Impact of coal mine dump contaminated soils on elemental uptake by Spinacia oleracea (spinach).
The elemental uptake and the growth response of Spinacia oleracea (spinach) to the soil contaminated with the South African bituminous coal mine dump soil, viz. 0%, 5%, 15%, and 25% w/w, was investigated. The contaminated soils were analyzed for pH, cation exchange capacity (CEC), soil organic matter (SOM), and concentrations of selected heavy metals. The pH, SOM, and CEC decreased with an increase in contamination indicating the acidic nature of coal mine soil and the raise in the soil binding sites. The distribution of Fe, Mn, Ni, Cd, and Pb in the in roots and leaves of the plants was determined in two stages of plant growth. Spinach showed high accumulation of Fe and increased levels of Ni and Cd with an increase in contamination. No plant growth was recorded with 25% contamination.
School of Chemistry, Westville Campus, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa.
Viren
V
Chunilall
Andrew
A
Kindness
Sreekanth B
SB
Jonnalagadda
D002104:Cadmium / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D003031:Coal / Q000009:adverse effects; D003032:Coal Mining; D003257:Consumer Product Safety; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000032:analysis*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007854:Lead / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D008628:Mercury / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D009532:Nickel / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D018724:Spinacia oleracea / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D013997:Time Factors
D003031:Coal; D019216:Metals, Heavy; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D002104:Cadmium; D007854:Lead; D009532:Nickel; D008628:Mercury