Survivorship and growth of Typha latifolia L. across a NaCl gradient: a greenhouse study

Oil sands surface mining operations in northeastern Alberta have created a substantial area of land needing to be reclaimed. Historically, these lands were a mosaic of uplands and boreal wetlands, particularly peatlands. While protocols for upland reclamation are well-defined, protocols for peatland reclamation are still in development. Two major concerns for peatland reclamations are (1) the ability of wetland plants to tolerate the increased sodicity present after surface mining and (2) the potential for the invasion of aggressive wetland plants, such as Typha latifolia, that could crowd out peatland plants and hinder the development of a peat layer. This study addresses these concerns by quantifying the response of T. latifolia seedlings to a sodium gradient. In the lowest two concentrations (0 and 300 mg L-1), there was about 100% survival rate as compared to about 56% at sodium concentration of 2400 mg L-1. At 300 mg L-1, T. latifolia leaf health began to decrease, and at 600 mg L-1, the health, plant height and the biomass aboveground decreased substantially. Our findings suggest that T. latifolia populations might be kept in check by keeping sodium concentrations within a range between 300 and 600 mg L-1.