Fern plant (Pteris vittata) as a phytoremediator of arsenic heavy metal and its effect to the growth and quality of Kale (Ipomea reptans Poir)

Abstract

Kale (Ipomea reptans Poir) has high nutrition such as vitamin A, B and C as well as various minerals especially iron. Quality of animal feed must be clean from diseases and heavy metal contamination such as Arsenic. Arsenic in the soil can be reduced naturally using phytoremediator plants, one of which is Pteris vittata. The experiment was conducted at the Antirogo Green House, Sumbersari Distric, Jember Regency. Arsenic metal analysis was conducted in BARISTAND, Surabaya and BALITTANAH, Bogor on June 2019 to January 2020. The experimental design used Factorial Complete Random Design consist of 2 factors. The first factor consists of 4 levels of heavy metal arsenic treatment on the fern plant growth media, namely was 0 ppm (D1), 5 ppm (D2), 10 ppm (D3) and 15 ppm (D4). The second factor consists of 2 levels of treatment time of fern: 1 month (P1) and 2 weeks (P2). Each of treatment repeated 4 times. The results showed that the interaction between planting time of fern and arsenic dosage showed no significant effect. The absorption power of ferns reaches 0.27 ppm to 4.589 ppm higher compared to the scale absorptions reaching 0,006 ppm to 0.155 ppm.