Germination of Bouteloua dactyloides and Cynodon dactylon in a Multi-Polluted Soil

María Del Rosario Delgado-Caballero, María Teresa Alarcón-Herrera, María Cecilia Valles-Aragón, Alicia Melgoza-Castillo, Dámaris Lepoldina Ojeda-Barrios and Arwell Leyva-Chávez
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María Del Rosario Delgado-Caballero: Advanced Materials Research Center (CIMAV), Durango, Dgo. P.C. 34000, Mexico
María Teresa Alarcón-Herrera: Advanced Materials Research Center (CIMAV), Durango, Dgo. P.C. 34000, Mexico
María Cecilia Valles-Aragón: Faculty of Agrotechnological Science, Autonomous University of Chihuahua, Chihuahua, Chih. P.C. 31110, Mexico
Alicia Melgoza-Castillo: Faculty of Zootechnics and Ecology, Autonomous University of Chihuahua, Chihuahua, Chih. P.C. 31031, Mexico
Dámaris Lepoldina Ojeda-Barrios: Faculty of Agrotechnological Science, Autonomous University of Chihuahua, Chihuahua, Chih. P.C. 31110, Mexico
Arwell Leyva-Chávez: Faculty of Agrotechnological Science, Autonomous University of Chihuahua, Chihuahua, Chih. P.C. 31110, Mexico

Sustainability, 2017, vol. 9, issue 1, 1-9

Abstract: Mining wastes generate high environmental impacts, and population exposure to metals and metalloids. Phytoremediation is a technology that uses plants to remediate polluted sites, but one of its limitations is seed germination in soil with a high content of metals and metalloids. Bouteloua dactyloides (former Buchloe dactyloides ) is a native species from semiarid regions, while Cynodon dactylon is an invasive species; both are tolerant to harsh soil conditions. The objective of this research was to evaluate the germination of both species, exposed to a multi-polluted soil with As, Cd, Pb, and Zn of a mining site, considering different pH conditions (from 5.0 to 9.0). The study considered four repetitions by type of seed and soil pH. The highest germination of B. dactyloides was 83% at pH 7.8, while the greatest germination of C. dactylon was 34% at pH 6.0. These percentages are similar to those obtained in a standard germination test, which are 82.5% for B. dactyloides and 35% for C. dactylon . Germination was not reached in either species with soil at pH 5, owing to the fact that metals are more bioavailable in acid environments. B. dactyloides and C. dactylon had a high potential to germinate in multi-polluted soil at neutral pH, but further experiments are needed.

Keywords: sustainable technology; phytoremediation; germination; Bouteloua dactyloides; Cynodon dactylon (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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