Progress 10/01/03 to 09/30/06
Outputs
This project has developed native halophytes as phytoremediation plants for abandoned mine sites, farmland, and as landscape plants to recycle industrial brines in urban areas. The scope was expanded to include invasive salt-tolerant plants such as saltcedar and common reed, where their ability to invade native ecosystems is related to their greater salt tolerance compared to native species. The project also conducted a five-year breeding program with the oilseed halophyte, Salicornia bigelovii, which can be grown on undiluted seawater. The project has trained several master's and Ph.D. level graduate students and several post-doctoral students and has employed several Research Associates. The project has received approximately 3 million dollars in outside funding from a variety of sources, including the U.S. Department of Energy, Arizona Public Services Co., the Monsanto Company, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, and the Seawater Foundation. As part of the project, we
developed remote sensing methods to estimate water use by salt-tolerant invasive plants compared to native species in riparian ecosystems, and we have disseminated this information through peer-reviewed papers and reviews.
Impacts
In addition to training graduate students and post-docs, this project has had some applications impacts. The U.S. Department of Energy has adopted phytoremediation as the preferred alternative for nitrate clean-up at their Monument Valley UMTRA site as a result of our studies. The city of Twentynine Palms, CA, used halophytes as the method of brine disposal in a water treatment plant. Arizona Public Services has planted halophytes on abandoned farmland near Avalon, AZ. The studies on saltcedar have contributed to a shift in thinking about how much water it uses and how it interacts with native plants. In some circumstances, saltcedar makes a positive contribution to riparian ecosystems, especially those that have been salinized by river operations.
Publications
- Mendez MO, Glenn ER, Maier RM. Phytostabilization potential of quailbush for mine tailings: Growth, metal accumulation, and microbial community changes JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY 36 (1): 245-253 JAN-FEB 2007
- Glenn EP, Huete AR, Nagler PL, et al. Integrating remote sensing and ground methods to estimate evapotranspiration CRITICAL REVIEWS IN PLANT SCIENCES 26 (3): 139-168 2007
- Gerhart VJ, Kane R, Glenn EP Recycling industrial saline wastewater for landscape irrigation in a desert urban area JOURNAL OF ARID ENVIRONMENTS 67 (3): 473-486 NOV 2006
- Banerjee MJ, Gerhart VJ, Glenn EP Native plant regeneration on abandoned desert farmland: Effects of irrigation, soil preparation, and amendments on seedling establishment RESTORATION ECOLOGY 14 (3): 339-348 SEP 2006
- McKeon C, Glenn EP, Waugh WJ, et al. Growth and water and nitrate uptake patterns of grazed and ungrazed desert shrubs growing over a nitrate contamination plume JOURNAL OF ARID ENVIRONMENTS 64 (1): 1-21 JAN 2006
- Vasquez EA, Glenn EP, Guntenspergen GR, et al. Salt tolerance and osmotic adjustment of Spartina alterniflora (Poaceae) and the invasive M haplotype of Phragmites australis (Poaceae) along a salinity gradient AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BOTANY 93 (12): 1784-1790 DEC 2006
- Nagler PL, Hinojosa-Huerta O, Glenn EP, et al. Regeneration of native trees in the presence of invasive saltcedar in the Colorado River delta, Mexico CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 19 (6): 1842-1852 DEC 2005
- Baumgartner DJ, Glenn EP, Thompson TL, et al. Land disposal of centrate from biosolids production WATER AIR AND SOIL POLLUTION 162 (1-4): 219-228 MAR 2005
- Vasquez EA, Glenn EP, Brown JJ, et al. Salt tolerance underlies the cryptic invasion of North American salt marshes by an introduced haplotype of the common reed Phragmites australis (Poaceae) MARINE ECOLOGY-PROGRESS SERIES 298: 1-8 2005
- Glenn EP, Nagler PL Comparative ecophysiology of Tamarix ramosissima and native trees in western US riparian zones JOURNAL OF ARID ENVIRONMENTS 61 (3): 419-446 MAY 2005
- McKeon CA, Jordan FL, Glenn EP, et al. Rapid nitrate loss from a contaminated desert soil JOURNAL OF ARID ENVIRONMENTS 61 (1): 119-136 APR 2005
- Nagler PL, Glenn EP, Thompson TL Comparison of transpiration rates among saltcedar, cottonwood and willow trees by sap flow and canopy temperature methods AGRICULTURAL AND FOREST METEOROLOGY 116 (1-2): 73-89 APR 30 2003
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Progress 01/31/04 to 12/31/04
Outputs
Arizona and other western states have large areas of abandoned farmland that require revegatation to prevent wind and dust erosion, and to return the land to a more natural state. The state also has many thousands of abandoned mine and ore-milling sites that require remediation. Phytoremediation can be an effective method to stabilize contaminants in these soils and control the water balance so that contanimants do not migrate away from the site. There is also a need for forage crops that can be grown on saline soils and water supplies in the regions irrigationdistricts, which generate large volumes of brackish drainage water. Halophytes are naturally salt-tolerant plants that can fill these different functions. This project has combined Hatch funds and outside funding sources to further develop halophyte technology. Halophytes represent an opportunity to turn problem soils and waters into resources. The amount of abandoned, contaminated and salinized land is
