Accumulative Characteristics of Some Plant Species to Magnesium around a Magnesite Mine Area in Northeast China

Abstract

The deposition of Mg-rich dust from magnesite calcination can lead to serious soil contamination. As an efficient remediation method, phytoremediation is often used to remove contaminants from the environment. However, no information is available on phytoremediation of Mg-contaminated soils. In this study, we determined the Mg concentrations in above- and belowground parts of six dominant plant species and soils (0–20 cm layer) beneath these plants in a magnesite mining region in Northeast China. Mg was enriched in leaves of all six species. Translocation factors (TF) of all six species were far greater than 1. Enrichment factors (EF) of Kochia scoparia, Cassia nomame, and Hordeum jubatum were 1.1, 1.1, and 1.0, respectively, while those of the other three species were not greater than 0.5. The results suggest that Kochia scoparia, Cassia nomame, and Hordeum jubatum are the potential Mg-accumulators, and could be used for remediation of Mg-contaminated soils.