Uptake Prediction of Eight Potentially Toxic Elements by Pistia stratiotes L. Grown in the Al-Sero Drain (South Nile Delta, Egypt): A Biomonitoring Approach

Abstract

The potential to utilise the free-floating macrophyte Pistia stratiotes L. to survey contamination of the Al-Sero Drain in the South Nile Delta, Egypt, by eight potentially toxic elements (PTEs) was investigated in this study. This study considered the absorption of eight PTEs (Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn), and the evaluated P. stratiotes were located in three sampling locations along the Al-Sero Drain, with sampling conducted in both monospecific and homogenous P. stratiotes. Samples of both types of P. stratiotes and water were collected on a monthly basis between May 2013 and April 2014 at each location, utilising three randomly chosen 0.5 × 0.5 m quadrats. Regression models were designed to predict the concentration of the PTEs within the plant’s shoot and root systems. Elevated water Fe levels were correlated with a rise in shoot system Fe concentration, whereas higher Ni concentrations in the water led to a higher Ni concentration within the root system. The latter was also true for Pb. Water Cu levels had a negative association with the Cu concentration within the P. stratiotes shoot system. Raised Fe levels were also correlated with a diminished Fe level within the roots. For all PTEs, P. stratiotes was characterised by a bioconcentration factor of more than 1.0, and for the majority by a translocation factor of less than 1.0. The goodness of fit for most of the designed models, as indicated by high R2 values and low mean averaged errors, demonstrated the associations between actual and predicted PTE concentrations. Any disparity between measured and predicted parameters failed to reach significance with Student t-tests, reinforcing the predictive abilities of the designed models. Thus, these novel models have potential value for the prediction of PTE uptake by P. stratiotes macrophytes inhabiting the Al-Sero Drain. Furthermore, the macrophyte’s constituents indicate the long-term impact of water contamination; this supports the potential future use of P. stratiotes for biomonitoring the majority of the PTEs evaluated in this study.

Enhancing water quality and sustainable organic-phosphate fertilizer production through phytoremediation of cattle farm effluent using artificial wetlands

“…The biomass of P. stratiotes can be utilized to produce fertilizers and compost, and the utility of P. stratiotes as an organic phosphate fertilizer for rice cultivation has also been investigated (Polthanee et al, 2015). The potential of P. stratiotes biomass as an organic fertilizer for tomato cultivation has also been reported (Eid et al, 2021). Studies have shown the effectiveness of using macrophytes as organic fertilizers because they accumulate high concentrations of nutrients present in the water (Martínez-Soto et al, 2021).…”

Modelling Assisted Phytoremediation of Landfill Leachate using Surface Flow Constructed Wetland Enhanced by <i>Pistia stratiote</i> and <i>Salvinia molesta</i>

“…The increase in the biomass shows increasing carbon absorption, which is attributed to the ability of P. stratiotes and S. molesta to utilize organic and inorganic contaminants as energy and carbon sources (Kumar et al 2017). The increase in biomass with after treatment of landfi ll leachates also shows the infl uence of the landfi ll leachate and CW sediment nutrient status on the rate of decomposition and respiration rate in P. stratiotes and S. molesta (Eid et al 2021). This is because factors such as sediment quality, water chemistry, nutrient inputs, and interspecifi c competition play a role in the growth and establishment of macrophytes (Clarke and Wharton 2001).…”