Wood ash effects on growth and cadmium uptake in Deschampsia flexuosa (Wavy hair-grass)

TY - JOUR

T1 - Wood ash effects on growth and cadmium uptake in Deschampsia flexuosa (Wavy hair-grass)

AU - Kindtler, Nikolaj Lunding

AU - Ekelund, Flemming

AU - Rønn, Regin

AU - Kjøller, Rasmus

AU - Hovmand, Mads

AU - Vestergård, Mette

AU - Christensen, Søren

AU - Johansen, Jesper Liengaard

PY - 2019

Y1 - 2019

N2 - Wood ash recycling to forests is beneficial because it regains nutrients and prevents acidification, but wood ash application is restricted due to its cadmium (Cd) content. We question if Cd in wood ash represents a problem, since decreases in Cd bioavailability due to ash-induced pH changes may counteract increased total Cd concentration. We studied effects of wood ash (0, 3, 9 and 30 t ha −1 ) and lime (pH increase equivalent to the wood ash treatments) on growth and Cd uptake in Deschampsia flexuosa. After four months, we measured plant biomass and Cd accumulation, and extracted Cd from the soil using three different methods; HNO 3 (total), EDTA (chelator-based) and NH 4 NO 3 (salt-based). Wood ash and lime strongly stimulated plant growth. Cd concentration in the plant tissue decreased with wood ash and lime addition, and correlated positively with the NH 4 NO 3 extractable fraction of Cd in the soil. In contrast, HNO 3 and EDTA extracted more Cd with increased wood ash application. We conclude that wood ash amendment increases soil pH, total Cd concentration, nutrient levels and stimulates plant growth. However, it does not increase Cd accumulation in D. flexuosa, as pH-driven decreases in Cd bioavailability leads to reduced plant Cd uptake. Finally, soil bioavailable Cd is best determined using NH 4 NO 3 -extraction.

AB - Wood ash recycling to forests is beneficial because it regains nutrients and prevents acidification, but wood ash application is restricted due to its cadmium (Cd) content. We question if Cd in wood ash represents a problem, since decreases in Cd bioavailability due to ash-induced pH changes may counteract increased total Cd concentration. We studied effects of wood ash (0, 3, 9 and 30 t ha −1 ) and lime (pH increase equivalent to the wood ash treatments) on growth and Cd uptake in Deschampsia flexuosa. After four months, we measured plant biomass and Cd accumulation, and extracted Cd from the soil using three different methods; HNO 3 (total), EDTA (chelator-based) and NH 4 NO 3 (salt-based). Wood ash and lime strongly stimulated plant growth. Cd concentration in the plant tissue decreased with wood ash and lime addition, and correlated positively with the NH 4 NO 3 extractable fraction of Cd in the soil. In contrast, HNO 3 and EDTA extracted more Cd with increased wood ash application. We conclude that wood ash amendment increases soil pH, total Cd concentration, nutrient levels and stimulates plant growth. However, it does not increase Cd accumulation in D. flexuosa, as pH-driven decreases in Cd bioavailability leads to reduced plant Cd uptake. Finally, soil bioavailable Cd is best determined using NH 4 NO 3 -extraction.

KW - Bioaccumulation

KW - Bioavailability

KW - Cadmium

KW - Deschampsia flexuosa

KW - Lime

KW - Wood ash

U2 - 10.1016/j.envpol.2019.03.098

DO - 10.1016/j.envpol.2019.03.098

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 30965540

AN - SCOPUS:85063871781

SN - 0269-7491

SP - 886

EP - 893

JO - Environmental Pollution

JF - Environmental Pollution

ER -