The effect of copper/chrome/arsenic (CCA) treated timber on soil fungi

IRG/WP 1131

R J Murphy, D J Dickinson

The aim of this investigation was to study the effect of CCA treated wood on the microflora of soil with particular reference to copper tolerant soft rot fungi. The IRG collaborative field experiment was designed to monitor the performance of a range of preservative treated hardwoods with particular reference to soft rot in CCA treated timber (Dickinson 1976) and site 33 of this experiment was used in this investigation. The results clearly show that CCA impregnated timber affects the mycoflora of adjacent soil leading to increased frequency of isolation of copper tolerant fungi and particulary Phialophora spp.No significant increases in occurrence of copper tolerant fungi were noted in soil 1 cm from the wood surface indicating that the effect of treated timber is confined to a small area of soil.


Keywords: CCA; FUNGI; SOIL; PHIALOPHORA; COPPER TOLERANCE; SOFT ROT; COLLABORATIVE FIELD EXPERIMENT; MICROFLORA; SILWOOD PARK

Conference: 81-05-11/15 Sarajevo, Yugoslavia


Download document (302 kb)
free for the members of IRG. Available if purchased.

Purchase this document