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EDTA-enhanced phytoremediation of contaminated calcareous soils: heavy metal bioavailability, extractability, and uptake by maize and sesbania

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Abstract

Natural and chemically enhanced phytoextraction potentials of maize (Zea mays L.) and sesbania (Sesbania aculeata Willd.) were explored by growing them on two soils contaminated with heavy metals. The soils, Gujranwala (fine, loamy, mixed, hyperthermic Udic Haplustalf) and Pacca (fine, mixed, hyperthermic Ustollic Camborthid), were amended with varying amounts of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) chelating agent, at 0, 1.25, 2.5, and 5.0 mM kg−1 soil to enhance metal solubility. The EDTA was applied in two split applications at 46 and 60 days after sowing (DAS). The plants were harvested at 75 DAS. Addition of EDTA significantly increased the lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) concentrations in roots and shoots, uptake, bioconcentration factor, and phytoextraction rate over the control. Furthermore, addition of EDTA also significantly increased the soluble fractions of Pb and Cd in soil over the controls; the maximum increase of Pb and Cd was 13.1-fold and 3.1-fold, respectively, with addition of 5.0 mM EDTA kg−1soil. Similarly, the maximum Pb and Cd root and shoot concentrations, translocation, bioconcentration, and phytoextraction efficiency were observed at 5.0 mM EDTA kg−1 soil. The results suggest that both crops can successfully be used for phytoremediation of metal-contaminated calcareous soils.

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Acknowledgments

The research work was financially supported by the Pakistan Agricultural Research Council through the “Research for Agricultural Development Program.” We thank Saif-ur-Rehman and Riaz-ul-Haq for the assistance in laboratory and greenhouse work. We are grateful to Professor Dr. P.J. Gregory for the syntax improvement of this paper.

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  1. Land Resources Research Institute, National Agricultural Research Center, Islamabad, 45500, Pakistan

    Vishandas Suthar & Muhammad Mahmood-ul-Hassan

  2. Department of Soil Science, Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam, Pakistan

    Vishandas Suthar & Kazi Suleman Memon

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  1. Vishandas Suthar
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  2. Kazi Suleman Memon
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Suthar, V., Memon, K.S. & Mahmood-ul-Hassan, M. EDTA-enhanced phytoremediation of contaminated calcareous soils: heavy metal bioavailability, extractability, and uptake by maize and sesbania. Environ Monit Assess 186, 3957–3968 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-014-3671-3

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