Effects of nutrients on arsenic accumulation by arsenic hyperaccumulator Pteris vittata L

• Published in: Environmental and experimental botany 2008-04, Vol.62 (3), p.231-237
• Main Authors: Fayiga, A.O., Ma, L.Q., Rathinasabapathi, B.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: ammonium nitrogen; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Applied ecology; arsenic; Biological and medical sciences; Ca carbonate; calcium; calcium carbonate; Chloride; chlorides; Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution; Effects of pollution and side effects of pesticides on plants and fungi; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Hydroponics; hyperaccumulators; K and arsenic; Nitrate; nitrate nitrogen; nutrient availability; nutrient solutions; nutrient uptake; phosphorus; phytoremediation; plant nutrition; potassium; Pteris vittata; soil pollution; uptake mechanisms
• ISSN: 0098-8472; 1873-7307
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envexpbot.2007.09.001

This research investigated the effects of various nutrients on arsenic (As) removal by arsenic hyperaccumulator Pteris vittata L. in a Hoagland nutrient solution (HNS). The treatments included different concentrations of Ca and K in 20% strength of HNS, different strengths of HNS (10, 20 and 30%), different strengths of HNS (10 and 20%) with and without CaCO 3, and different concentrations of Ca, K, NO 3, NH 4, and P in 20% strength of HNS. The plants were grown in nutrient solution containing 1 mg As L −1 for 4 weeks except the Ca/K experiment where the plants were grown in nutrient solution containing 10 or 50 mg As L −1 for 1 week. Adding up to 4 mM Ca or 3 mM K to 20% strength HNS significantly ( P < 0.05) increased plant arsenic accumulation when the solution contained 10 mg As L −1. Plant arsenic removal was reduced with increasing Ca and K concentrations at 50 mg As L −1. Lower strength of HNS (10%) resulted in the greatest plant arsenic removal (79%) due to lower competition of P with As for plant uptake. Addition of CaCO 3 to 20% strength of HNS significantly increased arsenic removal by P. vittata. Among the nutrients tested, NO 3 and CaCO 3 were beneficial to plant arsenic removal while NH 4, P and Cl had adverse effects. This experiment demonstrated that it is possible to optimize plant arsenic removal by adjusting nutrients in the growth medium.