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Establishment of plant propagules in the acid mine‐polluted soils of the pyrite trail in Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda
Author(s) -
OryemOriga H.,
Makara A. M.,
Tusiime F. M.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
african journal of ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.499
H-Index - 54
eISSN - 1365-2028
pISSN - 0141-6707
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2028.2007.00743.x
Subject(s) - germination , propagule , pyrite , cynodon dactylon , soil water , panicum , agronomy , seedling , biology , botany , chemistry , ecology , mineralogy
The effect of amended acidic pyrite sediments on the germination and establishment of seedlings and vegetative plant propagules of some selected plant species was investigated. The results from this study indicate that the pH values of the pyrite trail ranged from 1.6 to 3.5. Seed germination of all plant species except Bidens pilosa L. was not possible in the pyrite soils (pH 1.6–4.0) in laboratory germination trials. The germination of seeds in amended pyrite soils at pH 5.5 ± 0.2 and 7.0 ± 0.2 was possible. Seeds of Panicum maximum Jacq. and Setaria sphacelata (Schumach.) Stapf and Hubbard ex. Moss were not able to germinate in the unaltered pyrite soil under laboratory conditions. Under field conditions, seed germination was possible in all the plots with amended pyrite soils at pH 5.5 ± 0.2 and 7.0 ± 0.2. Seed germination in the uncontaminated soil was much higher than in the amended pyrite soil. Seedlings were not able to survive for long in the amended soils. Only the vegetative plant propagules of Cynodon dactylon (L) Pers. were able to secure permanent establishment in all amended plots except in plot PT3. Generally, seed germination, seedling establishment, growth and the establishment of vegetative plant propagules in unaltered soils was not possible.