Selenium phytoremediation study of contaminated soils by Vetiveria zizanioides and Medicago sativa
Year: 2015
Type: article
Abstract: With the growth of industry and the increasing consumption of chemicals, their entrance into water, soil and air results in the contamination of environment and consequently the danger that humans face, resulting from heavy metals, is felt more than ever before. Phytoremediation is an environmentally friendly method employing plants for removing pollutants from contaminated soils. The present study was carried out under greenhouse conditions using factorial experiment based on the randomized complete blocks design in three replications in order to analyze the phytoremediation ability of Vetiveria zizanioides and Medicago sativa in soils contaminated with selenium. Five-kilogram pots of Vetiveria zizanioides and Medicago sativa with 0, 10 and 20 mg/Kg selenium in the soil were treated. Sixty days after the treatments, the plants were harvested. The results showed that in both Vetiveria zizanioides and Medicago sativa the effect of selenium in all the studied traits was significant (P<0.01). In both plants, with an increase in the amount of selenium in the soil, the dry weights of the organs decreased and the concentration of selenium in different organs increased. At every level of soil contamination the concentration of selenium in the different organs of Vetiver were higher than alfalfa. Since the transfer and absorption factors in the root and aerial parts of Vetiver were greater than that of Medicago, Vetiver has great ability in absorption and transfer of selenium from soil to shoot in comparison with alfalfa and is a more suitable plant for phytoremediation.
Source: Environment Conservation Journal
Language: English
Topic: Heavy metals in environment
Subfield: Pollution
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $225
OpenAlex ID: W3133047785