Glutathione and cysteine biosynthesis in two varieties of Abelmoschus esculentus in response to mine spoil

The extent of accumulation of some heavy metals and glutathione and cysteine levels in the roots and aerial plant parts in two genotypically different varieties of A. esculentus (KS404 and BO2) exposed to mine spoil were investigated. Glutathione (GSH) level in both the varieties on control sites increased from basal level to 155.15 nmol g(-1) dry weight (d.wt.), almost 1.5 fold on 30 day and attained a plateau within 60 day Mine spoil exposure of both the varieties decreased glutathione 1.13 fold (89.2 nmol g(-1) dry weight) during 60 day from its basal level. GSH concentration in shoots of these varieties increased accompanying growth contrary to roots where it finally declined 2 fold. Cysteine content in control plants increased 2 fold (31.6 nmol g(-1) dry weight) on 30 day and finally declined 1.38 fold (22.35 nmol g(-1) dry weight, at 60 day). Both the varieties, when exposed to mine spoil, showed enhanced cysteine content almost 2 fold during 30 day (50.95 nmol g(-1) dry weight) but failed to increase further Forshoots in both the varieties challenged with mine spoil, cysteine maxima reached late (15.2 nmol g(-1) dry weight, at 40 day) relative to control but the levels declined subsequently (11.85 nmol g(-l) dry weight). Contrary to GSH, cysteine content in roots of both the varieties responded positively to mine spoil as apparent from the 2.23 fold increase during 30 d than basal level although it lowered to a level of 12.85 nmol g(-1) dry weight finally at 60 day. Both the varieties accumulated almost maximum level of selected cations (Fe > Mn> Zn> Cu > Ni) during 30 day, but BO2 variety was significantly superior in this regard. Invariably high accumulation of such cations in roots over shoots indicated accumulation, retention or restricted translocation from root to shoot. The metal share of the edible part was just 6% of the plant load. Thus, present work reflects a genotypic differences in metal accumulation and that affected the major non-enzymatic traits or synthesis of sulthydryl compounds as well. The present results also indicate that metal tolerance is in part associated with anti-oxidant system activity.     

Stabilization of metals in acidic mine spoil with amendments and red fescue (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Festuca rubra</Emphasis> L.) growth

Stabilization of metals with amendments and red fescue (Festuca rubra, cv. Keszthelyi 2) growth was studied on an acidic and phytotoxic mine spoil (pH_KCl 3.20–3.26; Cd 7.1 mg kg^?1, Cu 120 mg kg^?1, Pb 2154 mg kg^?1 and Zn 605 mg kg^?1) from Gyöngyösoroszi, Hungary in a pot experiment. Raising the pH above 5.0 by lime (CaCO₃), and supplementing with 40 mg kg^?1nitrogen (NH₄NO₃) made this material suitable for plant growth. All cultures were limed with 0.5% (m/m) CaCO₃ (treatment 1), which was combined with 5% (m/m) municipal sewage sludge compost (treatment 2), 5% (m/m) peat (treatment 3), 7.5% (m/m) natural zeolite (clinoptilolite) (treatment 4), and 0.5 (m/m) KH₂PO₄ (treatment 5). Treatments 1–5 were combined with each other (treatment 6). After 60 days of red fescue growth, pH of the limed mine spoil decreased in all cultures units. Application of peat caused the highest pH decrease (1.15), while decrease of pH was less than 0.23 in treatments 2, 5 or 6. Application of lime significantly reduced concentrations of metals in the ‘plant available’ fraction of mine spoil compared to non-limed mine spoil. Amendments added to limed mine spoil changed variously the ratio of Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn in exchangeable or ‘plant available’ fractions, differently influencing the phytoavailability of these metals. Most of the metals were captured in the roots of test plants. Treatment 2 caused the appearance of less Cd in shoots (<0.1 μg g^?1) or roots (3.11 μg g^?1), while treatment 5 resulted in the highest Cd concentration (2.13 μg g^?1) in shoots. Treatments did not influence significantly the Cu accumulation in shoots. The Pb accumulation of roots (44.7 μg g^?1) was most effectively inhibited by combined treatment, while the highest value (136 μg g^?1) was found in the culture treated with potassium phosphate. Pb concentration in shoots was below the detection limit, except for treatments 5 and 6. Peat application resulted in higher Zn concentration (448 μg g^?1) in shoots than other amendments, where these values were around 100 μg g^?1. All amendments influenced positively the dry matter yield of red fescue grown in limed mine spoil, however the application of 0.5 phosphate was less favourable. Liming, application of amendments and growth of red fescue can stabilize metals in acidic and phytotoxic mine spoil, and by phytostabilization they can reduce the risk of metal contamination of the food chain.     

