EFFECTS OF MEDICAL STONE ON THE GROWTH OF SUBMERGED MACROPHYTES

The steady growth of submerged plants is an important factor for the reconstruction of healthy lake ecosystem, and the sediment conditions are also the key factors for the growth of submerged plants. This study explores the effects of medical stone on its physiological and ecological changes in submerged plants. The results showed that the medical stone significantly promoted the growth of Vallisneria natans. The height and biomass of Vallisneria natans covered with 1 cm thick medical stone were better compared with the lake sediment group (P<0.05), and the modified medical stone group was better than the raw stone group (P<0.05) to promote the height and biomass of Vallisneria natans. The photosynthetic pigment, root activity, malondialdehyde (MDA), peroxidase (POD) activity and other indicators of the two plants, Vallisneria natans and Hydrilla verticillata in medical stone group were better than those in the lake sediment group. The medical stone contained abundant constant and trace elements that are required for the growth of submerged plants. Thus, medical stone is beneficial to the growth of submerged plants and can be further applied to ecological restoration projects as sediment improvement material.