Effectiveness of washing in reducing lead concentrations of lettuce grown in urban garden soils.

Urban gardeners contribute to sustainable cities and often take great care to limit exposure to soil contaminants like lead (Pb). Although best management practices (BMPs) like mulching to reduce soil splash can limit crop contamination, they may not eliminate all contamination for leafy greens, which trap soil particles. How effective is washing at removing Pb contamination from leafy greens when using BMPs? Are certain washing techniques more effective than others? We present results from two experiments addressing these questions.

Clonal versus non-clonal milkweeds ( spp.) respond differently to stem damage, affecting oviposition by monarch butterflies.

Background: Oviposition decisions are critical to the fitness of herbivorous insects and are often impacted by the availability and condition of host plants. Monarch butterflies () rely on milkweeds ( spp.) for egg-laying and as food for larvae.