increasing in the western states. Our overall has been to provide suitable germplasm (selected halophyte species) as well as effective management practices to solve problems in agriculture and industry through halophyte agronomy. Previous Work and Present Outlook: The Environmental Research Lab has been a leader in halophyte research for over 20 years. Starting with a small-scale screening project, current work involves several types of real-world application. among the project accomplishments are; 1)Use of Atriplex lentiformis to receive the effluent from a fluride removal facility at the 29 Palms Water District, 29 Palms,CA. 2)Use of Atriplex canescens and Sarcobatus vermiculatus to absorb nitrate and control the water balance at several former uranium mill sites undergoing remediation by the Dept. of Energy in the Four Corners area. 3)Use of halophytes and other native species to revegatate 1100 acres of abandoned farmland near Buckeye,AZ, as part of the environmmental compliance
for the Redhawk Power Plant operated by Arizona public Services. 4)Support for a breeding program to produce new lines of the oilseed halophyte. Salicornia bigelovii by Seaphire,Intl. 5)Particiation in a USDA project to define the nutritional requirements of S. bigelovii.
Impacts
There is increasing recognition of the role halophytes can play in environmental and agricultural applications. In California, halophytes are being used to receive saline drain water in the San Joaquin Valley. They are becoming part of a solution to a long-standing problem of how to dispose of the valleys selenium-rich drainage water. The California Regional Water Board (Colorado River region) approved halophytes to absorb wastewater from a water treatment plant in lieu of disposal to evaporation ponds. Salicornia bigelovii is now grown on a small scale on several commercial farms, selling 'tips'(tender green stems) as a high-value speciality vegetable in the U.S. and Europe. The Department of Energy conducted an alternatives analysis on methods of remediating nitrate-comtaminated plumes and concluded that phytoremediation with halophytes was preferred over pump-and-treat methods at the Monument Valley UMTRA site. Halophytes are also used to absorb aquaculture waste,
such as that generated by Arizona's new inland shrimp industry in the southwest part of the state. the scientific literature on halophyte utilization is increasing, and halophyte agronomy is now a recognized strategy for utilizing saline resources(see Literature Citations).
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 01/01/03 to 12/31/03
Outputs
Arizona and other western states have large areas of abandoned farmland that require revegetation to prevent wind and dust erosion, and to return the land to a more natural state. The state also has many thousands of abandoned mine and ore-milling sites that require remediation. Phytoremediation can be an effective method to stabilize contaminants in these soils and control the water balance so that contanimants do not migrate away from the site. There is also a need for forage crops that can be grown on saline soils and water supplies in the regions irrigation districts,which generate large volumes of brackish drainage water. Halophytes are naturally salt-tolerant plants that can fill these different functions. This project has combined Hatch funds and outside funding sources to further develop halophyte technology. Halophytes represent an opportunity to turn problem soils and waters into resources. The amount of abandoned, contaminated and salinized land is
increasing in the western states. Our overall objective has been to provide suitable germplasm (selected halophyte species) as well as effective management practices to solve problems in agriculture and industry through halophyte agronomy. Previous Work and Present Outlook: The Environmental Research Lab has been a leader in halophyte research for over 20 years. Starting with a small-scale screening project, current work involves several types of real-world application. Among the project accomplishments are: 1)Use of Atriplex lentiformis to receive the effluent from a fluoride removal facility at the 29 Palms Water District, 29 Palms, CA. 2)Use of Atriplex canescens and Sarcobatus vermiculatus to absorb nitrate and control the water balance at several former uranium mill sites undergoing remediation by the Dept. of Energy in the Four Corners area. 3)Use of halophytes and other native species to revegetate 1100 acres of abandoned farmland near Buckeye,AZ, as part of the environmental
compliance for the Redhawk Power Plant operated by Arizona Public Services. 4)Support for a breeding program to produce new lines of the oilseed halophyte, Salicornia bigelovii by Seaphire, Intl. 5)Participation in a USDA project to define the nutritional requirements of S. bigelovii.
