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SOIL TRACE ELEMENT CHANGES DURING A PHYTOREMEDIATION TRIAL WITH WILLOWS IN SOUTHERN QUEBEC, CANADA
Courchesne, F., M.-C. Turmel, B. Cloutier-Hurteau, G. Tremblay, L. Munro, J. Masse, and M. Labrecque.
International Journal of Phytoremediation 19(7):632-642(2017)

This study determined the changes in As, Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn (trace element, or TE) chemistry in the soils of a willow plantation growing in a cold climate during a 3-year trial. The soil HNO3-extractable and H2O-soluble TE concentrations and pools significantly decreased under most cultivars, yet TE changes showed inconsistent patterns, and localized soil TE increases were measured. Temporal changes in soil TE were also detected in control plots and sometimes exceeded changes in planted plots. Discrepancies were observed between the amount of soil TE change and willow TE uptake, except for Cd and Zn. Results indicated that phytoremediation with willows could reduce soil Cd and Zn within a decadal timeframe in moderately contaminated soils, but the time needed to reduce soil As, Cu, Ni, and Pb would be too long to be efficient. This work is part of the GenoRem project. See a GenoRem poster at http://www.genomequebec.com/DATA/NOUVELLE/56_en~v~GenoRem_at_the_9th_International_Phyto_Society_Conference.pdf.



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