马缨丹对镉的生长响应及其富集、转运和亚细胞分布特点研究

镉是植物非必需且生物毒性最强的重金属元素之一,然而镉富集植物能通过一定的响应机制来减少镉对自身产生的毒害,且不同植物之间镉的解毒机制存在差异。马缨丹（Lantana camara L.）是四川汉源铅锌矿区镉污染土壤的修复植物,但是关于其镉的分布特征和解毒机制并不明确。因此本文采用盆栽模拟试验,分别设置0（对照,不添加镉）、30、90、150、210 mg·kg-1镉5个处理,研究马缨丹对镉的富集、转运及其亚细胞分布特点,探讨马缨丹对镉的耐性和解毒机制,以期为植物耐镉的生理和分子生物学机制提供一定的理论依据。结果表明：镉质量分数低于90 mg·kg-1时对马缨丹生长没有影响,而镉质量分数高于150 mg·kg-1时对马缨丹生长有显著的抑制作用;随着镉质量分数的增加,马缨丹各器官中镉的质量分数逐渐增加,表现为根＞茎＞叶,且其转运系数小于1,表明马缨丹对镉有较强的根部滞留能力,可限制过量的镉向地上部器官的转运,减少镉对地上部的毒害,这可能是马缨丹耐受镉胁迫的机制之一;随着镉质量分数的增加,马缨丹地下部和地上部的镉富集量总体上均呈增加趋势,在210 mg·kg-1镉处理时,均达到最大值,分别为142.8和1031.6μg·plant-1,不同质量分数镉处理下,马缨丹地上部的镉富集量较大,占全株镉富集量的94.0%~88.3%;镉在马缨丹根和叶细胞可溶性组分中的分配比例最高,分别占62.1%~54.2%和59.8%~52.6%,其次在细胞壁中,分别占23.8%~34.4%和28.7%~39.5%,在细胞器和细胞膜中的较低,表明可溶性组分和细胞壁是镉在马缨丹根和叶细胞中的主要分布位点,液泡区隔化和细胞壁固持可能是马缨丹对镉的重要解毒和耐性机制之一。     

Effect of marble dust on plants around Vishwakarma Industrial Area (VKIA) in Jaipur, India

The paper describes the effect of marble dust on plants in and around Vishwakarma Industrial Area (VKIA) Jaipur, Rajasthan (India). Trees species growing in and around VKIA area were selected and various morphological characteristics were studied such as leaf area dry weight ratio (LADWR), Dust retaining capacity (DRC) and Chlorophyll content. In the study the effects of marble dust on selected tree species was observed. LADWR was recorded maximunm 217.90 cm2 g(-1) dry wt. in Polyalthia longifolia in VKIA and minimum 98.74 cm2 g(-1) dry wt. in Ficus religiosa in Nindar whereas The DRC was observed maximum 178.51 mg cm(-2) in Azadirachta indica in VKIA as well as minimum recorded 66.41 mg cm(-2) in Thevetie pervvianain in Vidyadher Nagar. However the Total Chlorophyll Content was also determined and it was found maximum in Bougainvillea i.e. 2.949 mg g(-1) (fresh wt.) in VKIA whereas minimum for Nindar i.e. 0.784 mg g(-1) (fresh wt.) in Ficus religiosa.     

