Assessing the Effect of Humic Acids on Germinating a Native American Plant
Abstract
Slickspot peppergrass (Lepidium papilliferum) is a reported rare ephemeral endemic plant found in the United States in Southwest Idaho's high desert (Idaho Natural Heritage Program). The main objective of this research was to identifying and evaluating the effects of several naturally occurring humic acids (HAs) in Idaho soils on seed germination and seedling early-growth of slickspot peppergrass, and their possible relations to the compositional, structural and functional characteristics of humic acids. For this purpose, a total of n. 61 HAs isolated from various layers of a number of Idaho soils were characterized for their elemental (C, H, N, S, O) composition and structural and functional properties by using Fourier transform infrared (FT IR), bi-dimensional (emission-excitation matrix (EEM)) fluorescence and electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopies. The main germination and early plant growth experiments were then performed using three concentrations of: (a) two HAs originated from two Idaho soils (sites # 4 and #5) (HA4 and HA5) (each HA sample was obtained by mixing three corresponding HA subsamples from three layers (0-1 , 1-2 , and 2-3 ) of the two Idaho soils); and (b) three HAs isolated from three mixed layers labeled silt in/out , vesicular in/out , and clay in/out , of an Idaho soil (soil # 4, Series II) (HA4-IIs, HA4-IIv, and HA4-IIc). A preliminary objective was to test: (a) four well characterized standard HAs originated from (1) an Orthic Podzol under a coniferous forest (OHA); (2) the mollic horizon of the Elliot silt loam soil sampled near Joliet, IL, USA, (SHA); (3) the Pahokee peat sampled at Ocachobee in the Everglades, FL, USA, (PHA); and (4) a leonardite sampled at the Gascoyne mine, Bowman County, ND, USA, (LHA); and (b) three additional plant species, western wheatgrass and bluebunch wheatgrass (Pseudoroegneria spicata) and basin wildrye (Leymus cinereus).
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2004
- Accession Number
- ADA457591
Entities
People
- Senesi Nicola