Clonal variation in heavy metal accumulation and biomass production in a poplar coppice culture. II. Vertical distribution and phytoextraction potential

• Published in: Environmental pollution (1987) Vol. 133; no. 3; pp. 541 - 551
• Main Authors: Laureysens, I., De Temmerman, L., Hastir, T., Van Gysel, M., Ceulemans, R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.02.2005; Elsevier
• Subjects: Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Applied ecology; bioaccumulation; Biodegradation of pollutants; Biological and medical sciences; Biomass; Biotechnology; Calcium - toxicity; clonal variation; clones; coppicing; dry matter accumulation; dry matter partitioning; Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution; Environment and pollution; Environmental Exposure - adverse effects; Environmental Monitoring - methods; forest plantations; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General aspects; Heavy metals; hyperaccumulators; Industrial applications and implications. Economical aspects; Iron - toxicity; Magnesium - toxicity; Metals, Heavy - toxicity; Phytoremediation; Plant Shoots; polluted soils; Poplar ( Populus spp.); Populus; Populus - chemistry; Potassium - toxicity; Seasons; soil pollution; SRC; tree growth; trees; waste disposal; Waste disposal site; Waste Management; Zinc - toxicity; Belgium; Waste disposal site; SRC; Poplar ( Populus spp.); Heavy metals; Phytoremediation; Waste dumping; Vertical distribution; Poplar (Populus spp.); Biomass; Waste disposal; Salicaceae; Heavy metal; Dicotyledones; Angiospermae; Spermatophyta; Populus
• ISSN: 0269-7491; 1873-6424
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2004.06.013

Short rotation coppice cultures (SRC) are intensively managed, high-density plantations of multi-shoot trees. In April 1996, an SRC field trial with 17 different poplar clones was established in Boom (Belgium) on a former waste disposal site. In December 1996 and January 2001, all shoots were cut back to a height of 5 cm to create a coppice culture. For six clones, wood and bark were sampled at the bottom, middle and top of a shoot in August and November 2002. No significant height effect of metal concentration was found, but for wood, metal concentrations generally increased toward the top of the shoot in August, and decreased toward the top of the shoot in November. Phytoextraction potential of a clone was primarily determined by metal concentration and by biomass production. Shoot size and number of shoots per stool were less important, as a high biomass production could be achieved by producing a few large shoots or many smaller shoots. Clone Fritzi Pauley accumulated 1.4 kg ha −1 of Al over two years; Wolterson and Balsam Spire showed a relatively high accumulation of Cd and Zn, i.e. averaging, respectively 47 and 57 g ha −1 for Cd and 2.4 and 2.0 kg ha −1 for Zn over two years. Poplar shows potential for phytoextraction of Al, Cd and Zn on slightly contaminated soils.