Development of ground vegetation under exotic tree plantations on restored coal mine spoil land in a dry tropical region of India

Restoration of mine spoil is a prime need for coal industry. The study of ground cover vegetation provides essential information about the species diversity and their successional trends during the restoration. The present study was conducted to analyze the structure and biomass accumulation of ground vegetation developing in different plantation stands of an opencast coal mine spoil in a dry tropical region. Different plantation stands showed variations in species diversities. Exotic herbs were more dominant in comparison to native herbs. Pennisetum pedicillatum, an exotic herb showed maximum Importance Value Index in most of the plantation stands. Total number of species varied between 12-18 in different plantation stands. Speces richness and evenness increased with increasing age of the plantations. Variations in total biomass accumulation of ground vegetation were also significant among different plantations. These results suggest that reforestation programme with exotic species on coal mine spoil has been successful in colonization of ground vegetation under different plantations. Gravellia pteridifolia plantations showed most successful ground cover among different plantation stands.     

Studies on mycorrhizal inoculation on dry matter yield and root colonization of some medicinal plants grown in stress and forest soils

Five medicinal plants viz. Abelmoschatus moschatus Linn., Clitoria tematea L., Plumbagozeylanica L., Psorolea corylifolia L. and Withania sominifera L. were grown in a polypot experiment in five soils representing coal mine soil, coppermine soil, fly ash, skeletal soil and forest soil with and without mycorrhizal inoculations in a completely randomized block design. Dry matter yield and mycorrhizal root colonization of plants varied both in uninoculated and inoculated conditions. The forest soil rendered highest dry matter due to higher yield of A. moschatus, P. zeylanica and P corylifolia while fly ash showed lowest dry matter without any inoculants. P. cematea were best in coalmine soil and W. sominifera in copper mine soil without mycorrhizal inoculation. The mycorrhiza was found to enhance the dry matter yield. This contributed minimum 0.19% to maximum up to 422.0% in different soils as compared to uninoculated plants. The mycorrhizal dependency was noticed maximum in plants grown in fly ash followed by coal mine soil, copper mine soil, skeletal soil and forest soil. The mycorrhizal response was increased maximum in W. sominifera due to survival in fly ash after inoculation followed by P corylifolia and P cematea. Percent root colonization in inoculated plant was increased minimum of 1.10 fold to maximum of 12.0 folds in comparison to un-inoculated plants . The native mycorrhiza fungi were also observed to colonize 4.0 to 32.0% roots in plants understudy. This study suggests that mycorrhizal inoculation increased the dry matter yield of medicinal plants in all soils under study. It also helps in survival of W. sominifera in fly ash.     

Mercury contamination and health risk to crops around the zinc smelting plant in Huludao City,northeastern China

The Huludao zinc plant in Liaoning province, northeast China was the largest in Asia, and its smelting activities had seriously contaminated soil, water and atmosphere in the surrounding area. For the first time, we investigated the total mercury (THg) content in maize, soybean, broomcorn, 22 vegetables, and the soil around their roots from eight sampling plots near the Huludao zinc plant. THg contents of the seeds of maize, soybean, and broomcorn are 0.008, 0.006, and 0.057 mg kg⁻¹, respectively, with the broomcorn being the highest, exceeding the maximum level of contaminant in food (GB2762-2005) by 4.7 times. The edible parts of vegetables are also contaminated with a range of mercury contents of 0.001–0.147 mg kg⁻¹ (dry weight). THg contents in plant tissue decrease in the order of leaves > root > stalk > grain. Using correlation analysis, we show that mercury in the roots of these plants is mainly derived from soil, and the uptake of gaseous mercury is the predominant path by which the mercury accumulated in the foliage. The average and maximum mercury daily intake (DI) of adult around the Huludao zinc plant via consuming vegetables are 0.015 and 0.051 μg/kg/d, respectively, and those of children are 0.02 and 0.07 μg/kg/d, respectively. The average and maximum weekly intakes of total mercury for adult are 2.1 and 7.1%, respectively, of the provisional tolerable weekly intake (PTWI), and 2.8 and 9.7%, respectively, of the PTWI for children.     

