Plant Pb Contents in Elevation Zones of the Changbai Mountain National Nature Reserve, China

Typical plants and soils of four elevation zones, mountain tundra （Zone A）, Betula ermanii forest （Zone B）, mountain dark coniferous forest （Zone C）, and mountain coniferous and broad-leaf forest （Zone D）, along the vertical gradient of the northern mountain slope of the Changbai Mountain National Nature Reserve, Jilin Province, China, were sampled to study the relationship between plant and soil Pb, and to compare the Pb levels in typical plant types within the same elevation zone. The Pb contents in the soil and plant samples were measured by using a flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The results showed that the average plant Pb contents of the four plant elevation zones were lower than the average worldwide level, except for Zone B. Compared with the average level in China or the average worldwide level, the soil Pb levels of the four plant zones were higher, with Zones D and B having the lowest and highest averages, respectively. Plant Pb levels fluctuated from the upper to the lower zones, in a pattern of low-high-low-high, which was the same as that of the soils in the four zones. Furthermore, plant Pb was closely related to soil Pb. Depending on the plant species and plant parts, large differences were found in the Pb levels of typical plants within each zone. In Zone A, Vaccinium uliginosum and Rhododendron redowskianum had higher Pb levels than the other plants. In Zone C, the Pb levels in the branches of both plant species were higher than those in the leaves, which was contrary to Zone D. In Zone B, the Pb levels in the plant parts varied greatly with plant species.

Exogenous application of succinic acid enhances tolerance of Larix olgensis seedling to lead stress

Larix olgensis A. Henry(Changbai larch) is a productive commercial species and good candidate for afforestation in northeast China. It is widely planted in lead-stressed soils which can induce oxidative damage in this plant. Increasing tolerance to lead(Pb) stress is therefore of keen interest. A greenhouse experiment was conducted to identify the biomass, physiological responses and Pb accumulation of L. olgensis seedlings to Pb stress under succinic acid(SA) application and to explore the interaction of exogenous SA applications and stress resistance. L. olgensis seedlings were planted in Pb-stressed or unstressed haplic cambisols in pots. In Pb-contaminated soils the seedlings were treated daily with concentrations of SA solutions at a rate approximately equivalent to 0, 0.04,0.2, 1.0, or 2.0 mmol kg-1of soil for 10, 20, and 30 days,respectively. Pb treatment induced damage in the seedlings and led to the inhibition of biomass accumulation in roots,stems and leaves, and a rise in Pb accumulation in fine roots and leaves. Malondialdehyde(MDA) content and electrolyte leakage in leaves significantly increased while peroxidase(POD) activities, soluble protein and photosynthetic pigment contents in leaves were all reduced.Physiological toxicity was promoted with increasing Pb treatment times. When Pb-stressed seedlings were exposed to SA(especially 10.0 mmol L-1 over 20 days), the physiological responses for Pb-only were reversed and the biomass of roots, stems, and leaves dramatically increased.SA facilitated Pb uptake in fine roots and leaves but more Pb accumulated in fine roots. The results demonstrate that exogenous SA alleviates Pb-induced oxidative injuries and improves the tolerance of L. olgensis seedlings to Pb stress.

Lead stabilization in a polluted calcareous soil using cost-effective biochar and zeolite amendments after spinach cultivation

Biochar has been shown to be an effective organic soil amendment for the in-situ immobilization of lead(Pb).Little research has been done on the effects of biochar and zeolite interactions on Pb immobilization in contaminated calcareous soils.Therefore,the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of different levels of zeolite(2%and 4%,weight:weight)and biochars(3%,weight:weight)prepared from green compost(GB),poultry manure(PB),and municipal waste(MB)on the content of Pb in spinach shoots and Pb stabilization in a greenhouse experiment conducted using a Pb-contaminated calcareous soil.Application of GB and PB significantly decreased the Pb mobility factor(MF)from 2.8%to 4.6%and the cumulative Pb release(diethylenetriamine pentaacetate(DTPA)extraction)from 16.8%to 20.1%in the calcareous soil,which were further enhanced by the combined addition of zeolite,with Pb MF reduction from 4.4%to 8.4%and cumulative Pb release reduction from 24.8%to 28.6%.The enhancement of soil Pb immobilization was attributed to the properties of the amendments,such as high pH,ash content,and phosphorus content(10.5^(-1)1.0,390-435 g kg^(-1),and 2.5-4.3 g kg^(-1),respectively).Results of the soil Pb sequential extraction and Pb release kinetics were highly and significantly correlated with spinach shoot Pb content.Soil chemical data showed that the application of MB with 4%zeolite was the most effective treatment for immobilizing Pb(8.4%reduction in Pb MF and 28.6%reduction in cumulative DTPA-extractable Pb),which is in agreement with the results of the spinach shoot Pb(89.0%reduction in Pb uptake).