Response of Holm oak (Quercus ilex subsp. ballota) and mastic shrub (Pistacia lentiscus L.) seedlings to high concentrations of Cd and Tl in the rhizosphere

The impairment of root growth and photosynthetical functioning are the main impacts of trace elements on woody plant seedlings. In this work, we assessed the response of Holm oak (Quercusilex subsp. ballota) and mastic shrub (Pistacia lentiscus) seedlings to high concentrations of Cd and Tl in the rhizosphere. These are non-essential trace elements, with a potential high mobility in the soil-plant system. Seedlings of these species are frequently used in the afforestation of degraded soils in mining areas. Plants were exposed to different levels of Cd (20, 80 and 200 mg L⁻¹) and Tl (2, 10 and 20 mg L⁻¹) in a sand culture. Biomass allocation, growth rates, chlorophyll fluorescence and gas exchange were studied. Both metals affected root biomass. Cadmium produced an increase in the root mass ratio and a decrease in the specific leaf area of the plants in oak seedlings, while Tl did not provoke such response. Mastic plants were more sensitive to Tl and Cd than oak plants. Between elements, Tl provoked more severe toxic effects in the plants, affecting the antennae complexes and reaction centers of the photosystem II. Both elements decreased net assimilation rates (down to a 20% of the control plants) and stomatal conductance (5-10% of the values for the control plants). Cadmium was highly retained in the roots of both species, while Tl was highly translocated into the leaves. In general, Holm oak showed a higher tolerance for Cd than for Tl, and a higher resistance to both metals than mastic shrub, due to a high capacity for Cd retention at the root level. However, such accumulation in roots may induce water stress in the seedling exposed to Cd.     

Cu~(2+)、Zn~(2+)对生物脱氮系统的影响

Cu2+和Zn2+是污水处理工艺中经常遇到的金属离子.在驯化好的活性污泥系统中,研究了金属离子Cu2+和Zn2+在0～100 mg/L浓度下对活性污泥牛物脱氮系统的影响.试验发现Cu2+＞5 mg/L、Zn2+＞30 ms/L时,对硝化过程具有明显的抑制作用,在同样浓度的试验条件下Cu2+对硝化过程的抑制作用比Zn2+大.Cu2+≤0.5 mg/L时对反硝化过程具有一定的促进作用,有助于提高TN的去除效果;Cu2+＞0.5 mg/L时,对反硝化产牛抑制作用,随着浓度的增加,TN去除率逐渐下降.Zn2+不影响反硝化过程,仅在大于30 mg/L时,对硝化过程产生抑制作用.重金属Cu2+对生物脱氮系统的影响明显强于Zn2+.     

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and heavy metals (HMs) as well as their genotoxicity in soil after long-term wastewater irrigation

A study was carried out on the residue level of major concern pollutants (PAHs, PCBs and HMs) and the assessment of their genotoxicity in soils obtained from Shenyang, northeast of China which had been subjected to wastewater irrigation for more than 40 years. Topsoils (0-20cm) in paddy fields were sampled along the upper, middle and lower reaches of the wastewater disposal channel. Sixteen USEPA PAHs were determined by High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) with fluorescence detector, eight PCBs were detected by Gas Chromatography (GC) with electron capture detector, and six heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn, Ni, and Cr) were measured by Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS). The genotoxicity effect of soils was examined by Vicia faba micronucleus (MN) test. Archived soils that had undergone a similar history of wastewater irrigation provided by Technical University of Berlin, Germany were subjected to analysis of the above pollutants and Vicia faba/MN test for comparison. Results indicated elevated residues of the studied pollutants (PAHs, especially benzo (a) pyrene, the eight PCB congeners and heavy metals) in both tested and archived soils. The MN frequencies were 2.2-48.4 times higher compared with the control. However, there was no correlation between the MN frequencies and the concentration of pollutants detected. This investigation suggested a potential ecological risk even with a lower level of residual pollutants in soil matrix after long-term wastewater irrigation.     

