Abstract
Heavy metals (HMs) contamination of soils is a major problem occurring worldwide. Utility of energy crops for biofuel feedstock production systems offers a feasible solution for a commercial exploitation of an arable land contaminated with HMs. Experiments involved field testing of Miscanthus x giganteus and Spartina pectinata cultivated on HMs-contaminated soil with standard NPK fertilizers and commercially available microbial inoculum. Biomass yield, water content, macronutrients (N, P, K, Mg, Ca), and heavy metal (Cd, Pb, Zn) concentrations in plant shoots were assessed at the end of the first and the second growing season. Independently of the applied fertilizers, Miscanthus x giganteus produced higher biomass yield while contrary results were obtained for S. pectinata. Higher HMs content in plants influenced the status of the mineral macronutrients in particular N and K. Occurrence of hasted senescence induced by drought in the second growing season caused reduction in the concentrations of all elements (except Pb), due to earlier rhizomes relocation.
Highlights
There are approximately 20 elements essential for plant growth and development
Each of the analyzed parameters in the initial soil samples was slightly lower for S. pectinata plots when compared with M. x giganteus plots
The results presented in the BHeavy metals and mineral macronutrients plant concentrations^ section together with the photographic documentation corresponding to this section indicate hasted senescence in the 2015 growing season, when compared to 2014
Summary
There are approximately 20 elements essential for plant growth and development. They can be divided into two groups: mineral macro- and micronutrients. Mineral macronutrients are required for plants in relatively high amounts in comparison with other elements. Primary macronutrients represented by N, P, and K are often main components of fertilizers which are introduced to soil in different chemical forms.
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