Posters
Shawnee A


    P45

PHYSIOLOGICAL RESPONSES OF SWITCHGRASS (Panicum virgatum L.) TO INORGANIC AND ORGANIC AMENDED HEAVY-METAL CONTAMINATED CHAT TAILINGS

 
A.L. Youngman, Department of Biological Sciences, Wichita State University, Wichita, KS 67260-0026 Study plots established at the Galena subsite of the Cherokee County Superfund Site in southeastern Kansas by the U.S. Bureau of Mines in 1990 were examined during the summer of 1996 to determine whether physiological criteria could be used to provide a way of detecting suitability of switchgrass for remediation of heavy-metal contaminated substrates. Switchgrass was chosen because it was the most frequently encountered species on these plots.

Treatment plots included, in addition a treatment control, an organic residue treatment of 89.6 Mg Ha-1 composted cattle manure, and two inorganic fertilizer treatments recommended for either native grass or grass-legume mixtures. Plant response variables were photosynthetic rate, leaf conductance to water vapor, internal concentration of carbon dioxide in leaves, foliar transpiration rate, leaf water-use-efficiency, predawn leaf xylem water potential, and midday leaf xylem water potential.

Gas exchange properties and water status were related to type of soil amendment. Results of this investigation provide insight into why organic amendments are important for successful revegetation of sites with metal contaminated substrates.

Key words: photosynthesis, transpiration, xylem water potential



Top of Page


Return to Main Table of Contents
(to see full list of programs and abstracts)


Sub-Menu of Event Programs
(to see specific list of abstracts)


Tuesday, May 20, 1997

Metals Kansa A

Remediation of Munitions Compounds Kansa B

Analytical Methods Kansa C/D

General Topics Kansa B


Wednesday, May 21, 1997

Metals Kansa A

Zero-Valent Metals Kansa A

Remediation Kansa A

Vegetation-based Remediation Kansa B

Partnerships & Innovative Technologies Kansa C/D

Nonaqueous Phase Liquids Kansa C/D


Thursday, May 22, 1997

Biofilms & Barriers Kansa A

Bioremediation Kansa B

Partnerships & Technology Innovations Kansa C/D

Remediation Kansa C/D


Posters



Return to Publications Menu

[INDEX]

Send comments on the Great Plains/Rocky Mountain HSRC web pages to: hsrc@engg.ksu.edu;
comments or questions about this WWW server, to: www@engg.ksu.edu.