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Effects of chelates (EDTA, EDDS, NTA) on phytoavailability of heavy metals (As, Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn) using ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.)

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Abstract

This paper summarises a study of the application of the synthetic chelate ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), and the natural chelates ethylenediamine-N,N′-disuccinic acid (EDDS) and nitrilotriacetate (NTA) to enhance ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) uptake of the heavy metal(oid)s (HMs) (As, Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn) from contaminated soils in mining sites. The study compares the effects of these chelates (EDTA, EDDS and NTA) on the phytoavailability of HMs (As, Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn) using ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) through the single addition and sequential addition methods. The results show that application of EDTA, EDDS and NTA significantly increases ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.)’s shoot uptake of some HMs when compared with no EDTA, EDDS or NTA application, particularly through sequential chelate treatment (EDTA 0.5:1+0.5:1; NTA 0.5:1+0.5:1; EDDS 0.5:1+0.5:1). EDTA 0.5:1+0.5:1 was more effective at increasing the concentration of Pb in shoots than were the other chelates (EDDS and NTA) and controls. Moreover, the concentrations of Zn in the shoots of ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) in Hich Village significantly increased with the application of split dose (0.5:1+0.5:1). The plants displayed symptoms of toxicity including yellow and necrotic leaves at the end of the experiment. The selected chelates (EDTA, EDDS and NTA) led to a significant decrease in plant biomass (yield) 28 days after transfer with a maximum decrease in EDTA treatment (0.5:1+0.5:1) soils. This decrease was 3.43-fold in Ha Thuong, 3-fold in Hich Village and 1.59-fold in Trai Cau, respectively, relative to the control. HM concentration and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in pore water provided an explanation for why fresh weight was significantly reduced with application of chelates in sequential dose (EDTA 0.5:1+0.5:1 and NTA 0.5:1+0.5:1).

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Data are availability from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

We acknowledge the assistance of the Inorganic Lab, Global Centre for Environmental Remediation (GCER) of University of Newcastle, Australia, for characterisation analysis and ICP-MS/ICP-EOS analysis. In addition, I extend my gratitude to the Australian Awards Scholarship and the Cooperative Research Centre for Contamination Assessment and Remediation of the Environment (CRC CARE) for their financial support.

Funding

Part of this work was carried out with the support of the Australian Awards Scholarship and the Cooperative Research Centre for Contamination Assessment and Remediation of the Environment (CRC CARE).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Environment, Thai Nguyen University of Agriculture and Forestry (TUAF), Thai Nguyen, Vietnam

    Nguyen Ngoc Son Hai & Nguyen Ngoc Nong

  2. Global Centre for Environmental Remediation (GCER), University of Newcastle and CRC for Contamination Assessment and Remediation of the Environment (CRCCARE), Newcastle, Australia

    Nguyen Ngoc Son Hai, Peter Sanderson, Fangjie Qi, Jianhua Du, Nanthi Bolan & Ravi Naidu

  3. School of Agriculture and Environment, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, 6001, Australia

    Nanthi Bolan

  4. The UWA Institute of Agriculture, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, 6001, Australia

    Nanthi Bolan

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  1. Nguyen Ngoc Son Hai
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Contributions

Dr. Nguyen Ngoc Son Hai carried out the research, data analysis and visualization and wrote the original draft. Other authors performed supervision and revisions of the manuscript as follows: Dr. Peter Sanderson for his guidance, helpful suggestions, and encouragement. He spent many hours providing me guidance both in the lab as well as with data analyses, statistical support and revising the manuscript. Dr. Fangjie for her kind support for equipments, mentorship, statistical support and logistic help to carry out this research. Dr. Jianhua Du for his patient guidance and support for plant experiments and methods for plant sample collection. Assoc. Prof. Nguyen Ngoc Nong for his guidance in collecting soil and plant samples in Vietnam and in preparing the sample to import to Australia and helpful suggestion during the research. Prof. Nanthi Bolan for his valuable suggestions, assistance regarding the research, guidance during experiments in the lab and in the glasshouse and encouragement. Prof. Ravi Naidu for his major guidance, encouragement, excellent advice and kindness support during the research and final revision.

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Correspondence to Nguyen Ngoc Son Hai.

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Hai, N.N.S., Sanderson, P., Qi, F. et al. Effects of chelates (EDTA, EDDS, NTA) on phytoavailability of heavy metals (As, Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn) using ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.). Environ Sci Pollut Res 29, 42102–42116 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-022-19877-6

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