TNT is released into the soil from many different sources, especially from military and mining activities, including buried land mines. Vegetation may absorb explosive residuals, causing stress and by understanding how plants respond to energetic compounds, we may be able to develop non-invasive techniques to detect soil contamination. The objectives of our study were to examine the physiological response of plants grown in TNT contaminated soils and to use remote sensing methods to detect uptake in plant leaves and canopies in both laboratory and field studies. Differences in physiology and light-adapted fluorescence were apparent in laboratory plants grown in N enriched soils and when compared with plants grown in TNT contaminated soils. Several reflectance indices were able to detect TNT contamination prior to visible signs of stress, including the fluorescence-derived indices, R 740 /R 850 and R 735 /R 850 , which may be attributed to transformation and conjugation of TNT metabolites with other compounds. Field studies at the Duck, NC Field Research Facility revealed differences in physiological stress measures, and leaf and canopy reflectance when plants growing over suspected buried UXOs were compared with reference plants. Multiple reflectance indices indicated stress at the suspected contaminated sites, including R 740 /R 850 and R 735 /R 850 . Under natural conditions of constant leaching of TNT into the soil, TNT uptake would be continuous in plants, potentially creating a distinct signature from remotely sensed vegetation. We may be able to use remote sensing of plant canopies to detect TNT soil contamination prior to visible signs.

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