title: Copper tolerance of the biomass crops Elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum Schumach), Vetiver grass (Vetiveria zizanioides) and the upland reed (Phragmites australis) in soil culture.
abstract: Pot trials were conducted to study the influence of copper (Cu) on the growth and biomass of Elephant grass (EG, Pennisetum purpureum Schumach), Vetiver grass (VG, Vetiveria zizanioides) and the upland reed (UR, Phragmites australis). Cu toxicity in EG, VG and UR was positively correlated with the total and bioavailable Cu concentrations in the soil. Based on the EC50, dry weights, Cu contents, chlorophyll contents and photosynthesis rates, the Cu tolerance of the three species followed the trend EGNVGNUR. There were no significant differences in the unit calorific values among the different plants, though the total calorific values of EG were higher than those of VG and UR due to its higher biomass. The addition of KH2PO4 to the soil decreased the bioavailability of Cu and the Cu uptake by plants. EG could therefore be a good candidate for growth on Cu-contaminated soils, especially those improved by phosphate.
authors.affiliation: College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China.
authors.forename: Xinghua
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Yixing
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: Laiqing
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lou
authors.forename: Chenglong
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.forename: Qingsheng
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Cai
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D018533:Biomass; D002151:Calorimetry; D002241:Carbohydrates / Q000032:analysis; D002734:Chlorophyll / Q000378:metabolism; D049930:Chrysopogon / Q000254:growth & development; D003300:Copper / Q000633:toxicity*; D016014:Linear Models; D031782:Pennisetum / Q000254:growth & development; D010710:Phosphates / Q000737:chemistry; D010788:Photosynthesis; D006109:Poaceae / Q000254:growth & development*; D017680:Potassium Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity*; D013312:Stress, Physiological
chemical_list: D002241:Carbohydrates; D010710:Phosphates; D017680:Potassium Compounds; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D002734:Chlorophyll; D003300:Copper; C013216:potassium phosphate