Title:
Phytoremediation Response of Arundo Donax L. in Soils Contaminated with Zinc and Chromium
Author(s):
Barbosa, B., Fernando, A.L., Lino, J., Costa, J., Sidella, S., Boléo, S., Bandarra, V., Duarte, M.P., Mendes, B.
Document(s):
Paper
Poster
Abstract:
Arundo donax is a woody rhizomatous grass. It is a perennial plant, and both the stems and leaves of the crop can be harvested annually. It is characterized by relatively high yields, high water and nitrogen efficiencies and an apparently low susceptibility to pests and diseases. Abandoned intensive farmland for perennial grasses is considered to have a meaningful potential. Likewise, landfills, areas polluted by mining and industrial activities or sediment depositions might be occupied with perennial grasses with the ability to take up and accumulate or degrade recalcitrant contaminants such as heavy metals. So, phytoremediation, the use of vegetation for the decontamination of polluted soils, is a not very expensive strategy and has been presented as an approach to restore or attenuate and stabilize contaminated sites while bringing additional revenue to owners. In this context, this research work aims to study the phytoremediation response of Arundo to soils contaminated with zinc (450 and 900 mg Zn.kg-1 dry mass) and chromium (300 and 600 mg Cr.kg-1 dry mass) under different irrigation regimes. Results showed that growth and biomass productivity were not affected by the zinc contamination. Chromium contamination affected the productivity only with 475mm irrigation regime and not with 950mm and 238mm. Lowering the irrigation level reduced significantly the biomass production. Biomass obtained in Zn and Cr contaminated soils presented higher ash content and higher Zn/Cr content then biomass from non-contaminated soils, thus showing phytoextraction and accumulation capacity.
Keywords:
bioenergy, Arundo donax L., phytoremediation, contaminated soils
Topic:
Biomass resources
Subtopic:
Energy crops and energy grasses
Event:
21st European Biomass Conference and Exhibition
Session:
1BV.3.8
Pages:
315 - 318
ISBN:
978-88-89407-53-0
Paper DOI:
10.5071/21stEUBCE2013-1BV.3.8
Price:
FREE
