Abstract
The growth of vegetation in polluted areas with leachate seepage of the landfill at Gin Drinkers Bay, Hong Kong (latitude: 22°21’; longitude: 114°07’) was poor. High contents of total as well as extractable (by ammonium acetate at pH 7) Mn, Cu, Pb and Zn were revealed in soil samples of these polluted areas.
Detailed investigation of the effects of the landfill leachate on seed germination and root growth of Brassica chinensis and Cynodon dactylon was carried out under laboratory conditions. Seed germination and root elongation of both species were retarded at high concentrations (above 25% v/v) of the leachate. However, low concentrations of leachate resulted in higher germinability and longer root length of C. dactylon when compared with the control.
The values of EC₅₀ (effective concentration in reducing root length to 50% of the control) were also used to compare the toxic effects of the leachate on root elongation of the two species. It was noted that Brassica chinensis showed similar values of EC 50 at different time intervals tested (518-615%) whereas Cynodon dactylon showed no effective value at 48h, and progressively higher values were obtained with increasing time (72h-EC₅₀: 5%; 96h-EC₅₀: 13.3%; 144h-EC₅₀: 28.5%).
From the results of the present investigation it is concluded that the rather high contents of heavy metals in the leachate may have harmful effects on both seed germination and root growth although organic substances might also play an important role. Copyright © 1984 Published by Elsevier B.V.
Detailed investigation of the effects of the landfill leachate on seed germination and root growth of Brassica chinensis and Cynodon dactylon was carried out under laboratory conditions. Seed germination and root elongation of both species were retarded at high concentrations (above 25% v/v) of the leachate. However, low concentrations of leachate resulted in higher germinability and longer root length of C. dactylon when compared with the control.
The values of EC₅₀ (effective concentration in reducing root length to 50% of the control) were also used to compare the toxic effects of the leachate on root elongation of the two species. It was noted that Brassica chinensis showed similar values of EC 50 at different time intervals tested (518-615%) whereas Cynodon dactylon showed no effective value at 48h, and progressively higher values were obtained with increasing time (72h-EC₅₀: 5%; 96h-EC₅₀: 13.3%; 144h-EC₅₀: 28.5%).
From the results of the present investigation it is concluded that the rather high contents of heavy metals in the leachate may have harmful effects on both seed germination and root growth although organic substances might also play an important role. Copyright © 1984 Published by Elsevier B.V.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 283-294 |
| Journal | Conservation & Recycling |
| Volume | 7 |
| Issue number | 2-4 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 1984 |