The effects of landfill leachate (from Gin Drinker's Bay landfill, Hong Kong) on the growth of tree and vegetable crops were studied in a greenhouse. Higher yields were obtained for Brassica chinensis (Chinese White Cabbage) and B. parachinensis (Flowering Chinese Cabbage) with 5, 10, 20 and 40% leachate dilutions than in the non-leachate control. Yield was reduced for Acacia confusa (Acacia) under all concentrations of leachate treatments. Inhibition of root growth was also observed in the three species with 40% leachate treatment.
Leachate-treated soil had elevated levels of electrical conductivity, total-, ammonia) and nitrate-N, exchangeable Na and P. For all heavy metals analysed, only Mn significantly (p < 0.05) accumulated in soil after leachate irrigation.
Uptake of N, Na, Fe and Mn was evident for all test species after leachate irrigation. The degree of uptake was positively correlated (p < 0.05) with the leachate concentrations used for irrigation.
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