Cadmium uptake and tolerance of three aromatic grasses on the Cd-rich soil
2009
Lal, K. | Minhas, P.S. | Chaturvedi, R.K. | Yadav, R.K.
Performance and phyto-remediation capacity of three aromatic grasses viz., palmarosa (Cymbopogon martinii), lemon grass (Cymbopogon flexuosus) and vetiver (Vetiveria zizaniodes) were evaluated during 2003-04 in lysimeters filled-in with a sandy loam soil. Variable levels of cadmium (Cd) were created through the application of CdClz at the rate of 0 (control), 5, 10,20,50, 100, 150 and 200 mg Cd kg-I soil. GrO'\\Vth, biomass productivity and the oil yields of all the grasses decreased with increased Cd levels. The relative tolerance followed the order: Vetiver palmarosa lemon grass. Significant reductions in the biomass of palmarosa and lemon grass were monitored at 20 mg Cd kg-I soil, whereas the productivity of vetiver could be sustained up to - 50 mg Cd kg-I. The Cd content of foliage increased with its concentration in soil but most of it was retained in the roots itself e.g. root Cd contents were 33 times the shoot Cd content in vetiver. Amongst the three grasses, Cd content in foliage of palmarosa was three times its content in shoots of lemon grass and vetiver. Considering the overall higher tolerance and removal of Cd by vetiver, it seems to be the most suitable candidate for detoxification of the Cd-contaminated soils and avoiding the entry of heavy metals in food chain.
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