| Abstract Detail
Plant Development / Développement des plantes (CBA/ABC) Young, J. [1], Gradowska, A. [1], Rutherford, Michael [2], Booth, A. [1]. The effect of NaCl and CMA treatment on the growth and morphology of Arctostaphylos uva-ursi. The Prince George Northern Sustainable Landscape Initiative project at UNBC involves working with the City of Prince George, B.C. to establish low maintenance, salt tolerant native plantings. An important aspect of this research was to test the effect of different concentrations of the deicers, NaCl and CMA (calcium magnesium acetate), on the growth and morphology of Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (kinnikinnick). CMA is an alternative deicer and is thought to have fewer negative impacts on vegetation and soils. Aqueous solutions of 0, 10, 30, 70 or 140 mM NaCl, and the equivalent CMA solutions, were added to the soil over a 9 week period in a growth chamber (23°C/11°C day/night; 17-h photoperiod with light intensity 900-1200 µmol/m2/s). Shoot growth, number of leaves, bud number, and new shoot growth were measured weekly. The general health, mortality, and leaf and stem colour were also noted over the experimental period. Shoot dry and fresh weights, and electrical conductivity (EC) and pH of the soils, were measured after harvest. One-way ANOVA showed that A. uva-ursi growth and morphological characteristics were either unaffected by the addition of any level of deicer or were negatively affected by high NaCl treatment compared to the control (e.g., 140 mM NaCl significantly decreased shoot fresh weight:dry weight ratios). These data offer further support for choosing CMA as an alternative deicer to NaCl. In addition, relatively high tolerance of A. uva-ursi to salt makes it a good candidate for planting at saline sites, such as those impacted by heavy deicer concentrations.
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1 - University of Northern British Columbia, Ecosystem Science and Management, 3333 University Way, Prince George, BC, V2N 4Z9, Canada
2 - University of Northern British Columbia, Environmental Science and Engineering Program, 3333 University Way, Prince George, BC, V2N 4Z9, Canada
Keywords:
NaCl
CMA
deicer
kinnikinnick
growth.
Presentation Type: Oral Paper:Papers for Sections
Session: 19
Location: 215/SUB
Date: Monday, July 28th, 2008
Time: 3:00 PM
Number: 19007
Abstract ID:829 |
