Abstract
The performance and remediation potential of Chrysopogon aciculatus (Retz.) Trin. grown in nickel contaminated soil was assessed. Six contamination regimes of 50, 100, 150, 200, 250 and 300 mg Ni/kg soil and control were set up in three replicates each. Chrysopogon aciculatus established from tillers were allowed to grow six weeks before data collection started. Data were collected weekly on ground cover, chlorophyll index and concentrations, total carotenoids and yield at maturity. Soil Ni concentrations were determined at pre-plant and post-harvest stages. Ground cover was not significantly different among the treatments. Ni contaminated treatments had the highest chlorophyll index at 10 and 12 weeks after planting. Chlorophyll a concentration was highest in 150 mg Ni/kg treatment (T 150 ) at 12 WAP. T 150 also had the least Chlorophyll b concentration at 12 WAP. T 200 and T 250 had low total carotenoids at 12 WAP. Dried shoot and root from T 300 had the highest Ni concentrations. Grass grown in T 200 accounted for the highest soil Ni uptake (% Ni remediated) with 96.4%. Soil Ni contents were reduced in all treatments. It is concluded that C. aciculatus can tolerate Ni contamination in soil and therefore can be used as a turf grass on Ni polluted soils.
Highlights
Heavy metals are naturally present in the soil but geologic and anthropogenic activities may increase their concentrations to levels that are harmful to both plants and animals (Raskin et al, 1994; Chibuike and Obiora, 2014)
The present study aims to bridge this gap by assessing the performance and remediation potential of Chrysopogon aciculatus grown in nickel contaminated soil regimes
The results of the present study suggested that the soil Ni contamination up to 300 mg kg-1 had no significant effect on the growth of C. aciculatus
Summary
Heavy metals are naturally present in the soil but geologic and anthropogenic activities may increase their concentrations to levels that are harmful to both plants and animals (Raskin et al, 1994; Chibuike and Obiora, 2014). Some of these activities include mining and smelting of metals, burning of fossil fuels, use of fertilizers and pesticides in agriculture, production of batteries and other metal products in industries, sewage sludge, and municipal waste disposal (Alloway, 1995; Shen et al, 2000). Soluble Ni compounds are often absorbed by plant roots passively (through a cation transport system) while chelated Ni compound are taken up through active-transport-
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