Impact assessment of cadmium contamination on rice (Oryza sativa L.) seedlings at molecular and population levels using multiple biomarkers

Assessment of environmental contamination on ecology (plant) at molecular and population levels is important in risk quantification and remediation study. Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) assay and related other fingerprinting techniques have been employed to detect the genotoxin-induced DNA damage and mutations. This research compared the effects occurring at molecular and population levels in rice seedlings exposed to cadmium (Cd) concentrations of 15-60 mg l(-1) for 8 days with quartz sand culture. Inhibition of root growth and increase of total soluble protein content in root tips of rice seedlings were observed with the increase of Cd concentration. For the RAPD analyses, 12 RAPD primers of 50-70% GC content were found to produce unique polymorphic band patterns and subsequently were used to produce a total of 180 bands of 179-3056 bp in molecular size in the control root tips of rice seedlings. Results produced by these RAPD primers indicate that changes in RAPD profiles of root tips after Cd treatment include modifications in band intensity and gain or loss of bands by comparison with control. The effect of changes was dose-dependent. Genomic template stability compares favourably with the traditional indices such as root growth and soluble protein content. The DNA polymorphisms detected by RAPD analysis can be applied as a suitable biomarker assay for the detection of genotoxic effects of Cd contamination on plants.     

Growth and physiology of Northern Red Oak: preliminary comparisons of mature tree and seedling responses to ozone

Considerable progress has been made during the past decade in the development of mechanistic models that allow complex chemical, physical, and biological processes to be evaluated in the global change context. However, quantitative predictions of the response of individual trees, stands, and forest ecosystems to pollutants and climatic variables require extrapolation of existing data sets, derived largely from seedling studies, to increasing levels of complexity with little or no understanding of the uncertainties associated with these extrapolations. Consequently, a project designed to address concerns associated with scaling from seedling to mature tree responses was initiated. During the 1990 and 1991 growing seasons, mature northern red oak (Quercus rubra L.) trees and seedlings were exposed to subambient, ambient, and twice ambient ozone (O(3)) concentrations. The initial focus of the study was to identify possible trends and obvious differences between mature trees and seedlings, both in terms of growth and physiology and in response to O(3). Generally, mature trees exhibited a greater decrease in photosynthesis rates over the growing season than did the seedlings. Ozone treatments had no consistent effect on gas exchange rates of seedlings, but the twice ambient O(3) treatment resulted in reduced photosynthesis rates in the mature tree. Despite no effect of O(3) on seedling gas exchange rates, total seedling biomass was significantly less at the end of the 1991 growing season for those seedlings exposed to twice ambient O(3) levels. Disproportionate reductions in root biomass also resulted in reduced root to shoot ratios at elevated O(3) concentrations.     

Distribution of mercury in the combustion products from coal-fired power plants in Guizhou,southwest China

Method 30B and the Ontario Hydro Method (OHM) were used to sample the mercury in the flue gas discharged from the seven power plants in Guizhou Province, southwest China. In order to investigate the mercury migration and transformation during coal combustion and pollution control process, the contents of mercury in coal samples, bottom ash, fly ash, and gypsum were measured. The mercury in the flue gas released into the atmosphere mainly existed in the form of Hg°. The precipitator shows a superior ability to remove Hg^p (particulate mercury) from flue gas. The removal efficiency of Hg²⁺ by wet flue gas desulfurization (WFGD) was significantly higher than that for the other two forms of mercury. The synergistic removal efficiency of mercury by the air pollution control devices (APCDs) installed in the studied power plants is 66.69–97.56%. The Hg mass balance for the tested seven coal-fired power plants varied from 72.87% to 109.67% during the sampling time. After flue gas flowing through APCDs, most of the mercury in coal was enriched in fly ash and gypsum, with only a small portion released into the atmosphere with the flue gas. The maximum discharge source of Hg for power plants was fly ash and gypsum instead of Hg emitted with flue gas through the chimney into the atmosphere. With the continuous upgrading of APCDs, more and more mercury will be enriched in fly ash and gypsum. Extra attention should be paid to the re-release of mercury from the reutilization of by-products from APCDs.

Implications: Method 30B and the Ontario Hydro Method (OHM) were used to test the mercury concentration in the flue gas discharged from seven power plants in Guizhou Province, China. The concentrations of mercury in coal samples, bottom ash, fly ash, and gypsum were also measured. By comparison of the mercury content of different products, we found that the maximum discharge source of Hg for power plants was fly ash and gypsum, instead of Hg emitted with flue gas through the chimney into the atmosphere. With the continuous upgrading of APCDs, more and more mercury will be enriched in fly ash and gypsum. Extra attention should be paid to the re-release of mercury from the reutilization of by-products from APCDs.     

