Phytoremediation Properties of Sweet Potato for Soils Contaminated by Heavy Metals in South Kazakhstan

Abstract

Industrial waste in the form of abandoned mine tailings from a former lead plant in South Kazakhstan amounts to about 2 million tons, and this has led to environmental pollution with heavy metals (HMs) in Shymkent city. The concentrations of Pb, Zn, and Cd in the mine tailings were 1354.50, 262.90, and 61.08 mg/kg, respectively. The contamination of the adjacent soils with Pb, Zn, and Cd ranged from 7.76 to 551.49, from 8.25 to 245.74, and from 5.40 to 19.23 mg/kg, respectively. In this study, the phytoremediation properties of sweet potato on soils contaminated with HMs adjacent to mine tailings were investigated. The phytoremediation efficiency of sweet potato was assessed in terms of its capacity to biotransfer and bioaccumulate HMs. The concentrations of Pb, Zn, and Cd in sweet potato in the experimental fields were 28.70–45.10, 70.0–94.20, and 1.19–1.80 mg/kg, respectively. It was determined that the pollution class of the studied soils according to Igeo was high pollution (5.28–8.80), and the potential risk of HM accumulation according to the ecological risk index proposed by Hakanson was moderate pollution.

Potential of Calabash (Lagenaria siceraria) and Sweet Potato (Solanum tuberosum) for the Remediation of Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane-Contaminated Soils in Tanzania

“…Sweet potato has been reported as a hyperaccumulator plant with multiple metal and organochloride pesticide bioaccumulation capability [29]. We, in the present study, observed that sweet potato bioaccumulates DDT such that sizable proportions are stored in the below-ground and above-ground biomass, and that this is consistent with previous reports on the ability of various sweet potato varieties to bioaccumulate pesticides including heavy metals [28][29][30][31][32].…”

“…Along with calabash, sweet potato exhibited a consistently high ability to extract and bioaccumulate DDT from contaminated soils of NHC Morogoro and PPO Tengeru. A couple of studies have reported the potential for use of sweet potato in remediation of heavy metals and organochloride pesticide-contaminated soils [28][29][30]. Sweet potato has been reported as a hyperaccumulator plant with multiple metal and organochloride pesticide bioaccumulation capability [29].…”

“…We, in the present study, observed that sweet potato bioaccumulates DDT such that sizable proportions are stored in the below-ground and above-ground biomass, and that this is consistent with previous reports on the ability of Along with calabash, sweet potato exhibited a consistently high ability to extract and bioaccumulate DDT from contaminated soils of NHC Morogoro and PPO Tengeru. A couple of studies have reported the potential for use of sweet potato in remediation of heavy metals and organochloride pesticide-contaminated soils [28][29][30]. Sweet potato has been reported as a hyperaccumulator plant with multiple metal and organochloride pesticide bioaccumulation capability [29].…”

Changes in the Biology and Susceptibility of Weevil (Cylas formicarius) to the Insecticide Spinetoram as a Response to Cadmium Contamination

“…Sweet potato can adapt to a variety of extreme environmental conditions, such as lack of soil nutrients, drought, and contaminated soil. Some reports showed that sweet potato easily absorbs and accumulates Cd in roots and shoots when grown in contaminated soil [ 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 ]. Although the adaptability of sweet potato to the environment is relatively strong, yield and quality are adversely affected by diseases and insect pests.…”

A Study on the Development of Two Ornamental Varieties of Ipomoea batatas Cultivated in Vertical Systems in the Northeastern Region of Europe

“…The effects of particulate matter stress the physiological characteristics of ornamental sweet potato cultivars [29]. Also, another study investigating the phytoremediation properties of sweet potato for the biological remediation of soils contaminated with heavy metals found that sweet potato is a hyperaccumulator of two heavy metals, Pb and Zn [30].…”