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Cd accumulation and phytostabilization potential of dominant plants surrounding mining tailings

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Abstract

The objectives of the present study were to compare nine dominant plant species growing in mine tailings and nonmining areas in terms of biomass and Cd concentrations and to search for Cd accumulation and tolerance. Also, more detailed experiments were conducted on Athyrium wardii using a pot experiment to assure its Cd-accumulation ability and tolerance as a potential phytostabilizer of Cd-polluted soils. Nine dominant plant species growing on Pb/Zn mine tailings and their corresponding nonmining ecotypes were investigated for their potential to phytostabilize Cd. The performance of A. wardii exposed to high levels of Cd was investigated under controlled conditions. A field study revealed that the Cd concentrations in the roots of these plants ranged from 0.21 to 251.07 mg kg−1, and the highest concentrations were found in A. wardii, which reached a concentration of 69.78, 251.07, and 126.35 mg kg−1 during the early growth stage (May), vigorous growth stage (August), and late growth stage (October), respectively. The Cd concentrations of roots among the nine mining ecotypes were positively correlated with available content of Cd in the rhizosphere soils, whereas a negative correlation was observed in the nonmining ecotypes. A pot experiment showed that the mining ecotype of A. wardii had a higher biomass production and Cd retention capacity in roots than that of the nonmining ecotype. Due to the relatively high tolerance to Cd and the capacity of roots to retain this metal, A. wardii may be useful for the phytostabilization of soils contaminated by Cd.

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Acknowledgments

This work was financially supported by the Natural Science Foundation of China (40901138). The authors are thankful to Dr. C. Hu (Sichuan Agricultural University) for his help with plant determinations and to Margaret Cargill for her critical comments regarding the language and construction of the manuscript. We also thank Deyong Wu, Lin Ji, Xia Huang, Hongjiang Zhang, Xin Guo, Minying Liu, Xiaona Lv, Xuemei Yi, Jingzhou Sha, and Dan He of Sichuan Agricultural University for supporting the investigation and research work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Resources and Environmental Science, Sichuan Agricultural University, Huimin Road 211, Chengdu, 611130, Sichuan, China

    Shujin Zhang, Tingxuan Li, Huagang Huang, Xizhou Zhang, Haiying Yu, Zicheng Zheng & Yongdong Wang

  2. Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Polluted Environment Remediation and Ecological Health, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China

    Huagang Huang

  3. Environmental Monitoring Station, Zigong Environmental Protection Bureau, Tanmulin Street 75, Zigong, 643000, Sichuan, China

    Tongjing Zou

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  1. Shujin Zhang
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  2. Tingxuan Li
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Correspondence to Tingxuan Li.

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Zhang, S., Li, T., Huang, H. et al. Cd accumulation and phytostabilization potential of dominant plants surrounding mining tailings. Environ Sci Pollut Res 19, 3879–3888 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-012-1060-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-012-1060-4

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