Comparative Heavy Metal Uptake and Phytoremediation Potential of Three Jatropha Species

Abstract

The comparative metal uptake and phytoremediation capacity of Jatropha curcas, Jatropha gossypifolia, and Jatropha multifida in heavy metal contaminated soil from a dumpsite in Ibadan Nigeria were studied. Plants were transplanted into polythene pots containing 2kg of soil (control and dumpsite), using a 3×2 factorial laid out in complete randomized designed. Cu, Zn, Cr, Cd, Pb and Ni concentration was determined in the soil before planting and after harvesting as well as in the roots and shoots of the plant after 12 weeks using the standard method. The heavy metal levels in the control soil are within the permissible limits of WHO/FAO while only Cr and Ni in the contaminated soils are within the limit. The heavy metals concentration in the root of the plants ranged from 0.27-63.14 mg/kg (Cu), 4.82-54.18 mg/kg (Zn), 0.48-3.47 mg/kg (Cr), 1.75-72.37 mg/kg (Pb) and 0.05-3.23 mg/kg (Ni); in the shoots, the concentration ranged from 0.25-33.36 mg/kg (Cu), 5.40-12.48 mg/kg (Zn), 0.29-1.45 mg/kg (Cr), 0.58-8.26 mg/kg (Pb) and 0.05-3.23 mg/kg (Ni). Cd was not detected in the root and shoot of the three Jatropha species. Analysis of variance shows heavy metal uptake was influenced by the interaction of contamination level and Jatropha species. Bioaccumulation factor and Translocation factor ranged from 0.

Phytoremediation of Heavy Metals Contaminated Agricultural Soil Planted to Jatropha curcas

“…The concentration and removal efficiency of Pb in all the hydrocarbon contaminated soils of this research were different with data reported in some studies elsewhere (Awotedu et al, 2019;Leapheng et al, 2019). The plausible reason for these differences could be attributed to the initial quantity and level of the HM contamination in the soil, duration of the phytoremediation experiment and the type of energy sources for the rhizosphere microbes involved in the remediation process (Ali et al, 2013).…”

“…In contrast, 500mg/kg hydrocarbon fuel level of contamination is not toxic but suitable and provider of conducive rhizopheric environment for the microorganisms and Jatropha plant roots association. This enhances microbial activity in the Jatropha root vicinity resulting to high removal of the Cu metals observed in the 500mg/kg hydrocarbon contaminated soils and has been in agreement with some findings reported elsewhere (Majid et al, 2012;Awotedu et al, 2019). However, the Cu concentration removed in this research is much lower than the data reported in the literature (Abdullahi et al, 2017).…”

“…Many studies reported that Jatropha plants were very efficient in removing Cd in contaminated soils due to stimulation of microorganism's activity at the rhizosphere vicinity by the influence of added optimum carbon and nitrogen nutrients released from the applied organic and inorganic amendments in the soil including hydrocarbon (Ong et al, 2011;Wang et al, 2013;Leapheng et al, 2019;Mohamed et al, 2021). On the @ECRTD-UK: https://www.eajournals.org/ other hand, impediment in inorganic contaminants removal including metals as a result of high contamination has been reported previously confirming the data of the current study (Awotedu et al, 2019). However, a study (Leapheng et al, 2019) reported higher removal efficiency (64%) above that of the current study (8-42%).…”