Publication Summary

Plant bioassays that focus on early seedling survival and growth are widely used for phytotoxicity testing at hazardous waste sites. Krawczyk et al. (1991) describes an application of the plant growth test to assess the phytotoxicity of contaminated soils at a superfund site. Other applications of early seedling growth and survival testing to hazardous waste site soils have also been described by the following investigators: Nwosu et al., 1991; Linder et al., 1990; Greene et al., 1988; Gorsuch, et al., 1991; Miller et al., 1985; Thomas and Cline, 1985; Thomas et al., 1986.

Plant bioassays that focus on early seedling survival and growth are widely used for phytotoxicity testing at hazardous waste sites. Krawczyk et al. (1991) describes an application of the plant growth test to assess the phytotoxicity of contaminated soils at a superfund site. Other applications of early seedling growth and survival testing to hazardous waste site soils have also been described by the following investigators: Nwosu et al., 1991; Linder et al., 1990; Greene et al., 1988; Gorsuch, et al., 1991; Miller et al., 1985; Thomas and Cline, 1985; Thomas et al., 1986.

The Early Seedling Growth Protocol described in this document is intended to be used in screening-level assessments of soil toxicity at hazardous waste sites being investigated under the Washington Model Toxics Control Act Cleanup Regulation. The protocol has been adapted from procedures developed by the United States Environmental Protection Agency for conducting the lettuce seed germination test. Briefly, the procedure involves germinating and growing lettuce seeds in field collected site soils. No dilution series is required and no nutrients are added during the test duration. After 14 days the number of seedlings surviving are counted and the above ground biomass is harvested, dried and weighed.