Nutrients deficiency affects Miscanthus x giganteus physiology and essential metals uptake more intensively than soil contamination

Abstract

The second generation energy crop Miscanthus x giganteus is considered as one of the most perspective crops for biomass production in marginal sites with undesirable soil parameters. An experiment in large pots was established to compare the effect of cultivation in sandy soil with nutrients deficiency and soil contaminated by multiple risk elements (mainly As, Cd, Mn, Pb, Zn) on plants physiology and risk elements uptake. Both nutrients deficiency and high contamination had negative effect on biomass production and physiological parameters (chlorophyll fluorescence and leave pigments reflectance). However, the variants with lower level of contamination achieved even better results than control cultivated in non-contaminated nutrients rich compost probably due to unclear hypercompensatory effects. The worst results were achieved in poor non-contaminated soils leading to conclusion that miscanthus is more stress tolerant to risk elements contamination than to extreme deficit of nutrients. The elements uptake was also affected by soil type. Generally, the highest element content in biomass resulted from contaminated soil but in case of several essential elements (Mn in whole shoot and Cu, Zn in leaves) the highest content resulted surprisingly from soils with nutrients deficit. Based on the physiology indicators, the presumed cause is increased level of nutrient stress leading to increased accumulation. • Miscanthus x giganteus physiology is negatively affected by nutrients deficiency. • Extreme risk elements contamination negatively affected miscanthus physiology. • Low level of risk elements contamination lead to increased biomass. • Uptake of some essential metals is increased in poor sandy soil.