Manganese and Zinc Toxicity Thresholds for Mountain and Geyer Willow

Abstract

Information on the heavy metal toxicity thresholds of woody species endemic to the western United States is lacking but critical for successful restoration of contaminated riparian areas. Manganese (Mn, 50–10,000 mg l⁻¹) and zinc (Zn, 100–1000 mg l⁻¹) toxicity thresholds were determined for Geyer (Salix geyeriana Anderss.) and mountain (S. monticola Bebb) willow using a sand-culture technique. The lethal concentration (50%) values were 3117 and 2791 mg Mn l⁻¹ and 556 and 623 mg Zn l⁻¹ for Geyer and mountain willow, respectively. The effective concentration (50%) values for shoots were 2263 and 1027 mg Mn l⁻¹ and 436 and 356 mg Zn l⁻¹ for Geyer and mountain willow, respectively. Shoot tissue values did not increase with increasing treatment concentrations. However, metals in the roots did increase consistently in response to the treatments. Metal levels in the shoot tissues were low for Zn (65–139 mg kg⁻¹) and moderate for Mn (1300–2700 mg kg⁻¹). Geyer and mountain willow have good resistance to Mn, possibly due to evolution in hydric soils with increased Mn availability, and may be useful for phytostabilization of soils with high levels of available Mn. Both species were affected to a greater degree by Zn as compared to Mn, but still exhibited good resistance and should be useful in remediating sites with at least moderate levels of available Zn. Based on the thresholds evaluated, Geyer willow had greater resistance to both Mn and Zn as compared to mountain willow, especially at lower concentrations in which growth of Geyer willow was actually stimulated.

KEY WORDS:

• riparian
• phytostabilization
• Salix monticola
• Salix geyeriana
• heavy metals

Notes

^adose = concentration of the metal in the solution. tc = tissue concentration.

^bThe LC and EC thresholds are in units of mg Mn or Zn l⁻¹ and the PT thresholds are reported in units of mg Mn or Zn kg⁻¹.

^aWS = whole shoot, L = leaf only.

^bNumbers in parenthesis represent sample size.

^cLeaf values were derived from a single analysis of a composite sample of leaves from five plants.