Hi, I’m helping on a project concerning the bioremediation of ponds with excessive sulfur. We’re trying to determine what are the best species/cultivars to plant on artificial floating islands. We need plants that will establish and grow well on the islands AND will take up lots of sulfur. According to White et al.’s (2007 Annals of Botany) paper, which compared sulfur contents of 39 species grown hydroponically, the top 6 species for sulfur uptake per day were all mustard species. The top performer was Brassica oleracea (cultivars include: kale, collard, etc.).
If you’ve had any success (or failure) growing mustards on artificial floating islands then please let me know. Also, please let me know of any other species that grow well on artificial floating islands and are likely to take up lots of sulfur (e.g. plants that tend to be stinky such as hemp, legumes [e.g. Astragalus spp.]). Thanks, Kurt ----------------------------------- Research Ecologist, USDA-ARS, Fort Keogh Livestock & Range Research Laboratory 243 Fort Keogh Rd. Miles City, MT 59301
