Survival, growth and mineral accumulation in ash (Fraxinus excelsior L.) seedlings irrigated with water treatment effluent

Abstract

A pot experiment was carried out to study the effect of irrigation with water treatment effluent on the growth and chemical constituents of ash seedlings Fraxinus excelsior L. according as soil chemical properties. This research was conducted at the site near to the Eastern Tehran water treatment plant. Ash seedling were planted in pots in three score rows After measuring their primary dimensions, the seedlings were irrigated with water treatment effluent, well water and water mix (50% well water + 50% water treatment effluent) for the period of April–October 2010. Three replications were considered for each of the score rows. During the entire period of observations, survival and growth parameters of three random seedling samples from each treatment were measured once in two months until the end of the growth season (October 2010). Observations included seedling height, collar diameter and survival. Application of water treatment effluent, well water and water mix indicated same seedling survival but water treatment effluent was superior than other treatments in improving seedling growth parameters (height, collar diameter and biomass dry weight) as well as it brought about the highest concentration of N, P, K and Mg in plant parts, when compared with mix water and well water treatments.