Impacts
There is increasing recognition of the role halophytes can play in environmental and agricultural applications. In California, halophytes are being used to receive saline drain water in the San Joaquin Valley. They are becoming part of a solution to a long-standing problem of how to dispose of the valleys selenium-rich drainage water. The California Regional Water Board (Colorado River region) approved halophytes to absorb wastewater from a water treatment plant in lieu of disposal to evaporation ponds. Salicornia bigelovii is now grown on a small scale on several commercial farms, selling 'tips'(tender green stems) as a high-value speciality vegetable in the U.S. and Europe. The Department of Energy conducted an alternatives analysis on methods of remediating nitrate-comtaminated plumes and concluded that phytoremediation with halophytes was preferred over pump-and-treat methods at the Monument Valley UMTRA site. Halophytes are also used to absorb aquaculture waste,
such as that generated by Arizona's new inland shrimp industry in the southwest part of the state. the scientific literature on halophyte utilization is increasing, and halophyte agronomy is now a recognized strategy for utilizing saline resources(see Literature Citations).
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 01/01/02 to 12/31/02
Outputs
Arizona and other western states have large areas of abandoned farmland that require revegetation to prevent wind and dust erosion, and to return the land to a more natural state. The state also has many thousands of abandoned mine and ore-milling sites that require remediation. Phytoremediation can be an effective method to stabilize contaminants in these soils and control the water balance so that contaminants do not migrate away from the site. There is also a need for forage crops that can be grown on saline soils and water supplies in the regions irrigation districts, which generate large volumes of brackish drainage water. Halophytes are naturally salt-tolerant plants that can fill these different functions. This project has combined Hatch funds and outside funding sources to further develop halophyte technology. Halophytes represent an opportunity to turn problem soils and waters into resources. The amount of abandoned, contaminated and salinized land is
increasing in the western states. Our overall has been is to provide suitable germplasm (selected halophyte species) as well as effective management practices to solve problems in agriculture and industry through halophyte agronomy. Previous Work and Present Outlook: The Environmental Research Laboratory has been a leader in halophyte research for over 20 years. Starting with a small-scale screening project, current work involves several types of real-world application. Among the project accomplishments are: 1)Use of Atriplex lentiformis to receive the effluent from a fluoride removal facility at the 29 Palms Water District, 29 Palms, California. 2)Use of Atriplex canescens and Sarcobatus vermiculatus to absorb nitrate and control the water balance at several former uranium mill sites undergoing remediation by the Department of Energy in the Four Corners area. 3)Use of halophytes and other native species to revegetation 1100 acres of abandoned farmland near Buckeye, Arizona, as part
of the environmental compliance for the Redhawk Power Plant operated by Arizona Public Services. 4)Support for a breeding program to produce new lines of the oilseed halophyte, Salicornia bigelovii by Seaphire, International. 5)Participation in a USDA project to define the nutritional requirements ofS.bigelovii
Impacts
There is increasing recognition of the role halophytes can play in environmental and agricultural applications. In California, halophytes are being used to receive saline drain water in the San Joaquin Valley. They are becoming part of a solution to a long-standing problem of how to dispose of the valleys selenium-rich drainage water. The California Regional Water Board (Colorado River region) approved halophytes to absorb wastewater from a water treatment plant in lieu of disposal to evaporation ponds. Salicornia bigelovii is now grown on a small scale on several commercial farms, selling fresh 'tips' (tender green stems) as a high-value specialty vegetable in the US and Europe. The Department of Energy conducted an alternatives analysis on methods of remediating nitrate-contaminated plumes and concluded that phytoremediation with halophytes was preferred over pump-and-treat methods at the Monument Valley UMTRA site. Halophytes are also used to absorb aquaculture
waste, such as that generated by Arizona's new inland shrimp industry in the southwest part of the state. The scientific literature on halophyte utilization is increasing, and halophyte agronomy is now a recognized strategy for utilizing saline resources (see Literature Citations).
Publications
- Glenn, E., J. Waugh, D. Moore, C. McKeon and S. Nelson. 2001. Revegetation of a former uranium mill site in the Great Basin Desert. Journal of Environmental Quality 30:1154-1162.
- Glenn, E., V. Squires and J. Brown. 1997. Saline soils in the drylands: extent of the problem and prospects for utilization. In: N. Middleton and D. Thomas (eds.), World Atlas of Desertification, Second Edition, UNEP/Arnold Press, London, pp. 144-148.
- Glenn, E. P., J. Brown and J. O'Leary. 1998. Irrigating crops with seawater. Scientific American 279:56-61.
- Glenn, E., J. Brown and E. Blumwald. 1999. Salt tolerance and crop potential of halophytes. Critical Reviews in Plant Science 18:227-255.
- Glenn, E.P., J.W. O'Leary, M.C. Watson and T.L. Thompson, and R. O. Kuehl. 1991. Salicornia bigelovii Torr.: an oilseed halophyte for seawater irrigation. Science 251: 1065-1067..
