How to increase species diversity in phytostabilization strategies near Lubumbashi (D.R.C.)
2013
Boisson, Sylvain | Collignon, Julien | Le Stradic, Soizig | Monty, Arnaud | Mahy, Grégory | Ngoy Shutcha, Mylor
Copper contamination of soils represents a threat to natural areas and to human health. Phytostabilization, i.e using plants to immobilize contaminants, represents a well-known technology to hemper heavy metals spread across landscapes. In Katanga (Congo D.R.), Microchloa altera was recently identified as a candidate species to stabilize copper in soil. This grass naturally tolerates and accumulates high copper concentrations and belongs to the typical copper flora of Katanga. However more than 600 species compose this flora and other grasses may be used in phytostabilisation strategies. But little is known about the phenology reproductive strategy and demography of these species, which makes their use in current phytostabilization strategies difficult. The present study aims to characterize the reproduction capacity of seven other dominant grass species for future phytostabilisation tests. A total of 67 quadrats (1m²) were randomly placed across three sites. At two periods over the fruiting season, three inflorescences per species per quadrat were collected in order to estimate the number of spikes, spikelets and viable seeds. All species have sexual reproductive strategy and spikelets number presents little variation between populations. Three species are very common (Andropogon shirensis, Loudetia simplex and Eragrostis racemosa) and represent potential candidates to increase species diversity in phytostabilization strategies in Katanga. Further research, including germination tests and phytostabilization tests in situ, is planned in a near future.
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