Effects of the Interactions Between Selenium and Phosphorus on the Growth and Selenium Accumulation in Rice (Oryza Sativa)

The solution culture, paddy soil culture and the simulation experiments in the laboratory were conducted to clarify the interactions between selenium and phosphorus, and its effects on the growth and selenium accumulation in rice. Results revealed that a suitable supply of selenium could promote rice growth and excessive selenium could injure rice plant, causing lower biomass, especially in the roots. The supply of selenite could enhance the selenium contents of rice shoots and roots in solution culture and in soil culture. The selenium concentrations in roots were much higher than those in shoots supplied with the same rates of selenium and phosphorus. The interaction between selenium and phosphorus was evident. When the phosphorus supply increased to meet the needs of plant growth, phosphorus could promote absorption and accumulation of selenium in the shoots. If the phosphorus supply was excessive, phosphorus could inhibit the accumulation of selenium in the shoots at the lower selenite level (2 mol l^–1), but could not at the higher selenite level (10 mol l^–1). With the supply of phosphate increased, the selenium concentrations in the roots decreased significantly at both selenite levels. The presence of phosphate could decrease Se sorption on the soil surface and increase the selenium concentration in the soil solution. The concentrations of selenium in shoots and roots supplied with 0.08 g kg^–1 phosphorus were lower than those with no phosphorus supplied. With the increase of phosphorus added to 0.4 g kg^–1, the selenium concentration in shoots and roots increased. The effect of phosphorus on the concentration was statistically significant at all three selenium levels.     

Shrub and tree establishment on coal spoils in northern High Plains — USA

Trickle irrigation, during establishment, increased survival two fold for seven species of shrubs and trees planted on coal mine spoil in the semiarid area of northeastern Wyoming, USA. Increased survival of irrigated plants persisted for five years after initiation of this study, which included two growing and winter seasons after cessation of irrigation. Species included green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica), Russian olive (Elaeagnus angustifolia), silver buffaloberry (Shepherdia argentea), Siberian peashrub (Caragana arborescens), American plum (Prunus americana), ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa), and Rocky Mountain juniper (Juniperus scopulorum).     

Total mercury and methylmercury concentrations in fish from the Mojana region of Colombia

Total mercury (T-Hg) and methylmercury (MeHg) concentrations have been measured in the muscle tissue of 16 fish species consumed in the Mojana region of Colombia. T-Hg analysis was performed by cold-vapor atomic-absorption spectroscopy (CV-ASS) and MeHg analysis by gas chromatography with electron-capture detection. Higher T-Hg and MeHg concentrations were detected in carnivorous species (T-Hg = 0.371 ± 0.172 (μg g⁻¹ fresh wt, MeHg = 0.346 ± 0.171 μg g⁻¹ fresh wt) than in non-carnivorous fish (T-Hg = 0.155 ± 0.108 μg g⁻¹ fresh wt, MeHg = 0.146 ± 0.102 μg g⁻¹ fresh wt). In the different species mercury was present almost completely as the methylated form, with percentages between 80.5 and 98.1% (mean 92.0 ± 3.4%). In 13.5% of fish-tissue samples T-Hg concentrations exceeded the maximum level recommended by the World Health Organization for human consumption (Hg = 0.5 μg g⁻¹ fresh wt). Although mean T-Hg concentrations in all fish samples (0.269 ± 0.181 μg g⁻¹ fresh wt) did not exceed this limit, risk assessment suggested that the consumption of 0.12 kg fish day⁻¹ could increase the risk of mercury poisoning of the inhabitants of this region.     

