Abstract
The suitability for aided phytoremediation of Cynara cardunculus L. var. altilis and municipal solid waste compost (MSWC) applied at 2% and 4 % rates was evaluated in a multi potentially toxic element (PTE)-contaminated mining soil (Pb ~ 15,383 mg kg−1, Zn ~ 4076 mg kg−1, As ~ 49 mg kg−1, Cd ~ 67 mg kg−1, Cu ~ 181 mg kg−1, and Sb ~ 109 mg kg−1). The growth of C. cardunculus significantly increased with compost amendment and followed the order: MSWC-4% > MSWC-2% > Control. PTE concentrations in the roots of plants grown on amended soils decreased compared with control plants (i.e., less than ~ 82, 94, and 88% for Pb, Zn, and Cd respectively). PTE translocation from roots to shoots depended on both PTE and amendment rate but values were generally low (i.e., < 1). However, PTE mineralomasses were always higher for plants grown on MSWC-amended soils because of their higher biomass production, which favored an overall PTE bioaccumulation in roots and shoots. After plant growth, labile As and Sb increased in amended soils, while labile Pb, Zn, Cu, and Cd significantly decreased. Likewise, dehydrogenase and urease activities increased significantly in planted soils amended with MSWC. Also, the potential metabolic activity and the catabolic versatility of soil microbial communities significantly increased in planted soils amended with MSWC. Overall, our results indicate that C. cardunculus and MSWC can be effective resources for the aided phytoremediation of multi PTE-contaminated soils.
Highlights
IntroductionMining activities usually release in the environment high amounts of potentially toxic elements (PTE) like Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn, As, and Sb, especially because of the absence of effective
Mining activities usually release in the environment high amounts of potentially toxic elements (PTE) like Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn, As, and Sb, especially because of the absence of effectiveResponsible Editor: Elena Maestri Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.It is widely accepted that environmental pollution by PTE represents a serious problem which involves both environmental and human health implications
After plant growth, residual Cd and Cu decreased in the amended soils; this may be linked with the activity of roots and soil microorganisms, likely enhanced by municipal solid waste compost (MSWC), which favored an increase of PTE not vey mobile, i.e., PTE pools extracted with EDTA or NaOAc, and a consequent decrease of residual PTE. These results showed that the combined effect of MSWC and C. cardunculus may favor a weak increase of labile PTE which did not significantly contribute to increase the absorption of PTE by cardoon plants grown on amended soils
Summary
Mining activities usually release in the environment high amounts of potentially toxic elements (PTE) like Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn, As, and Sb, especially because of the absence of effective. It is widely accepted that environmental pollution by PTE represents a serious problem which involves both environmental and human health implications. PTEs have been identified as responsible for DNA damage and carcinogenicity, as well as neurological and cardiovascular problems (Wuana and Okieimen 2011). Elevated PTE concentrations in soil can negatively affect plant growth, food and feed quality, and the abundance, diversity, and activity of soil (micro)biota, which are in turn responsible for element cycling and soil organic matter turnover among the others (Castaldi et al 2018; Garau et al 2019a, 2019b; Renella et al 2005). Several studies have been addressed on the development of novel and low-impact
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