Phytoextraction is a promising technique for the remediation of soils contaminated by metals and metalloids and is proposed as a green alternative to conventional remediation methods. This paper reports the preliminary results of a field study carried out to evaluate the potential of the fern Pteris vittata for the phytoremediation of arsenic polluted sites. P. vittata is a known arsenic hyperaccumulator and its properties have been assessed in a number of studies, mainly at laboratory or glasshouse scale, while few field investigations are reported in the literature. The experimental activity was planned to compare and evaluate the effect of different conditions on plant growth and on as uptake by P. vittata. The study area is located in northeastern Italy. During the experimental period, pedoclimatic conditions were shown to affect strongly plant growth as well as As bioaccumulation. The results of two consecutive field trials confirm the phytoextraction ability of P. vittata under field conditions, but indicate also that the optimization of agronomic practices is crucial for the success of a phytoextraction application at fullscale. The inoculation of ferns with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi seems to have a positive influence on plant growth, while its role on phytoextraction efficiency still remains unclear.
Phytoremediation potential of the arsenic hyperaccumulator Pteris vittata: preliminary results from a field study
BETTIOL, Cinzia;MINELLO, FABIOLA;GOBBO, Lorena;ARGESE, Emanuele
2012-01-01
Abstract
Phytoextraction is a promising technique for the remediation of soils contaminated by metals and metalloids and is proposed as a green alternative to conventional remediation methods. This paper reports the preliminary results of a field study carried out to evaluate the potential of the fern Pteris vittata for the phytoremediation of arsenic polluted sites. P. vittata is a known arsenic hyperaccumulator and its properties have been assessed in a number of studies, mainly at laboratory or glasshouse scale, while few field investigations are reported in the literature. The experimental activity was planned to compare and evaluate the effect of different conditions on plant growth and on as uptake by P. vittata. The study area is located in northeastern Italy. During the experimental period, pedoclimatic conditions were shown to affect strongly plant growth as well as As bioaccumulation. The results of two consecutive field trials confirm the phytoextraction ability of P. vittata under field conditions, but indicate also that the optimization of agronomic practices is crucial for the success of a phytoextraction application at fullscale. The inoculation of ferns with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi seems to have a positive influence on plant growth, while its role on phytoextraction efficiency still remains unclear.File | Dimensione | Formato | |
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