Removal of metals by sorghum plants from contaminated land
ZHUANG Ping , SHU Wensheng , LI Zhian , LIAO Bin , LI Jintian , SHAO Jingsong
DOI:
Received December 04, 2008,Revised April 08, 2009, Accepted , Available online
Volume 21,2009,Pages 1432-1437
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The growth of high biomass crops facilitated by optimal of agronomic practices has been considered as an alternative to
phytoremediation of soils contaminated by heavy metals. A field trial was carried out to evaluate the phytoextraction e ciency of
heavy metals by three varieties of sweet sorghum (Sorghum biocolor L.), a high biomass energy plant. Ethylene diamine tetraacetate
(EDTA), ammonium nitrate (NH4NO3) and ammonium sulphate ((NH4)2SO4) were tested for their abilities to enhance the removal of
heavy metals Pb, Cd, Zn, and Cu by sweet sorghum from a contaminated agricultural soil. Sorghum plants always achieved the greatest
removal of Pb by leaves and the greatest removal of Cd, Zn and Cu by stems. There was no significant di erence among the Keller,
Rio and Mray varieties of sweet sorghums in accumulating heavy metals. EDTA treatment was more e cient than ammonium nitrate
and ammonium sulphate in promoting Pb accumulation in sweet sorghum from the contaminated agricultural soil. The application
of ammonium nitrate and ammonium sulphate increased the accumulation of both Zn and Cd in roots of sorghum plants. Results
from this study suggest that cropping of sorghum plants facilitated by agronomic practices may be a sustainable technique for partial
decontamination of heavy metal contaminated soils.
