Effect of Cd, Pd and Ni on growth and quality of chamomile, sage and thyme cultivated on soil enriched with heavy metal
2003
Fabian, M.
A pot experiment was carried out to investigate the harmful effects of heavy metals. Three different plant species were chosen. Matricaria recutita as an annual, and the perennials Salvia officinalis and Thymus vulgaris. Varying concentration of three different heavy metals: cadmium (Cd 0, 1, 3, 10 and 30 mg/kg); lead (Pb 0, 60, 180, 600 and 1800 mg/kg) and nickel (Ni 0, 20, 60, 200 and 600 mg/kg) were mixed to the soil in which the plants were growing. The experiment lasted for six weeks in the case of Matricaria and twelve weeks in the case of Thymus and Salvia. the heavy metal accumulation in roots, leaves and in chamomile in flower was measured by ICP-AES. It was found out that the accumulation of Cd in all the three plants followed the order roots-leaves-flowers (with flowers being measured for chamomile). The relation between soil concentration and heavy metals accumulation in plant tissues followed in all cases a polynomial curve. In the commercially used plant parts (leaves, flowers) the cadmium accumulation in all the cases exceeded the maximum acceptable concentration (0.2 mg/kg) suggested by WHO. Lead levels in thyme leaves reached the maximum acceptable concentration of 10 mg/kg after growth in all lead supplemented soil. The growth of the plants was not affected negatively by the Cd treatment. The only effect noted were reductions in the number of rosettes for chamomile and in the number of branches for sage and thyme. Extra supplied Pd in the soil had no negative effect on growth in any of the plants. Nickel a micronutrient, increased the growth of the plants even at the highest concentration. Chlorophyll content was measured twice during our experiment. The results were studied after six weeks or twelve weeks.
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