Growth of tropical tree species and absorption of copper in soil artificially contaminated

R F Silva,A Dellai,D Scheid,R Andreazza,C Da Ros,R J S Jacques

doi:10.1590/1519-6984.07114

Abstract

Reclamation of copper contaminated sites using forest species may be an efficient alternative to reduce the negative impact. The aim of this study was to quantify the growth and evaluate the quality of seedlings of native species at different doses of copper in the soil. The experimental design was completely randomized, with seven replications in a factorial arrangement (3×9), using three indigenous species of plants (Anadenanthera macrocarpa, Mimosa scabrella and Apuleia leiocarpa) and nine doses of copper in the soil (0, 60, 120, 180, 240, 300, 360, 420 and 480 mg kg-1).The experiment was carried out in a greenhouse which the seedlings were grown for 180 days. The experimental units were plastic pots of 125 cm3 filled with Oxisol. The results indicated that the levels of copper applied to the soil decreased the quality of seedlings and growth of Apuleia leiocarpato a lesser extent compared with Mimosa scabrella and Anadenanthera macrocarpa. Anadenanthera macrocarpa was the forest species that resulted in the lowest copper translocation from roots to shoots. In addition, the Apuleia leiocarpa exhibited high resistance and tolerance for copper in the soil and also, it is highlighted an ability for copper phytoremediation.

Highlights

Copper is an essential micronutrient for plant development; in high concentrations in the soil, it can promote physiological and biochemical disorders in plants, reducing plant growth potential (Panou-Filotheou et al, 2001; Marschner, 2011)
This study aimed to evaluate the growth and quality of seedlings of Anadenanthera macrocarpa, Mimosa scabrella and Apuleia leiocarpa at different doses of copper applied in the soil and use for further studies on phytoremediation
When there was an increase on copper concentrations, the Apuleia leiocarpa slight reduced the growth parameters, and the other two species substantial reduced the same parameters, once the Anadenanthera macrocarpa plant exhibited high sensibility for high copper concentrations

Summary

Introduction

Copper is an essential micronutrient for plant development; in high concentrations in the soil, it can promote physiological and biochemical disorders in plants, reducing plant growth potential (Panou-Filotheou et al, 2001; Marschner, 2011). Brunner et al (2008) highlight that forest tree species may be an alternative for use in metal-contaminated soil because of their high capacity to immobilize metals in their tissue, mainly in the roots; delaying the return of such metals to the soil (Soares et al, 2000) and minimizing the contamination of surface and subsurface waters (Wuana and Okieimen, 2011) This is called phytostabilization which use plants to stabilize the metal in the soil (Andreazza et al, 2013b), and some studies have been demonstrated efficiency for copper phytostabilization on vineyards soils contaminated with high copper concentrations and copper mine waste (Andreazza et al, 2011, 2013a)

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Conclusion