Semester of Graduation

Summer 2021

Degree

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Plant, Environmental, and Soil Science

Document Type

Thesis

Abstract

Lead is a pervasive and ongoing problem in the landscape, especially in urban and suburban areas where historic use of tetraethyl lead gasoline and leaded paint has increased background amounts to dangerous levels. One method to solve this problem is the use of hyperaccumulator plant species, capable of concentrating over 1000 ppm Pb into their tissues. This is a slow process, even with hyperaccumulators, so the use of amendments to improve Pb solubility has gained popularity, though with mixed results. This study examined Trachelospermum asiaticum, Ardisia japonica, and Ophiopogon japonicus, three common landscape groundcovers used in Louisiana, for their ability to uptake Pb. They did not take up Pb in the levels required to be considered hyperaccumulators, however they showed no significant change in biomass even at contamination rates of 2000 ppm in the growing media. They would therefore be better candidates for phytostabilization of Pb in the soil. A new amendment, lignosulfonate was also tested for its ability to improve uptake in known hyperaccumulator species Pelargonium x hortorum and Brassica juncea. Lignosulfonate was able to increase the concentration of Pb in the leachate from these plant materials (p

Committee Chair

Bush, Ed

DOI

10.31390/gradschool_theses.5396

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