Bot. Rev.

(2011) 77:208–213
DOI 10.1007/s12229-011-9077-9

Plant Impact on CO2 Consumption by Silicate

Weathering: The Role of Bamboo

Zhaoliang Song1,2 & Songlai Zhao1 &

Youzhen Zhang3 & Guoliang Hu3 &
Zhihong Cao1,4,5,6,7 & Minghung Wong4,5
1
Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Carbon Cycling in Forest Ecosystems and Carbon Sequestration,
Zhejiang A & F University, Lin’an 311300, China
2
State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of
Sciences, Guiyang 550002, China
3
Lin’an Institute of Forestry Sciences, Lin’an 311300, China
4
Joint Laboratory of Soil and Environment, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong
5
Institute of Soil Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China
6
School of Environment and Resources, Zhejiang A & F University, No. 88 North Huancheng Road,
Lin’an, Zhejiang 311300, China
7
Author for Correspondence; e-mail: zhcao@issas.ac.cn

Published online: 10 June 2011

# The New York Botanical Garden 2011

Abstract CO2 consumption by silicate weathering has exerted a major control on

atmospheric CO2 over geologic time. In order to assess plant impact on this process,
the study compared water geochemistry and CO2 consumption rates by silicate
weathering in watersheds covered by bamboos and other forests. Our study showed
that SiO2 concentrations (80~150 μmol/L, average 105 μmol/L) in water from pure
bamboo forest watersheds were higher than that (15~85 μmol/L, average 60 μmol/L)
from other watersheds. Si/(Nasilicate +Ksilicate) ratios in water draining from bamboo
watersheds (2.0~4.0, average 2.9) were higher than that from other watersheds
(0.7~2.7, average 2.2). CO2 consumption rates by silicate weathering in bamboo
watersheds (1.8~3.4 105 mol/km2/yr, average 2.5 105 mol/km2/yr) were higher than
that in other watersheds (1.5~2.6 105 mol/km2/yr, average 2.0 105 mol/km2/yr).
Therefore, bamboo-enhanced silicate weathering is a potential biogeochemical
remediation approach for atmospheric CO2.

Keywords Bamboo . Chemical weathering . CO2 consumption . Plant impact .

Silicate rocks

Introduction

Consumption of CO2 by silicate weathering has exerted a major control on

atmospheric CO2 over geologic time (Berner et al., 1983; Berner, 1992; Moulton et
al., 2000; Kurtz et al., 2002; Derry et al., 2005). More and more studies suggest that
land plants (especially vascular plants) may accelerate rock weathering and thus the
Plant Impact on CO2 Consumption by Silicate Weathering 209

removal of CO2 from the atmosphere via water recycling, organic acid production,
root-induced acidification and reduction of the rhizosphere, and root uptake of
inorganic ions, etc. (Berner et al., 1983; Berner, 1992; Alexandre et al., 1997; Kelly
et al., 1998; Moulton et al., 2000; Hinsinger et al., 2001; Derry et al., 2005; Johnson-
Maynard et al., 2005).
Bamboos belong to the Gramineae family of plants and are widely distributed in
subtropical and temperate zones (Bystriakova et al., 2003; Li et al., 2006). Recent
studies showed that bamboos are a significant organic silicon pool and play an
important role in biogeochemical cycles of silicon and other nutrients because of
their special growth habit and biogeochemical characteristics, i.e., rapid biomass
accumulation, the extremely high biomass of fine roots, and the extremely high
silicon content (Christanty et al., 1997; Mailly et al., 1997; Li et al., 2006; Ding et
al., 2008). As silicon (Si) in bamboos originate from silicate weathering and is
removed quickly through frequent harvest of bamboo products (i.e., bamboo shoots
and bamboo), we suggest that bamboo growth may accelerate silicate weathering,
and thus, CO2 consumption via the uptake of Si and other mineral nutrients.
The study investigated stream water geochemistry, using mass balance of major
ions to quantify CO2 consumption by silicate weathering under bamboo and other
vegetation conditions and to learn about the possibility of bamboo-enhanced silicate
weathering as a biogeochemical remediation strategy of atmospheric CO2.

