Assessment of Growth, Tuber Elemental Composition, Stomatal Conductance and Chlorophyll Content of Two Potato Cultivars Under Irrigation with Fly Ash-Treated Acid Mine Drainage

摘要

The impact of fly ash (FA)-treated acid mine drainage (AMD) on growth, tuber yield and elemental composition, stomatal conductance and chlorophyll content of two potato cultivars was assessed. Two potato cultivars were irrigated with the following treatments: tap water (0% AMD/control), acid mine drainage mixed with fly ash (v/v); 25% AMD, 50% AMD & 75% AMD and untreated AMD (100% AMD). A complete randomized block design pot experiment with six replicates per treatment was conducted in two cropping seasons. Irrigation with 75% AMD in both cropping seasons significantly increased growth and tuber yield compared with control. However, unsafe levels of Ni, Zn, and Sr were found in tubers of both cultivars irrigated with FA-treated AMD treatments in both seasons. Additionally, FA-treated AMD treatments reduced leaf stomatal conductance and chlorophyll content relative to control in both cultivars. Cultivar response was found to differ with respect to all measured parameters.