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Relationship between rhizosphere acidification and phytoremediation in two acacia species

  • SOIL POLLUTION AND REMEDIATION
  • Published:
Journal of Soils and Sediments Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

Phytoremediation is the most sustainable and economical strategy for reclamation of the salt-affected soils. In order to investigate the relationship between phytoremediation and rhizosphere acidification, two experiments (greenhouse and field) were conducted using two acacia species viz. Acacia ampliceps and Acacia nilotica.

Materials and methods

In greenhouse experiment, both the species were exposed to 100 and 200 mM NaCl concentrations in solution culture. The release of organic acids from plant roots was determined after 14 and 28 days of the salt treatment. Shoot and root ash alkalinity was determined after harvesting the plants. In field experiment, both the species were grown on a saline sodic soil for 2 years. After every 6 months, plant growth data were recorded and soil samples were collected from different soil depths for physicochemical analyses.

Results and discussion

The results of greenhouse study indicated higher rhizosphere acidification by A. ampliceps than A. nilotica in terms of release of citric acid, malic acid, and tartaric acid along with ash alkalinity. The comparison of both the species in the field indicated higher amelioration in the soil properties like pHs, ECe, SAR, bulk density, and infiltration rate by A. ampliceps than A. nilotica.

Conclusions

It is concluded from these studies that A. ampliceps is more suitable species than A. nilotica for the phytoremediation of the salt-affected soils due to its higher rhizosphere acidification potential.

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Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial and technical support provided by the Endowment Fund Secretariat, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental Sciences, COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, Vehari, Pakistan

    Ghulam Abbas & Muhammad Shahid

  2. Institute of Soil and Environmental Sciences, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan

    Muhammad Saqib, Javaid Akhtar & Ghulam Murtaza

  3. Research and Development, Higher Education Commission of Pakistan, Islamabad, Pakistan

    Amjad Hussain

Authors
  1. Ghulam Abbas
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  2. Muhammad Saqib
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  3. Javaid Akhtar
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  4. Ghulam Murtaza
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  5. Muhammad Shahid
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  6. Amjad Hussain
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Correspondence to Ghulam Abbas.

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Responsible editor: Caixian Tang

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Abbas, G., Saqib, M., Akhtar, J. et al. Relationship between rhizosphere acidification and phytoremediation in two acacia species. J Soils Sediments 16, 1392–1399 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-014-1051-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-014-1051-9

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