Morpho-physiology and Anatomy of the Six Grass Species Growing on Lateritic Soil: Diagnosis of Characters for Phytostabilization of Soils Depleted by Mining

Due to extensive mining activities, strip vegetation and soil contamination with heavy metals have become common. One of the approaches ecological restoration is phytostabilization, which uses plants stabilize reduce mobility in soil. In this study, six species grasses – namely, Alloteropsis semialata (R.Br.) Hitchc., Cymbopogon citratus (DC.) Stapf, Dinochloa acutiflora (Munro) Soenarko, Imperata cylindrica (L.) Raeusch., Machaerina disticha (C.B. Clarke) T. Koyama, Panicum repens L. were collected from a degraded area lateritic Brgy. Taltal, Masinloc, Zambales, Philippines. The root growth, direction roots formed, mean daily transpiration rate observed find combination grass for phytostabilization. Leaf anatomical sections using freehand technique know characteristics that enable them thrive D. was only exhibited horizontal spreading fastest growth among species, whereas A. P. deepest penetrating vertical forming roots. Transpiration highest at 12:00 PM significantly differentiated 09:00 AM 04:00 as by two exotic I. repens. features transverse section such thickened epidermal cell walls (anticline), presence sclerenchyma caps, extended vascular bundles, bulliform cells leaves species. Root thick endodermis, large cortex filled intercellular spaces (P. repens, acutiflora, M. disticha), well black spots pericycle (A. semialata). Knowing these traits, semialata, found suitable