Phytoremediation of Arsenic Contaminated Soils by Fast Growing Eastern Cottonwood (populus Deltoides) Clones

of Thesis Presented to the Graduate School of the University of Florida in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science PHYTOREMEDIATION OF ARSENIC CONTAMINATED SOILS BY FAST GROWING EASTERN COTTONWOOD (POPULUS DELTOIDES) CLONES By Richard William Cardellino December, 2001 Chairman: Donald L. Rockwood Major Department: Forest Resources and Conservation Florida has many arsenic (As) contaminated soils due to past agricultural pesticide and chromium copper arsenate (CCA) wood preservative use. The cost of conventional chemical and physical remediation is high, and therefore most contaminated soils remain untreated. Phytoremediation, in combination with woody biomass production, could be an economically feasible method. Eighty-five cottonwood (Populus deltoides) clones were assessed at two CCA contaminated sites and a clay-settling pond in Florida for their ability to grow and tolerate or extract As metals from soils. Variables used were height, diameter at 1 cm above ground, biomass, number of leaves, and leaf and stem concentration of As. Cluster analysis was used to rank clones using all variables. The overall better performing clones were ST 71, ST 201, ST 202, ST 259, and S13C1. Where soil As levels ranged from 33 to 259 mg/kg, leaf As uptakes were 15 to 29 mg/kg in the first growing season, and 4.1 to 6.4 mg/kg in the second growing season.