Search

Agricultural soils lose their properties as a result of pollution caused by traffic, industry, agricultural activities, and urban activities. Among various techniques for the remediation of agricultural soils, phytoremediation is the most cost effective and applicable technique. Phyto extraction technique of phytoremediation has been applied with broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italica) in this study to remediate some heavy metals (Cd, Cr, and Pb). The study was carried out in controlled conditions in pots according to randomized blocks design using three replicates. Cadmium was applied as only cadmium (30 mg/kg), and together with a chelator as Cd (30 mg/kg) + EDTA, in triplicates. Chromium was applied as only chromium (10 mg/kg), and together with a chelator as Cr (10 mg/kg) +EDTA. Similarly, lead was applied as only lead (100 mg/kg), and together with a chelator as Pb (100 mg/kg) + EDTA. After 30 days of incubation, one broccoli was cultivated in each pot. Plants were harvested after 2 months of experimental period. Agro-morphological traits of the plants were measured. Some macro and micro nutrient elements and Cd, Cr and Pb elemental analyses were carried out from root and shoot pf the plants. Among the agro-morphological traits, plant wet weight was the highest in lead applied pots. This was statistically significant at 5% and they fell into different groups with control pots according to Duncan test. The highest root and shoot dry weights were detected in lead and chromium applied pots. Changes in chlorophyll contents were found to be statistically insignificant. The highest lead, cadmium and chromium contents in the body of broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italica) were found to be 14.0 mg/kg, 6.67 mg/kg and, 5.17 mg/kg, respectively, in the chelated applications. The order of accumulation in the root was Cr>Pb>Cd. The results revealed that this plant played a role in the remediation of lead>cadmium>chromium as a hyper accumulator plant, and broccoli grown in neutral soils could be used as a hyper accumulator plant in the phytoremediation technology.