Materials and Methods

The study sites are located in counties of Anji and Lin’an, Northwest Zhejiang
Province, China (30.7°N/119.7°E). The geology of the study sites consists
predominantly of Paleozoic granitic intrusions with detrital sedimentary rocks and
low grade metamorphosed sediments. The climate in the region is subtropical,
controlled by East Asian monsoons. The annual average temperature in the region
ranges from 15–17°C and the annual rainfall is between 1,500 and 1,800 mm
(average 1,645 mm). The average runoff depth is 912 mm. The hydrographs of the
rivers are dominated by summer rain with ~40% of total discharge of the rivers
occurring between June and August. Evergreen broadleaved and Moso bamboo
(Phyllostachys pubescens) forests dominate the natural areas in this region.
Six types of watersheds were selected in this study. “A” represents upper pure
granitic watersheds covered with pure Moso bamboo forest. “B” represents upper
granite-dominated watersheds covered with pure Moso bamboo forest. “C”
represents upper granite-dominated watersheds covered with bamboo- broadleaf-
coniferous mixed forest. “D” represents upper granite-dominated watersheds covered
with broadleaf- coniferous mixed forest without or with rare bamboos. “E”
represents down granite- dominated watersheds covered with bamboo- broadleaf-
coniferous mixed forest. “F” represents upper pure granitic watersheds covered with
broadleaf forest (Fig. 1). A total of 74 stream water samples were taken from the
above watersheds during spring and summer seasons in 2010.
Water pH was measured at the sampling sites with a portable pH meter. HCO3−
was titrated by HCl on the spot. Immediately after collection, all the water samples
were filtered through 0.22 μm membrane filters (Millipore) and a small portion of
210 Z. Song et al.

Fig. 1 Concentrations of TDS 100

(a) and SiO2 (b) in various
sampled stream waters. A
(a) Spring
and B are bamboo watersheds, 80 bc Summer
C~E types are mixed
c

TDS (mg L-1)

forest watersheds, F is broadleaf
forest watershed. For details 60
b
of watershed types, see the
text. Bars in figure columns b b
40 ab a
indicate standard errors of a a a
the mean (n≥3). Different
lowercase letters above the 20
figure column of the same
season means that the difference
between different type of water 0
samples is significant (p<0.05) A B C D E F
Sample type

200
(b) Spring
b
150 c Summer
SiO2 (10-6 mol L-1)

c
c
100 b
b a b
a
a
50

0
A B C D E F
Sample type

these samples was stored for measuring anions, while another portion was acidified
with ultra-purified hydrochloric acid to pH<2 after collection for measuring cations
(Han & Liu, 2004). All of the samples were stored in darkness. Major cations (K+,
Na+, Ca2+, Mg2+) were determined by Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission
Spectrometer (ICP-OES). Anions (Cl−, SO42−, NO3−) were measured by ion
chromatography.

Results and Discussion

The TDS concentration ranged from 20 to 70 mg/L, average 33 mg/L (Fig. 1a).
Generally, it was higher in the spring season than in the summer season. The TDS
concentration in upper-reach stream water samples from near pure granitic water-
sheds (A and F) and from granite-dominated watersheds covered with broadleaf-
coniferous mixed forest without or with rare bamboos was generally lower than
other types of stream water samples (B and E). The results indicated that the stream
water was not obviously polluted.
Plant Impact on CO2 Consumption by Silicate Weathering 211

