Abstract
Copper is a frequently used heavy metal worldwide and known to be an essential micronutrient for most living organisms including plants. However, excessive levels of copper in soil may adversely affect plant growth and survival. The continuing introduction of copper to soil, e.g., through excessive utilization of agrochemicals has raised serious environmental concerns throughout the world. A variety of plants have the capability to eliminate pollutants from soil through different mechanisms; however, limited information is reported on phytoremediation potential of maize (Zea mays L.) and its uptake and the accumulation potential in copper-containing soils. The effects of additions of 0, 50, 100, 200 and 300 mg kg−1 of copper to soil on growth parameters of Z. mays, copper uptake from soil and accumulation in roots and shoots, and phytoremediation potential of Z. mays were investigated in this research. Copper content in soil and plant samples were determined using atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The addition of 50 mg kg−1 Cu stimulated Z. mays growth parameters, while higher content of Cu exhibited inhibitory effects of plant growth. Results indicated that roots accumulated significantly higher levels of Cu than shoots in all treatments, suggesting dominancy of phytostabilization mechanism in remediation of Cu-polluted soil by Z. mays. However, translocation of Cu from the roots to the aerial parts enhanced to some extent with copper level in soil. The greatest Cu accumulation capacity of 5210 µg per pot was gained in Z. mays cultivated in soil treated with 200 mg kg−1 copper. Results demonstrated that Z. mays can promisingly remediate low to moderately copper-contaminated soils.
Highlights
Heavy metal contamination and their probable impacts on the food chain have been associated with a wide range of human health risks
The increasing occurrence of copper in soil can endanger food safety for the upcoming years, which necessitates the application of eco-friendly and effective approaches to remove excessive amounts of copper from soil
This study investigated the capability of Z. mays to remediate soil contaminated with different levels of copper
Summary
Heavy metal contamination and their probable impacts on the food chain have been associated with a wide range of human health risks. The accumulation of heavy metals in a soil matrix can significantly endanger human health as well as other living organisms life [1]. Despite many organic contaminants that can be biodegraded or naturally attenuated in the environment, heavy metals may not be degraded through natural processes and tend to be continuously accumulated in the environment [2,3]. Soil contamination with heavy metals disrupts natural ecosystem services and adversely affects the human health through food chain [4]. Heavy metals can negatively affect central nervous system posing mental disorder and damage other vital organs such as liver and lungs, thereby promoting an array of diseases for humans. Several adverse impacts of heavy metals of human health have been reported in the literature [5,6]
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