus accumulated significantly higher tissue Cd and Pb and lower Zn concentrations than L. rubellus, especially at Draethen; (2) the volume fraction of chloragosomes was significantly lower and the volume fraction of debris vesicles significantly higher in D. rubidus from Draethen compared with L. rubellus at all sites and with the other two D. rubidus populations; (3) estimated relative toxicity factors, derived from soil metal concentrations and published EC50 data, suggested that the subcellular changes in chloragocytes, particularly in D. rubidus from Draethen, were caused mainly by Zn and Pb exposures; (4) scrutiny of the body burdens of each metal in both worm species across the three sites indicated that Cd was a major contributor to the structural changes observed in Draethen D. rubidus, and its impact was disproportionate to its soil and tissue concentrations in comparison with those of Pb and Zn. The apparent greater susceptibility of D. rubidus cells, compared with L. rubellus cells, to soil metal contaminants is discussed in light of differences in the quality and quantity of the metal body burdens accumulated by the two species. Further histopathalogic and morphometric studies on key organs and tissue of earthworms are required to provide biomarkers of exposure and to underpin linkage of biochemical-level changes and demography.

Growth and Metal Accumulation of Mycorrhizal Sorghum Exposed to Elevated Copper and Zinc

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) alter heavy metal acquisition by higher plants and may alter plant response to soil-contaminating heavy metals. Two communities comprised of Glomus intraradices and G. spurcum were investigated for their influence on copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) resistance of Sorghum bicolor. One community was isolated from a Cu- and Zn-contaminated soil (AMF-C) and one consisted of isolates from non-contaminated soil (AMF-NC). Non-mycorrhizal (NM) sorghum plants were also included. The two community ecotypes differed in their capacity to protect sorghum from Cu and Zn toxicity and exhibited differential metal uptake into hyphae and altered heavy metal uptake by roots and translocation to plant shoots. AMF-C reduced Cu acquisition under elevated Cu conditions, but increased Cu uptake and translocation by sorghum under normal Cu conditions, patterns not exhibited by AMF-NC or NM plants. Hyphae of both fungal ecotypes accumulated high concentrations of Cu under Cu exposure. AMF-C exhibited elevated hyphal Zn accumulation and stimulated Zn uptake and translocation in sorghum plants compared to AMF-NC and NM plants. Differences in metal resistance between fungal treatments and between mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal plants were not related to differences in nutrient relations. The enhanced Cu resistance of sorghum and altered patterns of Cu and Zn translocation to shoots facilitated by AMF isolated from the metal-contaminated soil highlight the potential for metal-adapted AMF to increase the phytoremediation potential of mycotrophic plants on metal-contaminated environments.

Avoidance of Cu- and Zn-contaminated soil by three ecologically different earthworm species

Earthworm avoidance response to soils contaminated with harmful substances has been proposed as a potential tool for assessing soil toxicity with low test effort. In the present study, the objective was to find out whether three ecologically different earthworm species, Aporrectodea tuberculata (Eisen), Lumbricus rubellus (Hoffmeister), and Dendrobaena octaedra (Savigny), avoid soils simultaneously spiked with Cu and Zn. In addition, metal-contaminated field soil taken close to a Cu–Ni smelter was tested with A. tuberculata using a two-section avoidance lest procedure. All three earthworm species clearly avoided Cu/Zn contaminated soil but differently: D. octaedra was the most sensitive species, responding to low metal concentrations, whereas L. rubellus responded only to the highest metal concentration tested, being the least sensitive species. Moreover, A. tuberculata showed clear avoidance response to the metal contaminated field soil. In conclusion, the results indicate that earthworm avoidance behavior is an ecologically relevant parameter for assessing harmfulness of metal contaminated soils, both spiked and field-contaminated soils. However, it is important to consider the specific species to be used in the earthworm avoidance test procedure.

Estabilização de solo contaminado com zinco usando zeólitas sintetizadas a partir de cinzas de carvão

The effect of synthetic zeolites on stabilizing Zn-contaminated soil using 0.01 mol L-1 CaCl2 leaching solution in batch experiments was investigated. The zeolites were synthesized from coal ash by hydrothermal treatment with alkaline solution. The additive enhanced the sorption capacity of the soil and reduced leaching. Zinc leaching was reduced by more than 80% using a minimum of 10% additive. The higher cation exchange capacity of the zeolite/soil mixtures and higher pH were responsible for stabilizing Zn in soil. The poly(2-aminobenzenesulfonic acid)-coated mercury thin-film electrode was used for the determination of zinc.

