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The Relationship Between Colliery-waste Particle Sizes and Plant Growth

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 August 2009

Christopher G. Down
Christopher G. Down
Affiliation:
Department of Botany, The University, Bristol, England
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Extract

Seed germination and dry-weight production in Lolium perenne were examined in relation to growth on 12-years-old colliery waste separated into seven size-fractions. The size-range was from more than 4,000 μ to less than 125 μ, and the growth period was up to 30 days. Germination percentages after 6 days generally increased with decreasing particle-size, as did dry-weight. Shoot : root ratios also showed an inverse relationship with particle size.

After 30 days there was no distinction between dryweights on different particle sizes, except that on the largest fractions it had been found impossible to keep the plants alive. Problems of water-holding capacity are discussed, and the significance of soil particle-size in revegetation work is examined, it being concluded that an admixture of small particles is important for water retention and plant growth.

Type
Main Papers
Information
Environmental Conservation , Volume 1 , Issue 4 , Winter 1974 , pp. 281 - 284
Copyright
Copyright © Foundation for Environmental Conservation 1974

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