Phytoremediation of Cadmium-Contaminated Farmland Soil by the Hyperaccumulator Beta vulgaris L. var. cicla

• DOI: 10.1007/s00128-012-0524-z
• Publication Date: 2012-01-27T23:21:19Z
• Authors: Xueying Song; Xiaojun Hu; Puhui Ji; Yushuang Li; Guangyu Chi; Yufang Song
• Keywords: 2. Zero hunger; China; 0211 other engineering and technologies; Agriculture; 02 engineering and technology; 15. Life on land; 6. Clean water; Biodegradation, Environmental; Soil Pollutants; Beta vulgaris; Cadmium; Environmental Monitoring

A field study was conducted to evaluate the phytoremediation efficiency of cadmium (Cd) contaminated soil utilizing the Cd hyperaccumulator Beta vulgaris L. var. cicla during one growing season (about 2 months) on farmland in Zhangshi Irrigation Area, the representative wastewater irrigation area in China. Results showed that B. vulgaris L. var. cicla is a promising plant in the phytoremediation of Cd contaminated farmland soil. The maximum of Cd phytoremediation efficiency by B. vulgaris L. var. cicla reached 144.6 mg/ha during one growing season. Planting density had a significant effect on the plant biomass and the overall Cd phytoremediation efficiency (p < 0.05). The amendment of organic manure promoted the biomass increase of B. vulgaris L. var. cicla (p < 0.05) but inhibited the Cd phytoremediation efficiency.