Effect of Mercury Deposition on Mercury Content and Distribution in Rye Grass

A grass(Italian rye grass)experiment with complete desing of three factos(Hg,grass and exposure)and two levels(with and withou the factor tested)was carried out in Goeteborg,Sweden from May to September,1995,toward understanding the effect of mercury deposition on plant Hg content and its distribution.It has been found that besides the two general pathways of Hg absorption,i.e.root uptake and foliar absorption,mercury deposition can aslo signifcantly incease Hg content and total load in grass.Such effects seem to be confined only within the above-ground parts of grass plant.Estimate has been made to make clear of the contributions of different pathways to Hg Content and total Hg load in the upper part of grass.Results showed that the contribution of Hg deposition accounted for 27%-32%,of Hg content in the above-ground parts of grass plant without adding Hg to the soil.decreasing with the increase of soil and/or air Hg concentrations.The increment of Hg load in the upper part of grass plant caused by Hg deposition during an interval of two weeks varied between 0.01-0.07μg pt^-1,contributing to 17%-48% of the total Hg load in grass plant exposed.

A grass (Italian rye grass) experiment with complete design of three factors (Hg, grass and exposure) andtwo levels (with and without the factor tested) was carried out in Goteborg, Sweden from May to September,1995, toward understanding the effect of mercury deposition on plant Hg conteot and its distribution. It hasbeen foulld that besides the two general pathways of Hg absorption, i.e. root uptake and foliar absorption,mercury deposition can also significantly increase Hg content and total load in grass plant. Such effectsseem to be condned only within the above-ground parts of grass plant. Estimate has been made to makeclear of the contributions of different pathways to Hg content and total Hg load in the upper part of grass.Results showed that the coDtribution of Hg deposition accounted for 27%-32% of Hg content in the above-ground parts of grass plant without adding Hg to the soil, decreasing with the increase of soil and/or air Hgconcentrations. The increment of Hg load in the upper part of grass plant caused by Hg deposition duringan interval of two weeks varied between O.o1~O.o7 pg pot-1, contributing to 17%~48% of the total Hg loadin grass plant exposed.