SiO2 concentration ranged from 15 to 160 μmol/L, average 82 μmol/L (Fig. 1b).
The seasonal variation of SiO2 concentration was fairly small. SiO2 concentrations
(80~150 μmol/L, average 105 μmol/L) in the upper-reach stream water samples
from watersheds covered with pure bamboo forest (A and B) were higher than that
(15~85 μmol/L, average 60 μmol/L) from other watersheds.
The good correlations between elemental ratios such as Ca/Na vs. Mg/Na (r2 =0.98)
and Ca/Na vs. HCO3/Na (r2 =0.98) (Fig. 2a, b) reflected mostly mixing between
silicates and carbonates. The upper-reach stream water samples from nearby pure
granitic watersheds covered with pure Moso bamboo forest reflected that mostly
weathering of granites and their elemental ratios were used to calculate concentrations
of Ca, Mg, Na and K from silicate weathering (CaSil, MgSil, NaSil, and KSil).
The molar ratio of Si/(Nasil +Ksil) in stream water reflecting the intensity of silicate
weathering ranged from 0.6 to 4 with an average of 2.4 (Fig. 3a). Generally, it was lower
in the spring season than in the summer season. The ratios of Si/(Nasil +Ksil) in stream
water draining from bamboo watersheds (2.0~4.0, average 2.9) were higher than that
from other forest watersheds (0.7~2.7, average 2.2) indicating that the weathering
intensity of silicates in bamboo watersheds was higher than that in other watersheds.
Atmospheric CO2 consumption rate (CO2 flux=(2Casil +2Mgsil +Nasil +Ksil)×
runoff) calculated from data of cations and runoff ranged from 1.5 to 3.4 105 mol/
km2/a (average 2.2 105 mol/km2/a) (Fig. 3b). It was lower in the spring season than in
the summer season. The consumption rates of CO2 by silicate weathering in bamboo
watersheds (1.8~3.4 105 mol km−2 a−1, average 2.5 105 mol/km2/a) were generally
higher than that of other forest watersheds (1.5~2.6 105 mol/km2/a, average 2.0
105 mol/km2/a).
Bamboos are globally distributed in regions of similar petrologic (e.g., granite,
volcanic tuff and rhyolite) and climatic (e.g., subtropical climate) conditions. Our
data revealed that bamboos can enhance silicate weathering intensity and

Fig. 2 Molar ratios of Mg/Na and Ca/Na in spring (a) and summer (b), HCO3/Na and Ca/Na in spring (c)
and summer (d). The description of samples is the same as Fig. 1
212 Z. Song et al.

Fig. 3 Variation of molar ratio of 5

Si/(NaSil +KSil) (a) and (a) Spring
atmospheric CO2 consumption c
flux (rate) (b) with stream 4 e Summer
water sample types. NaSil
de

Si/(NaSil+KSil)
and KSil represent molar concen-
tration of Na and K contributed 3 b cd bc
b
from silicate weathering.
Atmospheric CO2 consumption a a
2
a
flux (rate) was calculated
from the data of cations
and depth of runoff. The descrip-
tion of samples is the same 1
as Fig. 1. Bars in figure columns
indicate standard errors of
0
the mean (n≥3). Different A B C D E F
lowercase letters above the
figure column of the same Sample type
season means that the difference
between different type of 5
water samples is significant (b) Spring
(p<0.05) b
CO2 flux (105 mol km-2 a-1)

4 Summer
c
c
3 b b
b a ab
a
2 a

0
A B C D E F
Sample type

consumption rate of CO2 by silicate weathering as bamboos belong to the

Gramineae plant family and generally need much more Si than other trees.
Therefore, bamboo-enhanced silicate weathering revealed in this study is a potential
biogeochemical remediation approach to address atmospheric CO2 at a regional
(e.g., eastern Asia) to global scale. However, further work such as the effects of
bamboo on weathering of other silicate rocks, effects of physic-chemical parameter
changes (e.g., monthly or seasonal changes of temperature and runoff) in bamboo
watersheds on silicate weathering rate, mechanism of bamboo enhanced- silicate
weathering, biogeochemical cycle of silicon and other cations in bamboo ecosystems
should be conducted before the strategy can be applied to sequester globally
significant amounts of CO2 under realistic conditions.

Conclusions

1. The SiO2 concentration and Si/(Nasilicate +Ksilicate) ratio in stream water draining
from bamboo watersheds were higher than those from other forest watersheds,
Plant Impact on CO2 Consumption by Silicate Weathering 213

indicating that the silicate weathering intensity in bamboo watersheds was higher
than that in other forest watersheds.
2. The consumption rates of CO2 by silicate weathering in bamboo watersheds
(1.8~3.4 105 mol/km2/a, average 2.5 105 mol/km2/a) were generally higher than that
in other forest watersheds (1.5~2.6 105 mol/km2/a, average 2.0 105 mol/km2/a).
3. Our data revealed that bamboos can enhance silicate weathering intensity and
consumption rate of CO2 by silicate weathering as bamboos belong to the
Gramineae plant family and generally need more Si than trees, and that bamboo-
enhanced silicate weathering is a potential biogeochemical remediation approach for
atmospheric CO2.

Acknowledgements We are grateful for support from Zhejiang Provincial Natural Science Foundation
Program (Grant No. Y5080110 and Z5080203); Opening Project of State Key Laboratory of
Environmental Geochemistry (SKLEG9011); Research Development Program of Zhejiang A & F
University (2351000741 and 2451012029).

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