Meeting Abstract
Nationally the use of de-icing salts has increased by over 100% over the last twenty years, and continues to rise with urban-sprawl. Road salts have been shown to have detrimental effects on native ecosystems, through soil disturbances, allowing non-native species to out compete native species. This study examined the effects of various road salts on Solidago juncea, while also determining its potential as a salt tolerant buffer species along nature preserves. We analyzed the effects of concentrations ranging from 250ppm-2000ppm of four common road salts on S. juncea, by collecting data on germination & growth rates. Also, we quantified S. juncea’s potential for extraction of highly concentrated ions from the soil. Our data showed that when exposed to a concentration >250ppm of NaCl or MgCl2, S. juncea germination is <50%. When exposed to any concentration of 250ppm or > of CaCl2, germination of <17%. While a commercial road salt, with a sucrose solution that substitutes 25% percent of its mass, only inhibited germination below 50% at concentrations >2000ppm.This study is ongoing with analysis of growth data, along with ion chromatographic analysis of the mature plant. This study directly shows the dramatic effects of the road salts we choose on our natural environment.