Influence of two growing seasons of experimental ozone fumigation on photosynthetic characteristics of white oak seedlings

White oak (Quercus alba L.) seedlings were exposed to charcoal-filtered air or to above-ambient ozone concentrations for 19-20 weeks during each of two growing seasons in continuously stirred tank reactors in greenhouses. Ozone treatments were 0.15 ppm (300 microg m(-3)) for 8 h day(-1), 3 days week(-1) in 1988, and continuous 15% above ambient in 1989. The seedlings were grown in forest soil watered twice weekly with simulated rain of pH 5.2. Responses of net photosynthesis to photosynthetically active radiation and intercellular CO(2) concentration were measured three times each year. There were no significant differences in light-saturated net photosynthesis or stomatal conductance, dark respiration, quantum or carboxylation efficiencies, and light or CO(2) compensation points on any date between control and ozone-exposed seedlings.     

Lead removal from foundry waste by solvent extraction

Solvent extraction is used to reduce lead concentrations from millpond wastewater solids, a type of foundry process waste. Toluene and toluene mixed with di-(2-ethyl-hexyl) phosphoric acid (HDEHP) have been tried as leaching solvents. Toluene is ineffective as a solvent in extracting lead, but the toluene-HDEHP mixture effectively removes lead from solid foundry waste. The effects of the HDEHP concentration, the contact time, and the amount of solvent used on lead extraction have been investigated. The mass transfer process is rapid: contact time of 1/2 hour has been found to be sufficient to accomplish the leaching process. The concentration of HDEHP significantly impacts lead removal. The optimum concentration of HDEHP is determined to range from 0.05 to 0.1 mol/l. The Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure (TCLP) test of the treated samples gives leachable lead in much lower quantities than those found in the untreated samples. Thus the solvent extraction process appears to be an effective method to significantly reduce the lead content of millpond wastewater solids.     

黄磷废水中氟化物的物化处理研究

本文利用向含氟废水中加入适量石灰和聚合氯化铝PAC ,然后投加适量钙盐、磷酸和聚丙烯酰胺PAM的二级处理工艺除氟。通过控制合适的 pH、钙盐和磷酸的投加量、反应时间、反应温度、搅拌强度和絮凝剂的投加量 ,确定了最佳的除氟工艺 ,可以使氟的浓度降至 5mg/L ,达到国家一级排放标准GB8978 1996。     

Effects of copper on Sambucus nigra L. seedlings studied by electron paramagnetic resonance and atomic absorption spectroscopies

We present in this work preliminary results on the translocation of copper, manganese and iron from soil to leaves of Sambucus nigra L. seedlings in the presence of increasing copper concentrations in the growth medium. The use of electron spin resonance spectroscopy and the comparison with atomic absorption spectroscopy is not presently common in the study of metal absorption in plants. This approach gave promising results both on the detection of some metal ions, as well as of radical species related to the presence of Cu2+ in plant tissues. Copper was found to act synergistically in manganese uptake.     

Alleviation of Cd toxicity by composted sewage sludge in Cd-treated Schmidt birch (Betula schmidtii) seedlings

We investigated alleviation of Cd toxicity and changes in the physiological characteristics of Betula schmidtii seedlings following application of composted sewage sludge to Cd-treated plants. Plants were grown under four test conditions: control, Cd treatment, sludge amendment, and Cd treatment with sludge amendment. B. schmidtii treated with Cd only accumulated the greatest amount of Cd in the leaves, but absorbed Cd was also highly concentrated in the roots. In contrast, Cd concentrations in the Cd and sludge amendment treated seedlings were the lowest in the roots. Since sludge amendment increased the growth of seedlings, it may have alleviated toxicity by dilution of Cd. Additionally, the absorbed Cd was more widely distributed since it was transported from the roots and accumulated in the stems and leaves of Cd and sludge treated plants. Cd treatment inhibited the growth and physiological functions of B. schmidtii seedlings, but sludge amendment compensated for these effects and improved growth and physiological functions in both Cd-treated and control plants. SOD activity in the leaves of seedlings was increased in the Cd-treated plants, but not in the Cd and sludge amendment treated seedlings. In conclusion, alleviation of Cd toxicity in response to sludge amendment may be related to a dilution effect, in which the Cd concentration in the tissues was effectively lowered by the improved growth performance of the seedlings.     

