Potential of plant species adapted to semi-arid conditions for phytoremediation of contaminated soils

• Published in: Journal of hazardous materials 2023-05, Vol.449, p.131034-131034, Article 131034
• Main Authors: Paes, Ésio de Castro, Veloso, Gustavo Vieira, de Castro Filho, Manoel Nelson, Barroso, Saulo Henrique, Fernandes-Filho, Elpídio Inácio, Fontes, Maurício Paulo Ferreira, Soares, Emanuelle Mercês Barros
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biodegradation, Environmental; Heavy metals; Lead - analysis; Metals, Heavy - analysis; Phytoremediation; Plant Roots - chemistry; Plants; Soil - chemistry; Soil contamination; Soil Pollutants - analysis; Tree species
• ISSN: 0304-3894; 1873-3336
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.131034

Physical and chemical remediation techniques used in contaminated areas are expensive and damaging to the soil structure. Biological alternatives, such as phytoremediation, are economical and applicable to large areas. The main limitation of phytoremediation is identifying plants that are both capable of stabilizing and/or absorbing metals from soil and adapted to edaphoclimatic conditions of the contaminated areas. The objective of this study is to evaluate the ability of plant species adapted to Brazilian semi-arid conditions to grow in soils contaminated with Pb. A greenhouse experiment was carried out in a 4 × 5 factorial: four plant species (M. oleifera, P. juliflora, A. peregrina, and U. ruziziensis) and five Pb concentrations in soil (0.0; 0.52; 1.05; 2.10, and 4.20 g kg−1). All species grew at all Pb levels, but only P. juliflora and A. peregrina did not exhibit significant reductions in most growth variables. U. ruziziensis, despite showing reductions in growth variables, was the species with the highest dry matter accumulation in both shoots and roots, in addition to accumulating higher amounts of Pb. We conclude that the species P. juliflora, A. peregrina and U. ruziziensis are more suitable for cultivation in soils containing high levels of Pb. [Display omitted] •Species adapted to the semiarid can be used in phytoremediation programs.•M. oleifera, U. ruziziensis, A. peregrine, P. juliflora showed low Pb translocation factor.•A. peregrine and P. juliflora had lower toxic effects related to increasing doses of Pb.•U. ruziziensis have the capacity to accumulate levels of Pb above 1400 mg kg−1.