镉胁迫对龙葵幼苗氮代谢及其相关酶活性的影响

采用营养液培养方法,研究了系列镉浓度处理对龙葵（Solanum nigrumL）幼苗氮代谢的影响。结果表明：龙葵根系可溶性蛋白质较叶片受Cd影响更大。龙葵植株叶片和根系NO3--N含量、硝酸还原酶（NR）、谷氨酰胺合成酶（GS）活性均随镉浓度提高而先增后降,且随处理时间的延长而逐渐下降。叶片NO3--N含量和NR活性均在25μm镉处理8d后达到峰值,而根系NO3--N则在50μm镉处理8d后最高。叶片NO3--N含量受镉处理影响较根系稍大。然而,龙葵叶片中NH4＋-N含量随镉浓度升高和时间延长逐渐升高,100μm镉处理16d后最高,表明镉胁迫下龙葵叶片铵态氮富集效应明显。龙葵叶片和根系中谷氨酸脱氢酶（GDH）活性随镉处理浓度提高和处理时间延长而逐渐升高,100μm镉处理16d后达到峰值。     

油菜秸秆还田对水稻根系分布及稻谷产量的影响

根系健康是水稻正常生长及高产的前提,为明确油菜秸秆还田方式和还田量对水稻生长及产量的影响,以秸秆不还田作为对照,设置秸秆半量还田(1.5 t/hm2)、全量还田(3.0 t/hm2)、超量还田(4.5 t/hm2)3个还田量以及秸秆覆盖还田(FG)、秸秆翻埋还田(FM)两种还田方式,通过盆栽和大田试验相结合,研究秸秆处...     

Variation in trace element mobility and nitrogen metabolism of Verbascum olympicum Boiss. under copper stress

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of copper (Cu) stress on accumulation and transport of trace elements, nitrogen assimilation, and growth parameters of Verbascum olympicum. Eight-week-old seedlings were grown in Hoagland's solution and exposed to 0, 50, 250, or 500?µM CuSO₄ for seven days in laboratory conditions. Bioaccumulation of trace elements (boron, bismuth, cobalt, Cu, iron, lithium, manganese, molybdenum, nickel, lead, zinc) in the roots and leaves was determined by inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry after one, three, and seven days. Chlorophyll content, nitrate reductase, and glutamine synthetase activities, soluble protein content, and biomass were determined. Copper accumulated in the roots and leaves (up to 19609.8 and 256.2?mg?kg^?1 dry weight, respectively). Other trace elements accumulated to higher levels in the roots of Cu-treated plants compared with those of control plants. High Cu concentrations decreased nitrogen-assimilatory enzyme activities. Compared with control plants, those treated with high Cu concentrations showed lower chlorophyll contents, total protein contents, and biomass. Nitrogen assimilation and growth parameters of V. olympicum were negatively affected by Cu treatment but mineral nutrition was not severely disrupted. The results support the suitability of V. olympicum as a candidate for phytoremediation of Cu-contaminated soils.     

Biochemical responses and accumulation of cadmium in Spirodela polyrhiza

The present study focused on biochemical responses of Spirodela polyrhiza to cadmium stresses and its accumulation. The laboratory experiments were conducted for the assessment of biochemical responses and accumulation of cadmium in plants at its various concentrations (0.1, 0.5, 1.5 and 2.0 ppm) at the regular interval for twelve days exposure. Spirodela showed visible symptoms like withering of roots and chlorosis at higher concentration (2.0 ppm), however the plant showed normal growth at lower concentration (0.1 ppm). The estimation of biochemical parameters (total chlorophyll, protein and carbohydrate) of test plants showed a significant increase at lower concentration (0.1 ppm) of cadmium. The biochemical changes decrease with increase in exposure concentration and duration. The toxic effect of cadmium is directly proportional to its concentration and duration. The accumulation of cadmium by Spirodela polyrhiza was maximum at four days exposure duration and gradually decreases.     