The effects of multiple metal contamination on ectomycorrhizal Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) seedlings

Experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of single and multiple metal contamination (Cd, Pb, Zn, Sb, Cu) on Scots pine seedlings colonised by ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi from natural soil inoculum. Seedlings were grown in either contaminated field soil from the site of a chemical accident, soils amended with five metals contaminating the site, or in soil from an uncontaminated control site. Although contaminated and metal-amended soil significantly inhibited root and shoot growth of the Scots pine seedlings, total root tip density was not affected. Of the five metals tested in amended soils, Cd was the most toxic to ECM Scots pine. Field-contaminated soil had a toxic effect on ECM fungi associated with Scots pine seedlings and caused shifts in ECM species composition on ECM seedlings. When compared to soils amended with only one metal, soils amended with a combination of all five metals tested had lower relative toxicity and less accumulation of Pb, Zn and Sb into seedlings. This would indicate that the toxicity of multiple metal contamination cannot be predicted from the individual toxicity of the metals investigated.     

Evaluation of Acacia nilotica (L.) del. and Casuarina equisetifolia forst. for tolerance and growth on microbially treated dyestuff wastewater

Two tree species, Acacia nilotica (L.) Del. and Casuarina equisetifolia Forst., were tested for their tolerance and growth on dyestuff wastewater containing phenol, aniline, and methyl violet. The wastewater was treated microbially by using a culture of Pseudomonas alcaligenes in a fixed-film bioreactor. The plants were watered with untreated and treated wastewater and tap water (control) at the rate of 2 litre per plant per week. A. nilotica exhibited 100% survival with both untreated and treated wastewater, and growth (increase in height) was comparable to that of control plants. However, growth of C. equisetifolia was adversely affected. It exhibited 100% survival with treated wastewater but only 87% survival with untreated waste-water and the percentage increase in height was less with both treated and untreated wastewater. There was no effect on soil except for an increase in chloride content.     

废椰壳制备活性炭负载CuO处理活性艳红X-3B废水的工艺优化

为了综合利用废椰壳,进行了废椰壳制备活性炭并负载氧化铜处理活性艳红X-3B废水的研究。采用正交实验法,以COD和色度去除率为目标函数确定了活性炭的最佳制备工艺条件为：磷酸浓度65%（质量百分数）,m（磷酸）/m（椰壳）比3∶1,活化时间2.5 h,活化温度500℃。在该活性炭上负载氧化铜处理活性艳红X-3B染料废水,其COD和色度去除率分别为83.70%和99.72%。用扫描电镜（SEM）和X衍射仪（XRD）对裸活性炭和载铜活性炭样品表面形貌和结构进行了表征和分析。通过单因素实验法确定了废水处理的最佳工艺条件为：pH值5,曝气时间4 h和催化剂用量0.55 g,在此条件下,COD和色度去除率分别为86.70%和99.75%,相应的出水指标为75 mg/L和32稀释倍数。     

Interactive effects of O3 exposure on California black oak (Quercus kelloggii Newb.) seedlings with and without N amendment

We examined the short-term separate and combined effects of simulated nitrogen (N) deposition (fertilization) and ozone (O(3)) exposure on California black oak seedlings (Quercus kelloggii Newb.), an ecologically important tree of the San Bernardino Mountains downwind of Los Angeles. Realistic concentrations of O(3) were found to cause statistically and biologically significant negative effects on plant health, including lowered photosynthetic ability, lowered water use efficiency, and increased leaf chlorosis and necrosis. When subjected to abrupt changes in light levels, O(3)-exposed plants showed both a slower and smaller response than O(3)-free plants. Fertilized plants exhibited a significantly greater pre- to post-treatment decline in A at saturated [CO(2)] and a significantly lower level of post-treatment chlorosis than unfertilized plants. Fertilization tended to reduce plant sensitivity to O(3).     

