Phytoextraction with Salix viminalis in a moderately to strongly contaminated area

Abstract

We tested the suitability of Salix viminalis for phytoextraction with the analysis of selected elements in soil, root, and leaf, and by visual tree condition assessment in an area with varying levels of contamination. Bioconcentration factor (BCF) and translocation factor (TF) were used to assess the phytoextraction potential of willows. The middle part of the study area was strongly contaminated, while the northern and southern parts were moderately contaminated. We found increasing element concentrations toward deeper layers. Mean concentrations of elements in roots were similar among the three parts, while in leaves the highest concentrations were found in the strongly contaminated part of the study area. Tree condition scores were the lowest in the strongly contaminated part of the study area, which was caused by Al, Ca, K, Mg, Ni, Sr, and Zn concentration. These elements induced leaf disease and leaf feeders. The highest BCF values were found for Cu, Fe, Mn, and Zn in root, and for Cd and Zn in leaves, indicating that S. viminalis had high accumulation potential of these elements. Furthermore, TF values were high for Cd, Mn, Sr, and Zn. Our results also demonstrated that soil element composition has major influence on the condition of S. viminalis individuals. Furthermore, visual condition assessment was found to be a useful tool to assess the phytoextraction potential of trees.

Chelate-assisted phytoextraction: Growth and ecophysiological responses by Salix schwerinii E.L Wolf grown in artificially polluted soils

“…Hussain et al (2017) explained the four-degree scale where BF < 0.01 indicates no accumulation, 0.01-0.1 low accumulation (0.01-0.1), medium accumulation (0.1-1.0) and > 1.0 high bioaccumulation. Salix species have been widely-studied regarding their potential to translocate metals from roots to aerial parts (Tőzsér et al, 2017). Salix growing on the polluted soils have different metals accumulation capacity as well as high genetic variability in growth rates (Salam et al, 2016;Yang et al, 2014;Zhivotovsky et al, 2011).…”

Influence of INGER and TORDIS Energetic Willow Clones Planted on Contaminated Soil on the Survival Rates, Yields and Calorific Value

“…Soil degradation may also be due to fires, prolonged droughts, strong winds, invasive vegetation, municipal waste (may contain nonbiodegradable organics and heavy metal such as Pb, Cd or Zn), heavy metal mining, gold mining and industrial activities, especially chemical and/or petrochemical plants. At the level of 1991, it was estimated that about 240 Mha of land chemically degraded, representing 12% of total degraded soils [5,[16][17][18][19].…”

“…It was also found that Salix viminalis absorbed the largest amount of heavy metals from soil, absorbing 84 % of Cd, 90% of Cu, 167% of Hg, 190% of Pb and 36% of Zn, and, following the accumulation of heavy metals, the cellulose content increased from 42.09 to 49.69%. Tőzsér et al [17] studied the possibility of using Salix viminalis for the phytoextraction of metals and other contaminants, such as Al, Ca, K, Mg, Ni, Sr and Zn, from soil. It was found that the average concentration of the chemical elements was the same in the roots and trunk but was much higher in the leaves of the energetic willow.…”

Remediation potential of early successional pioneer species Chenopodium album and Tripleurospermum inodorum

“…From the early 1970s, secondary treatment remained as the only function of the pond system, due to the establishment and continuous development of a modern wastewater treatment plant. The pond system had ceased to operate by the early 2000s (Tőzsér et al 2018). During the last decades of operation, the study area had been loaded with variable amounts of sewage sludge, contaminated with several macro-and microelements, such as toxic metals.…”

“…Soil samples were collected with a 50-mm Dutch soil auger from the three differently contaminated parts of the study area (northern -moderately contaminated part 1; middle -strongly contaminated part 2; southern -moderately contaminated part 3, after Tőzsér et al (2018); contamination levels were determined by Nagajyoti et al (2010) and Tóth et al (2016)) in late September 2015. We selected the soil sampling date to be in alignment with plant sampling near the end of the vegetation period.…”