Effects of mutual intercropping on Pb and Zn accumulation of accumulator plants Rumex nepalensis,Lolium perenne and Trifolium repens

Intercropping is one of the most potential ways to remediate contaminated soil. In this study, three plants, including Rumex nepalensis which is a lead (Pb) accumulator plant, Lolium perenne which is tolerant to zinc (Zn) and a native plant Trifolium repens, were mutually intercropped in pots to study the effects of intercropping on co-remediation of Pb-Zn-contaminated soil from the Tangjia lead-zinc mine. Compared to the respective monoculture, the dry weights of R. nepalensis and T. repens were decreased under intercropping, while that of L. perenne was increased. The concentrations of total Zn in the three plants were increased by intercropping in which roots were higher than shoots. Besides, intercropping increased the accumulation of Zn in R. nepalensis and L. perenne per plant. The accumulations of heavy metals for R. nepalensis and T. repens in a single pot were enhanced by intercropping. Both of the maximum values of heavy metals’ accumulation were produced by three-species intercropping (7819.31?μg/pot for Pb, 12576.05 μg/pot for Zn) in terms of a single pot. These results indicated that three-species intercropping could promote the phytoremediation efficiency for Tangjia lead-zinc mine, and thus further proved intercropping is an effective method to remediate the Pb-Zn-contaminated soil by R. nepalensis and T. repens.     

The Freshwater Mussel Parreysia Favidens (Benson) As A Biological Indicator of Polonium - 210 in A Riverine System

The concentration of ²¹⁰Po, an alpha emitter from the natural uranium series was measured in the soft tissues (total), shell, and different organs - digestive glands, gills, mantle and foot - of the freshwater mussel, Parreysia favidens (Benson), collected from the river Kaveri, at Tiruchirapalli in South India. the analyses were made in three size groups based on shell length (Group 1: 2-4 cm; Group 2: 4-5 cm; Group 3: 5-6 cm). the soft tissues of the mussel accumulated higher concentrations of ²¹⁰Po (74.0-125.5 Bq kg^-1 fresh) than the shell (2.9-3.9 Bq kg^-1 fresh). Further, younger mussels (1 group) showed higher concentrations (125.5+2.0 Bq kg^-1 fresh) in total soft tissues than older ones (III Group) (74.0+1.6 Bq kg^-1 fresh); concentration factors were 1.59x 10⁵ in I group and 9.37 × 10⁴ in III group. the ²¹⁰Po was observed to be non-uniformly distributed among the internal organs, which maintained the following descending order with reference to ²¹⁰Po accumulation: digestive glands, ranging from 286.2+3.5 Bq kg^-1 fresh to 43+1.3 Bq kg^-1 fresh. the concentration of ²¹⁰Po in the mussels was distinctly higher than that in the grass, Echinochloa colonum (J. Koenig), and carp, Cirrhinus cirrhosa (Bloch), from the same river. These data indicate that younger mussels could be used as an excellent biological indicator of ²¹⁰Po and among soft tissues, digestive glands are preferable to other tissues to monitor the distribution of ²¹⁰Po in the riverine system.     

Screening of endogenous antioxidants in some medicinal plants

The evaluation of antioxidant enzymes and antioxidant metabolites was done in leaf tissues of Azadirachta indica, Butea monosperma, Cassia fistula, Mangifera indica, and Syzygium cumini growing in the Thar Desert, Rajasthan, India. The plants are naturally exposed to drought stress and high temperatures during summer. Enzymatic reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging mechanisms in plants include superoxide dismutase (SOD), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), glutathione reductase, catalase, and guaiacol peroxidase, and non-enzymatic antioxidants including the carotenoids, proline, and vitamin C were studied. The strategies to cope up with ROS under these extreme conditions are plant-specific. The highest activity of APX was found in M. indica (13.6?±?2.4?units?g^?1 fresh wt.). A. indica exhibited maximum guaiacol peroxidase activity (0.024?±?0.006?units?min?g^?1 fresh wt.), while S. cumini showed maximum SOD (12.5?±?2.3?units?g^?1 fresh wt.) and catalase activities (6.9?±?2.2?units?g^?1 fresh wt.). M. indica and S. cumini have been found to be more potent antioxidant systems among the studied plants.     