高效菌藻塘系统对农村污水中磷的强化去除效果研究

研究了高效菌藻塘系统处理太湖地区农村生活污水除磷效果及其强化措施。高效菌藻塘和水生生物塘HRT分别为8 d和4 d,进水总磷浓度为1.7～17.1 mg/L,出水总磷浓度全年平均值为3.33 mg/L,高效菌藻塘系统的除磷能力欠佳。通过降低水生生物塘内水深、采用废弃石膏作为填料构建了新型复合水生生物塘,HRT=1.6 d条件下,复合水生生物塘出水总磷可保持在1 mg/L以下,可达到GB18918-2002一级B排放标准。     

Effects of consolidated tailings water on red-osier dogwood (Cornus stolonifera Michx) seedlings

As part of their tailings management, the oil sand industries plan on producing consolidated (composite) tailings (CT), in which an inorganic coagulant aid (gypsum) is added to create a non-segregating deposit. The water associated with this treatment contains potentially phytotoxic levels of sodium, sulfate, chloride, boron, aluminum, fluoride and strontium. Since CT water is expected to saturate deposits in the reclamation areas, it may affect successful reclamation of these sites. Red-osier dogwood (Cornus stolonifera Michx) was demonstrated to be relatively salt resistant and to have high potential for the reclamation of mining areas. In the present study, we used red-osier dogwood to examine the effects of CT water on the accumulation of ions within plant tissue, growth, gas exchange, water potentials and chlorophyll concentration. CT water reduced shoot lengths and dry weights in treated plants. The roots of treated plants accumulated higher concentrations of sodium and chloride than did shoots. The accumulation of sodium and chloride was accompanied by an increase in magnesium and calcium and a decrease in potassium in the roots, while the levels of potassium increased in the leaves. CT water altered gas exchange and water potentials in seedlings, and resulted in a decrease in chlorophyll's a and b. The results suggest that the mechanisms of salt resistance in red-osier dogwood seedlings involve the restriction of sodium transport from roots to shoots.     

The fate of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in the wastewater treatment process and its importance in the removal of wastewater contaminants

Goal, Scope and Background Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) constitutes a parameter of organic pollution for waters and wastewaters, which is not so often studied, and it is not yet regulated by directives. The term ‘DOC’ is used for the fraction of organics that pass through a 0.45 μm pores’ size membrane. The type of wastewater plays an important role in the quality of DOC and it has been shown that DOC may contain aquatic humic substances, hydrophobic bases, hydrophobic neutrals, hydrophilic acids, hydrophilic bases and hydrophilic neutrals. The quality of the DOC is expected to affect its fate in a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP), since a considerable fraction of DOC is not biodegradable, and it may be released in the aquatic environment together with the treated effluent. In the present study, the occurrence of DOC during the wastewater treatment process is investigated and its removal rates during primary, secondary and overall treatment are being estimated. Furthermore, a correlation is being attempted between DOC and the concentrations of selected Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) and Heavy Metals (HMs) in the dissolved phase of wastewaters, to examine whether there are common sources for these pollution parameters in WWTPs. Also, DOC is being correlated with the partition coefficients of the above-mentioned pollutants in wastewater, in order to examine the effect of ‘solubility enhancement’ in WWTPs and to evaluate the result of this phenomenon in the efficiency of a WWTP to remove organic pollutants. Methods For the purposes of this study, 24-h composite wastewater samples were collected from the influent (raw wastewater, RW), the effluent of primary sedimentation tank (primary sedimentation effluent, PSE) and the effluent of secondary sedimentation tank (secondary sedimentation effluent, SSE). Samples were analyzed for the presence of 26 POPs (7 PCBs and 19 organochlorine pesticides), 8 HMs and DOC. Results and Discussion Mean concentrations of DOC in RW and PSE were at similar levels (∼ 70 mg l⁻¹), suggesting that primary treatment has a minor effect on the DOC content of wastewater. DOC concentrations in SSE were significantly lower (∼ 19 mg l⁻¹) as a result of the degradation of organic compounds in the biological reactor. Calculated removals of DOC were 0.8% in the primary treatment, 63% in the secondary treatment, and 69% in the overall treatment, exhibiting large differences from other organic pollution parameters, such as BOD and COD. The overall DOC removal was found to be independent from the DOC concentration in raw wastewater. Poor correlation was also observed between the DOC content and the concentrations of wastewater contaminants, such as persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and heavy metals (HMs), probably suggesting that their occurrence in WWTPs is due to different sources. A good negative linear relationship was revealed between DOC concentrations and the logarithms of the distribution coefficients (K _d) of various POPs and HMs between the solid and the liquid phases of wastewater. This relationship suggests that DOC facilitates hydrophobic pollutants to remain in the dissolved phase thus causing lower removal percentages during the treatment process. Conclusion DOC was measured at three stages of a municipal WWTP that receives mainly domestic wastewater and urban runoff. DOC concentrations in untreated and primarily treated wastewater were almost equal, and only after the secondary sedimentation there was a decrease. Concentrations and removal rates of DOC were in the same levels as in other WWTPs that receive municipal wastewater. The origin of DOC was found to be different to the one of POPs and of HMs, as no correlation was observed between the concentrations of DOC and the concentrations of these pollutants. On the contrary, DOC was found to have significant negative correlation with the K _d of all pollutants examined, suggesting that it plays an important role in the partitioning of those pollutants between the dissolved and the sorbed phase of wastewaters. This effect of DOC on partitioning can affect the ability of WWTPs to remove toxic pollutants, and that way it facilitates the discharge of those chemicals in the aquatic ecosystems together with the treated effluent. Recommendation By the results of this work it is shown that the presence of DOC in wastewaters can significantly affect the partition of hazardous pollutants between the dissolved and the sorbed phase. It is therefore of importance that this parameter is controlled more in wastewaters, since it can cause a decrease in the efficiency of WWTPs to remove quantitatively persistent pollutants.     