- Baumgartner DJ, Glenn EP, Kuehl RO, et al. 2000. Plant uptake response to metals and nitrate in simulated uranium mill tailings contaminated groundwater. Water, Air and Soil Pollution 118:115-129.
- Baumgartner DJ, Glenn EP, Moss G, et al. 2000. Effect of irrigation water contaminated with uranium mill tailings on Sudan grass, Sorghum vulgare var. sudanense, and fourwing saltbush, Atriplex canescens. Arid Soil Research and Rehabilitation 14:43-57.
- Brown, J., E. Glenn, K. Fitzsimmons and S. Smith. 1999. Halophytes for the treatment of saline aquaculture effluent. Aquaculture 175:255-268.
- Brown, J. and E. Glenn. 1999. Reuse of highly saline aquaculture effluent to irrigate a potential forage halophyte, Suaeda esteroa. Aquacultural Engineering 20:91-111.
- Fitzsimmons, K., C. Lovely and E. Glenn. 1998. Growth differences among widely separated geographic accessions of fourwing saltbush (Atriplex canescens) in the Great Basin Desert, New Mexico, USA. Arid Soil Research and Rehabilitation 12:87-94.
- Glenn, E. P. 1995. Halophytes. In: Encyclopedia of Environmental Biology, Academic Press, N.Y.
- Jordan, F., M. Robin-Abbott, R. Maier and E. Glenn. 2002. A comparison of chelator-facilitated metal uptake by a halophyte and a glycophyte. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 21:2698-2704.
- Riley, J., K. Fitzsimmons and E. Glenn. 1997. Halophyte irrigation: an overlooked strategy for management of membrane filtration concentrate. Desalination 110:197-211.
- Swingle, R., E. Glenn and V. Squires. 1996. Growth performance of lambs fed mixed diets containing halophyte ingredients. Animal Feed Science & Technology 63: 137-148.
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Progress 01/01/01 to 12/31/01
Outputs
We are conducting greenhouse and field trials of improved varieties of the oilseed halophyte, Salicornia bigelovii, with a commercial company, Seaphire International. S. bigelovii produces and edible oil and the meal and straw are used for animal feed and forage. We have produced several candidate species with lower saponin content and higher yield. Field trials are underway in Tucson, AZ, Kino Bay, Mexico and Eritrea (Africa).
Impacts
We expect that commercial production will move from the prototype stage to actual production units, using seawater, aquaculture effluent and other saline water sources for production.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 01/01/00 to 12/31/00
Outputs
We are conducting greenhouse and field trials of the potential oilseed halophyte, Salicornia bigelovii, with a commercial company, Seaphire International. S. bigelovii produces and edible oil, and the meal and straw are used in animal diets. The focus of the program is to breed superior strains of this wild plant. We are in Year Four of a program to produce such strains, which include varieties with improved forage value.
Impacts
(N/A)
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 01/01/99 to 12/31/99
Outputs
University of Arizona scientists, working collaboratively with Monsanto, Inc., and Seaphire International, Inc., have undertaken a breeding program to improve the nutritional value of the oilseed halophyte, Salicornia bigelovii. Germplasm was collected throughout the native range of the plant and has been screened in a greenhouse at the Environmental Research Laboratory. High-yielding selections with low saponin content, and other selections and hybridization products, are now being purified in greenhouse culture and tested in field trials in Kino Bay, Mexico. We are also developing Atriplex, Suaeda and other halophytes as fodder crops for irrigation with saline water.
Impacts
(N/A)
Publications
- J. Brown, E. Glenn, K. Fitzsimmons and S. Smith. 1999. Halophytes for the treatment of saline aquaculture effluent. Aquaculture 175:255-268.
- J. Brown and E. Glenn. 1999. Reuse of highly saline aquaculture effluent to irrigate a potential forage halophyte, Suaeda esteroa. Aquacultural Engineering 20:91-111.
- E. Glenn, J. Brown and E. Blumwald. 1999. Salt tolerance and crop potential of halophytes. Critical Reviews in Plant Science 18:227-255.
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Progress 01/01/98 to 12/31/98
Outputs
This project has proceeded on schedule. Atriplex nummularia was grown on saline waste water at the Ocotillo Power Plant in Tempe, Arizona, and evaluated as a source of forage for ruminants. It had high protein content compared to conventional forages. The results have been published.
Impacts
(N/A)
Publications
- Glenn, E., R. Tanner, S. Miyamoto, K. Fitzsimmons and J. Boyer. 1998. Water use, productivity and forage quality of the halophyte Atriplex nummularia grown on saline waste water in a desert environment. Journal of Arid Environments 3845-62.
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