Phytoremediation of heavy metals (Cr and Pb) from sewage irrigated soil of tropical sub-humid region of Indo-Gangetic plain using Amaranthus viridis Vishwakarma Himanchal*, Mani Dinesh, Shukla Devi Prasad, Sahu Vipin Sheila Dhar Institute of Soil Science, Department of Chemistry, University of Allahabad, Prayagraj-211 002, (U. P.) India *(e-mail: himanchal6390@gmail.com)
Online published on 2 August, 2023. Abstract This study was conducted to find out the potential of Amaranthus viridis for the phytoremediation of heavy metals (Cr and Pb) grown on sewage irrigated site. The status of heavy metals in sewage irrigated soil was observed as Pb 4.91±0.96 mg/kg and Cr 3.48±0.51 mg/kg maximum in Buxibandh site and minimum concentration 2.11±0.19 mg/kg and Cr 1.82±0.19 mg/kg in Phaphamau sites. A. viridis grown on a sewage irrigated soils recorded maximum accumulation of Cr ranging from 4.23±0.28-4.11±0.15 mg/kg and minimum concentration 2.52±0.05-2.34±0.05 mg/kg in Buxibandh and Phaphamau respectively and maximum accumulation of Pb 4.4±10.52-4.27±0.39 mg/kg and minimum accumulation 2.89±0.04-2.43±0.06 mg/kg in root and shoot, respectively. The result shows the maximum potential of accumulation Pb 4.41±0.52 mg/kg followed by Cr 4.23±0.28 mg/kg in Buxibandh sewage irrigated site. The maximum dry biomass yield of A. viridis plants was recorded in Phaphamau sewage irrigated site of Cr and Pb sewage irrigated soils ranging 3.8±0.5-4.9±0.7 g/plant and 36±5-39±4.4 g/plant, respectively, while the minimum dry biomass yield as 2.5±0.4-2.8±0.4 g/plant and 26±1.2-28±3.9 g/plant in shoot and root, respectively, at Buxibandh sewage irrigated site. The accumulation of heavy metals hampered plant development and nutrients bioavailability. Furthermore, their bioconcentration factor (BCF) and translocation factor (TF) >1.0 indicated the hyperaccumulation efficiency of plants ranges of Cr and Pb was recorded 1.33±0.04- 1.06±0.05 mg/kg and 1.03±0.02-1.12±0.1 mg/kg, respectively. The result proved that the A. viridis had a great potential to remove heavy metals from sewage irrigated soils. Top Keywords Accumulation, Amaranthus viridis, Heavy metal, Phytoremediation, Sewage irrigated soils. Top |