Open AccessEFFECT OF EASILY BIODEGRADABLE AMENDMENTS ON HEAVY METAL SOLUBILIZATION AND ACCUMULATION IN TECHNICAL CROPS ‐ A FIELD TRIAL
Author(s) -
Stefan Shilev,
Mladen Naydenov,
Nurettin Tahsin,
Enrique Sancho,
M. Benlloch,
Ventsislava Vancheva,
K. Sapundjieva,
Jordanka Kuzmanova
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
journal of environmental engineering and landscape management
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.514
H-Index - 28
eISSN - 1822-4199
pISSN - 1648-6897
DOI - 10.3846/16486897.2007.9636936
Subject(s) - edds , phytoremediation , chemistry , rhizosphere , chelation , cadmium , sunflower , nutrient , environmental chemistry , zinc , bioremediation , helianthus annuus , metal , soil contamination , pollution , agronomy , heavy metals , contamination , soil water , environmental science , bacteria , biology , inorganic chemistry , ecology , organic chemistry , soil science , genetics
Heavy‐metal soil pollution is a common environmental problem all over the world. In the induced phytoextraction process plants can transport and translocate to their above‐ground tissues significant concentration of contaminants. Since some heavy metals are mostly presented in non‐soluble state, the application of chelating agents is needed. In this study we introduced into the rhizosphere of maize (var. Kneja 530) and sunflower (var. Favorit) plants 1 and 5 mmol l−1 of EDDS and NTA, and 5 g kg−1 of nutrients to enhance the accumulated concentrations of cadmium, lead and zinc. The fraction of CaCl2‐extractable metals increased incrementing the concentration of chelates. This was clearly pronounced for all the metals in the treatments with NTA and for Pb in those with EDDS. Generally, under all the experimental conditions the accumulated heavy‐metal concentrations were found to be significantly higher than in the control. Thus, in the case of higher concentration of NTA and EDDS, the accumulated Cd in the leaves of sunflower was found to be threefold higher. The highest accumulation of Pb in the leaves of maize was observed when nutrients were added (62 mg kg−1). On the other hand, negative effects of the used chelating agents on soil bacteria and fungi at plant harvest were not observed. Moreover, when nutrients were added, the number of studied microorganisms significantly increased.