Influence of clay mineral amendments characteristics on heavy metals uptake in vetiver grass (Chrysopogon zizanioides L. Roberty) and Indian mustard (Brassica juncea L. Czern)
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Date
2022
Authors
Otunola, Beatrice Omonike
Aghoghovwia, Makhosazana P.
Thwala, Melusi
Gomez-Arias, Alba
Jordaan, Rian
Hernandez, Julio Castillo
Ololade, Olusola Oluwayemisi
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
MDPI
Abstract
Phytoremediation is limited when heavy metals reduce soil quality and, subsequently, inhibit plant growth. In this study, we evaluated the use of attapulgite and bentonite as amendments in soil contaminated with multiple metals, to improve the phytoremediation capacity of Vetiver grass and Indian mustard. A 21-day greenhouse study was undertaken, to investigate plant tolerance in heavy-metal-contaminated soil, as well as heavy-metal absorption in plant roots and shoots. The results showed a generally higher root-uptake rate for Cr, Cu, Co, Ni, and Zn in Vetiver grass. Overall, the highest absorption for Ni, Cr, Co, Cu, and Zn was 1.37, 2.79, 1.39, 2.48 and 3.51 mg/kg, respectively, in the roots of Vetiver grass. Clay minerals inhibited the translocation of some heavy metals. The addition of attapulgite improved the phytoremediation capacity of Vetiver for Ni, Cr, and Co, while bentonite improved Vetiver’s absorption of Cu and Zn. The translocation factor for Ni in one of the attapulgite treatments was 2, indicating that attapulgite improved the phytoextraction of Ni by Vetiver grass. Our results confirm that attapulgite at 2.5% (w/w) can successfully improve the phytostabilization of heavy metals by Vetiver grass. Indian mustard showed no significant metal uptake that could be detected by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES), despite the addition of attapulgite and bentonite. This research contributes to the knowledge repository of suitable amendments that improve the phytoremediation properties of Vetiver grass.
Description
Keywords
Heavy metals, Indian mustard, Phytoremediation, Contaminated soil, Vetiver grass
Citation
Otunola, B.O., Aghoghovwia, M.P., Thwala, M., Gómez-Arias, A., Jordaan, R., Hernandez, J.C., & Ololade, O.O. (2022). Influence of ClayMineral Amendments Characteristics on Heavy Metals Uptake in Vetiver Grass (Chrysopogon zizanioides L. Roberty) and Indian Mustard (Brassica juncea L. Czern). Sustainability, 14, 5856. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14105856