Tolerance of limpograss (PI 364344) to excess manganese in acid soil and nutrient solution

Previous studies showed that limpograss, Hemarthria altissima (Poir), Stapf & C. E. Hubb (PI 364344) was tolerant to low temperature and to high concentrations of Al in acid soil, mine spoil and nutrient solution. Additional experiments were conducted to test the tolerance of this limpograss clone to excess Mn, another potential growth‐limiting factor in acid soils.

Cuttings from a single plant were grown in pots of Mn‐toxic Zanesville soil with no lime (pH 5.1) and 1250 ppm CaCO (pH 6.3) and in nutrient solutions containing 0, 4, 8, 16, 32 or 64 ppm Mn at pH 4.0. The grass was highly tolerant to excess Mn in both media. Liming the soil from pH 5.1 to 6.3 did not significantly affect top dry weight of the first harvest and significantly decreased that of the second. In nutrient solutions at pH 4.0 top dry weights were not significantly affected by Mn concentrations up to 64 ppm. Root dry weights were significantly increased by Mn additions of 16, 32 and 64 ppm. Limpograss (PI 364344) was not injured when Mn concentrations were as high as 930 and 9152 ppm in tops and roots, respectively. High Mn tolerance is yet another trait that should enhance the potential use of this grass in revegetating acid mine spoils and other acid sites.