Effects of an industrial effluent on plant colonization and on the germination and post-germinative growth of seeds of terrestrial and aquatic plant species

Major oil sands industrial companies are located in the Athabasca Oil Sands Deposit in northeastern Alberta, Canada. During the process used to extract light crude oil (via hot water digestion and flotation), gypsum is usually added to produce consolidated tails (CT) and CT release water. The vast volumes of process-treated waters (effluent) are held within large dyked tailings ponds. Toward testing viable options for reclamation, various hummock-wetlands systems have been constructed; in addition, natural wetlands (inhabited by obligate wetland plant species) have become established as a result of seeping of the effluents held within the large dyked ponds. Vegetation surveys conducted on and around the industrial site revealed that the constructed wetlands associated with the dyke drainage (effluent treated with phosphorous) and consolidated tails (CT; effluent treated with gypsum) had low biodiversity and were not invaded by many aquatic plants. Although the natural wetland was also not invaded by many aquatic species, it was found to be as diverse as the reference wetlands (i.e. off-site wetlands not exposed to the effluents). Exposure to oil sands effluents had an inhibitory effect on the germination (percent and/or rate) of several plant species (tomato, clover, wheat, rye, pea, reed canary grass, loblolly pine); clover and tomato seed germination were most affected. Two treatments in particular (effluents from the natural on-site wetland and the CT constructed wetland), delayed germination, and also led to reduced fresh weight of seedlings of tomato, wheat, clover and loblolly pine. The osmolarities of the effluents associated with the natural on-site wetland and CT constructed wetland were 712 and 728 mOs/kg, respectively; substituting these effluents with solutions of polyethylene glycol of the same osmotic potentials had a greater inhibitory effect on germination rate. The negative effects of the effluents on seed germination may account for the paucity of aquatic species that invaded the oil sands impacted wetlands. This factor will also be critical in determining the long-term feasibility of hummock-wetland systems.     

The effect of papermill wastewater and organic amendments of sodium accumulation by potted cottonwoods

In this experiment, the impacts of pulp mill effluent irrigation, Fraser cottonwood (Populus deltoides 'Fraser') seedlings, and pulp sludge and manure soil amendments on sodium accumulation and distribution in the soil profile were evaluated during a 6 month greenhouse study. Sludge soil amendments and wastewater irrigation did not reduce stem biomass production of the cottonwood. Increased stem biomass production associated with manure soil amendments resulted in greater total uptake of sodium into stem material. This uptake was 0.002% of wastewater sodium inputs. In containers with seedlings, sodium concentrations were less in the surface horizon and more in the lower horizons than in containers with no seedlings. Infiltration rates and total sodium accumulation in the soil profile were not affected by the presence of Fraser cottonwood or the application of sludge or manure amendments to soil.