Seedling growth and metal accumulation of selected woody species incopper and lead/zinc mine tailings
Xiang Shi , Xiaolei Zhang , Guangcai Chen , Yitai Chen , Ling Wang , Xiaoquan Shan
DOI:
Received January 27, 2010,Revised August 25, 2010, Accepted , Available online
Volume 23,2011,Pages 266-274
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A greenhouse pot experiment was conducted to evaluate the potential of selected woody plants for revegetation in copper (Cu)
and lead/zinc (Pb/Zn) mine tailing areas. Five woody species (Amorpha fruticosa Linn, Vitex trifolia Linn: var. simplicifolia Cham,
Glochidion puberum (Linn.) Hutch, Broussonetia papyrifera, and Styrax tonkinensis) and one herbaceous species (Sesbania cannabina
Pers) were planted in Cu and Pb/Zn tailings to assess their growth, root morphology, nutrition uptake, metal accumulation, and
translocation in plants. Amorpha fruticosa maintained normal growth, while the other species demonstrated stress related growth and
root development. Sesbania cannabina showed the highest biomass among the plants, although it decreased by 30% in Cu tailings and
40% in Pb/Zn tailings. Calculated tolerance index (TI) values suggested that A. fruticosa, an N-fixing shrub, was the most tolerant
species to both tailings (TI values 0.92–1.01), while S. cannabina had a moderate TI of 0.65–0.81 and B. papyrifera was the most
sensitive species, especially to Pb/Zn tailings (TI values 0.15–0.19). Despite the high concentrations of heavy metals in the mine
tailings and plants roots, only a small transfer of these elements to the aboveground parts of the woody plants was evident from the
low translocation factor (TF) values. Among the woody plants, V. trifolia var. simplicifolia had the highest TF values for Zn (1.32),
Cu (0.78), and Pb/Zn (0.78). The results suggested that A. fruticosa and S. cannabina, which have the highest tolerance and biomass
production, respectively, demonstrated the potential for tailings revegetation in southern China.
