

ii^ 









Figure 27. Close-up of one of the site 3 oil plots. 



microliters of oxygen absorbed were taken for a period of 3 hours. The values were corrected for 

 standard conditions and expressed on a per gram dry soil per hour basis. 



By the end of the growing season, after the oil had been on the plot for 60 days, several 

 areas of damage could be discerned. Plants or leaves that had been physically covered by the 

 oil were dead. This was especially noticeable with the low-growing mosses and liverworts in the 

 5 liter/m^ and greater applications. In addition, the plants in the most heavily treated plot, 12 liters/m^ 

 showed more yellowing than adjacent plots, although the intensive sampling in this plot made 

 comparisons difficult. 



Plant production data are available from the most intensive rate of oil application. Samples 

 were taken on 9 Aug 1970: 



Treatment 



(12 liters/m') 



Plot 211 

 Control 



Dry wt 

 (g/m^) 



100, 97.9 

 112, 129 



Chlorophyll Chlorophyll 

 (mg/m^) (mg/g dry wt) 



353, 323 

 409, 494 



353, 329 

 366, 383 



These data indicate that the presence of crude oil produced a reduction in biomass and chlorophyll 

 production. However, much more sampling wiU be required before these observations are 

 finalized. 



76 