Effects of the interactions between selenium and phosphorus on the growth and selenium accumulation in rice (Oryza sativa)

The solution culture, paddy soil culture and the simulation experiments in the laboratory were conducted to clarify the interactions between selenium and phosphorus, and its effects on the growth and selenium accumulation in rice. Results revealed that a suitable supply of selenium could promote rice growth and excessive selenium could injure rice plant, causing lower biomass, especially in the roots. The supply of selenite could enhance the selenium contents of rice shoots and roots in solution culture and in soil culture. The selenium concentrations in roots were much higher than those in shoots supplied with the same rates of selenium and phosphorus. The interaction between selenium and phosphorus was evident. When the phosphorus supply increased to meet the needs of plant growth, phosphorus could promote absorption and accumulation of selenium in the shoots. If the phosphorus supply was excessive, phosphorus could inhibit the accumulation of selenium in the shoots at the lower selenite level (2 micromol l(-1)), but could not at the higher selenite level (10 micromol l(-1)). With the supply of phosphate increased, the selenium concentrations in the roots decreased significantly at both selenite levels. The presence of phosphate could decrease Se sorption on the soil surface and increase the selenium concentration in the soil solution. The concentrations of selenium in shoots and roots supplied with 0.08 g kg(-1) phosphorus were lower than those with no phosphorus supplied. With the increase of phosphorus added to 0.4 g kg(-1), the selenium concentration in shoots and roots increased. The effect of phosphorus on the concentration was statistically significant at all three selenium levels.     

Growth, yield and photosynthesis of Panicum maximum and Stylosanthes hamata under elevated CO2

Plant height, biomass production, assimilatory functions and chlorophyll accumulation of Panicum maximum and Stylosanthes hamata in intercropping systems was influenced significantly under elevated CO2 (600 +/- 50 ppm) in open top chambers (OTCs). The plant height increased by 32.0 and 49.0% over the control in P. maximum and S. hamata respectively in intercropping system under elevated CO2 over open field grown crops (Ca). P. maximum and S. hamata produced 67 and 85% higher fresh and dry biomass respectively under elevated CO2. Rates of photosynthesis and stomatal conductance increased in both the crop species in intercropping systems under elevated CO2. The canopy photosynthesis (photosynthesis x leaf area index) of these crop species increased significantly under elevated CO2 over the open grown crops. The chlorophyll a and b accumulation were also higher in the leaves of both the crop species as grown in OTC with elevated CO2. The increased chlorophyll content, leaf area index and canopy photosynthesis led to higher growth and biomass production in these crop species under elevated CO2. The total carbon sequestration in crop biomass and soils during the three years was 21.53 Mg C/ha under elevated CO2. The data revealed that P. maximum and S. hamata intercropping system is the potential as a sink for the increasing level of CO2 in the atmosphere in the semi-arid tropics.     

Acid mine drainage from inactive eastern coal operations

The most widely used technique for abatement of acid drainage from inactive surface mines and refuse disposal areas is revegetation of a soil cover applied to the waste material. Nonetheless, acid production often persists and in some cases, limits establishment of vegetation. This paper reports on several field studies intended to determine the location of pyrite oxidation zones and migration pathways of oxidation products at inactive spoil and refuse sites.Oxygen required for pyrite oxidation is believed to he provided in the gaseous state from the atmosphere. Therefore, the oxygen concentration in unsaturated mine waste should provide an estimate of the weathering tendency in the local environment. We are currently monitoring gas composition in refuse and spoil at six sites. Barren refuse appeared to be oxygenated (>2% 0₂) in a shallow zone extending less than 1 metre below the surface during most of the year. Preliminary data from coal spoil showed that oxygen can be available throughout the unsaturated thickness, even at a revegetated site. Gas composition varied vertically and laterally at a single site and also appeared to show seasonal dependence.Hydrologic factors are also important in acid production and transport. Discharge monitoring alone does not adequately describe the mass transport of acid products through the spoil. For example, at one reclaimed mine the mean sulfate content in six monitoring wells ranged from 24% to 240% of the mean concentration at the discharge point. Sources of recharge and relative flow rates determine the contribution of a particular zone to overall discharge quality.These basic studies of acid production and transport indicate some shortcomings of standard reclamation practices at certain sites. This information will he used to develop alternative abatement technology designed to mitigate acid production at the source.