The Effects of Copper and Lead on Growth and Zinc Accumulation of Thlaspi Caerulescens J. and C. Presl: Implications for Phytoremediation of Contaminated Soils

Thlaspi caerulescens J. and C. Presl is a Zn-hyperaccumulatingplant which has aroused considerable interest with respect to its possible use for phytoremediation of Zn-contaminated soils. In this work, a British population of T. caerulescens, from a soil which was found to have relatively high concentrations of water-extractable Cu (0.22 mg L-1), Pb (0.99 mg L-1) and Zn (6.49 mg L-1), was studied. Its ability to grow and accumulate Zn from hydroponic nutrient solution in the presence of elevated concentrations of Cu and/or Pb was investigated. The chosen concentrations of Cu, Pb and Zn were based on reported water-soluble concentrations of these heavy metals in contaminated soils. When supplied with 32.7 mg L-1 Zn, plants accumulated 19 780 mg kg-1 Zn in their shoot dry matter. This concentration declined by 9.3, 87 and 84% respectively when 5.0 mg L-1 Pb, 1.0 mg L-1 Cu or 2.0 mg L-1 Cu were included in the nutrient solution. Despite the apparent adaptation of this population of T. caerulescens to a Zn/Pb/Cu-contaminated soil, these Cu treatments strongly inhibited growth, but the Pb treatment did not affect growth significantly.

Responses of Populus deltoides×Populus nigra (Populus×euramericana) clone I-214 to high zinc concentrations.

• We hypothesized that poplar can be useful for the extraction of zinc (Zn) from contaminated soils and water. However, the physiological response and the base of tolerance of poplar plants to this heavy metal are little known. • Plants of Populus deltoides×P. nigra (P.×euramericana) I-214 clone were grown in glasshouse and treated with three different Zn concentrations (1, 100 and 1000µm). Growth analysis, Zn concentration in leaves, stem and roots, and photosynthetic parameters were measured at different times of exposure during the annual growth cycle. • Significant reductions in foliage and total dry mass, and impairment of gas exchange properties occurred at applications of 100µm and 1000µm Zn. Modifications of leaf area, chlorophyll b concentration, diameter at the stem base, and Zn concentrations of old leaves, stem and roots were also shown after Zn treatment. • We concluded that poplar plants have the potential to be used for plantations in Zn-contaminated soils, in the range of tested Zn concentrations.

Root growth and metal uptake in four grasses grown on zinc-contaminated soils.

Depth and area of rooting are important to long-term survival of plants on metal-contaminated, steep-slope soils. We evaluated shoot and root growth and metal uptake of four cool-season grasses grown on a high-Zn soil in a greenhouse. A mixture of biosolids, fly ash, and burnt lime was placed either directly over a Zn-contaminated soil or over a clean, fine-grained topsoil and then the Zn-contaminated soil; the control was the clean topsoil. The grasses were 'Reliant' hard fescue (Festuca brevipila R. Tracey), 'Oahe' intermediate wheatgrass [Elytrigia intermedia (Host) Nevski subsp. intermedia], 'Ruebens' Canada bluegrass (Poa compressa L.), and 'K-31' tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.). Root growth in the clean soil and biosolids corresponded to the characteristic rooting ability of each species, while rooting into the Zn-contaminated soil was related to the species' tolerance to Zn. While wheatgrass and tall fescue had the strongest root growth in the surface layers (0-5 cm) of clean soil or biosolids, wheatgrass roots were at least two times more dense than those of the other grasses in the second layer (5-27 cm) of Zn-contaminated soil. When grown over Zn-contaminated soil in the second layer, hard fescue (with 422 mg/kg Zn) was the only species not to have phytotoxic levels of Zn in shoots; tall fescue had the highest Zn uptake (1553 mg/kg). Thus, the best long-term survivors in high-Zn soils should be wheatgrass, due to its ability to root deeply into Zn-contaminated soils, and hard fescue, with its ability to effectively exclude toxic Zn uptake.