PHYTOTOXICITY OF OIL SHALE SEMI-COKE AND ITS AQUEOUS EXTRACTS: A STUDY BY SEED GERMINATION BIOASSAY

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H. RAAVE(a), S. KAPAK(b), K. ORUPÕLD (b)

(a)  Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Estonian University of Life Science, Kreutzwaldi 56, 51014, Tartu, Estonia

(b)  Institute of Physical Chemistry, University of Tartu, Jakobi 2, 51014 Tartu, Estonia

 

 

Phytotoxicity of oil shale semi-coke has been studied by germination bioassay. Timothy (Phleum pratense) seeds were germinated on solid semi-coke and in its water extracts. Fresh semi-coke completely blocked seed germination but weathering significantly decreased its inhibition effect. The inhibitory effect of aqueous extracts was less than that of solid semi-coke, and it decreased as the liquid-to-solid ratio used for preparing the extracts increased. The inhibition of seed germination was mainly caused by high content of soluble salts in semi-coke. Good correlations were found between seed germination and electrical conductivity, and Ca2+ content of water extracts.

 

 

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