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Phytoextraction of Cd and Zn with Salix viminalis in field trials
Author(s) -
Hammer D.,
Kayser A.,
Keller C.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
soil use and management
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.709
H-Index - 81
eISSN - 1475-2743
pISSN - 0266-0032
DOI - 10.1111/j.1475-2743.2003.tb00303.x
Subject(s) - salix viminalis , phytoremediation , shoot , calcareous , willow , environmental remediation , biomass (ecology) , soil water , chemistry , ulmus pumila , cadmium , hyperaccumulator , agronomy , botany , horticulture , environmental science , environmental chemistry , biology , heavy metals , contamination , soil science , ecology , organic chemistry
. Use of high biomass crops such as the willow Salix viminalis to extract metals for soil remediation has been proposed as an alternative to the low biomass‐producing hyperaccumulating plants. High yields compensate for the moderate heavy‐metal concentrations in the shoots of such species. We report the first long‐term trials using Salix viminalis to extract heavy metals from two contaminated soils, one calcareous (5 years) and one acidic (2 years). Total metals extracted by the plants were 170 g Cd ha −1 and 13.4 kg Zn ha −1 from the calcareous soil after 5 years, and 47 g Cd ha −1 and 14.5 kg Zn ha −1 from the acidic soil after 2 years; in the first year outputs were negligible. After 2 years, Salix had performed better on the acidic soil because of larger biomass production and higher metal concentrations in shoots. Addition of elemental sulphur to the soil did not yield any additional benefit in the long term, but application of an Fe chelate improved the biomass production. Cd and Zn concentrations were significantly higher in leaves than stems, highlighting the necessity to collect leaves as well as shoots. On both soils, concentration in shoots decreased with time, indicating a decrease in extraction efficiency.