title: Aided phytostabilization using Miscanthus sinensis × giganteus on heavy metal-contaminated soils.
abstract: A field experiment was carried out to evaluate the use of red mud, a by-product of the alumina industry, as a soil amendment on highly contaminated soils in the vicinity of a former Pb-Zn smelter in Copșa Mică (Romania). Changes in the distribution of Zn, Cd and Pb in various soil fractions, mobility of heavy metals in the soil, and their uptake and effects on growth and productivity of Miscanthus sinensis × giganteus were evaluated. Uptake of Zn, Cd and Pb was determined in different tissues of M. sinensis × giganteus cultivated in field plots situated at increasing distance from the pollution source and with different levels of contamination and metal availabilities. Soluble metal concentrations were determined in centrifugates, whereas potentially soluble fractions were analyzed by diffusive gradients in thin films. In terms of the biomass productivity there were significant differences among the plants obtained in plots with different characteristics and pollution levels. Bioconcentration factors were much lower than 1, indicating that M. sinensis × giganteus is an excluder of heavy metals, especially Pb. Amending soils with red mud reduced the exchangeable or phytoavailable fractions of Zn, Cd and Pb. Overall the results suggest that M. sinensis × giganteus is a valuable energy plant and can be successfully grown on heavily contaminated soils with Zn, Cd and Pb. Moreover, the addition of red mud to these soils can lead to a significant decrease in the concentration of heavy metals in the soil and in metal uptake by plant tissues.
authors.affiliation: "Lucian Blaga" University of Sibiu, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Food Industry and Environmental Protection, 7-9 Ioan Ratiu St., 550012 Sibiu, Romania; University "Politehnica" of Bucharest, Faculty of Applied Chemistry and Materials Science, Department of Analytical Chemistry and Environmental Engineering, 1-7 Polizu Street, 011061 Bucharest, Romania.
authors.forename: Petronela-Bianca
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Pavel
authors.affiliation: University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna, Department of Forest and Soil Sciences, Konrad Lorenz Straße 24, A-3430 Tulln, Austria. Electronic address: markus.puschenreiter@boku.ac.at.
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Puschenreiter
authors.affiliation: University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna, Department of Forest and Soil Sciences, Konrad Lorenz Straße 24, A-3430 Tulln, Austria.
authors.forename: Walter W
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: Wenzel
authors.affiliation: University "Politehnica" of Bucharest, Faculty of Applied Chemistry and Materials Science, Department of Analytical Chemistry and Environmental Engineering, 1-7 Polizu Street, 011061 Bucharest, Romania.
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Diacu
authors.affiliation: "Lucian Blaga" University of Sibiu, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Food Industry and Environmental Protection, 7-9 Ioan Ratiu St., 550012 Sibiu, Romania.
authors.forename: Constantin Horia
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Barbu
mesh_terms: D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis*; D008906:Mining; D006109:Poaceae / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology*; D012383:Romania; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D019216:Metals, Heavy; D012987:Soil; D012989:Soil Pollutants
keywords: DGT; Immobilization; Metal extractability; Miscanthus sinensis×giganteus; Red mud; Sequential extraction