Evaluation of soil properties, irrigation and solid waste application levels on Cu and Zn uptake by industrial hemp

E.E. Golia¹*, A. Angelaki¹, K.D. Giannoulis¹, E. Skoufogianni¹, D. Bartzialis¹, Ch. Cavalaris¹ and S. Vleioras²

¹University of Thessaly, School of Agriculture Crop Production and Agricultural Environment, Fytokou Street, N. Ionia, GR38 446 Magnesia, Greece
²Regional Centre of Quality Control and Plant Protection of Magnesia, Laboratory of Quality Control, Torousia & Nikolaidi, Pedion Areos, GR38334, Volos, Greece
*Correspondence: egol@uth.gr

Abstract:

Α three-year experiment was performed to study the alteration of copper and zinc levels in industrial hemp grown in different soils using elevated sewage slurry solid waste applications. Two soil samples, an acidic and an alkaline one, with different soil properties, such as percentage of CaCO₃ and cation exchange capacity values, were used. Three treatments of waste solid with provided elevated concentrations of Cu and Zn were combined with two irrigation levels. The application of high doses of the solid residue as well as high irrigation level lead to an increase of the mobility of metals in hemp leaves in acidic soil in contrast to alkaline. On the contrary, in alkaline soil along with a reduced irrigation level, there is a decrease in the mobility of Cu and therefore its accumulation in the roots or stems was observed. Concluding, hemp seem to be a promising plant remediator, after the application of the proper irrigation level and taking into account the physico-chemical soil properties of moderately contaminated (with copper and zinc) soils.

Key words:

Influence of nitrogen fertilizer on Cd and Zn accumulation in rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) biomass

A. Kasiuliene¹*, V. Paulauskas¹ and J. Kumpiene²

¹Aleksandras Stulginskis University, Institute of Environment and Ecology,
Studentu str. 11, Akademija, LT-53361 Kaunas dist., Lithuania
²Lulea University of Technology, Department of Civil, Environmental and Natural
Resources Engineering, SE 971 87 Lulea, Sweden
*Correspondence: alfreda.kasiuliene@gmail.com

Abstract:

Diffuse soil contamination with heavy metals and Cd in particular is a matter of serious concern. Application of conventional remediation methods usually is not feasible due to the large territories and relatively low heavy metal content. Thus, phytoremediation is seen as an alternative. Rapeseed was grown on Cd and Zn contaminated as well as clean soil under the greenhouse conditions. Solid and liquid nitrogen fertilizers were applied during the pot experiment in order to test their influence on heavy metal accumulation in plant tissues. Vegetative parameters were measured four times during the pot experiment and it was concluded, that the elevated concentrations of Cd and Zn in the soil did not disrupt the development of rapeseed plants. Furthermore, plants from contaminated soil produced significantly bigger seeds in comparison to plants from uncontaminated soil. Calculated Bioconcentration factors for rapeseed grown on Cd and Zn contaminated soil in all cases were below unity, thus possibility to use this plant species for phytoextraction purposes is limited, but it can be successfully grown on contaminated land as an energy crop. Application of nitrogen fertilizers had a significant effect on heavy metal accumulation and decreased Cd and Zn concentrations in rapeseed roots and stems with leaves were recorded. Accumulation differences between the liquid and solid fertilizer applications were negligible.

Key words:

cadmium, contaminated soil, nitrogen fertilizer, phytoremediation, zinc