In Situ Evaluation of Crop Productivity and Bioaccumulation of Heavy Metals in Paddy Soils after Remediation of Metal-Contaminated Soils.
Soils contaminated with heavy metals have been reused for agricultural, building, and industrial uses following remediation. This study assesses plant growth and bioaccumulation of heavy metals following remediation of industrially contaminated soil. The soil was collected from a field site near a nonferrous smelter and was subjected to laboratory- and field-scale studies. Soil from the contaminated site was remediated by washing with acid or mixed with soil taken from a distant uncontaminated site. The activities of various soil exoenzymes, the rate of plant growth, and the bioaccumulations of six heavy metals were measured to assess the efficacy of these bioremediation techniques. Growth of rice (Oryza sativa) was unaffected in acid-washed soil or the amended soil compared to untreated soil from the contaminated site. The levels of heavy metals in the rice kernels remained within safe limits in treated and untreated soils. Rice, sorghum (Sorghum bicolor), and wheat (Triticum aestivum) cultivated in the same soils in the laboratory showed similar growth rates. Soil exoenzyme activities and crop productivity were not affected by soil treatment in field experiments. In conclusion, treatment of industrially contaminated soil by acid washing or amendment did not adversely affect plant productivity or lead to increased bioaccumulation of heavy metals in rice.
Department of Environmental Health Science, Konkuk University , Seoul 05029, Korea.
Shin Woong
SW
Kim
Department of Environmental Health Science, Konkuk University , Seoul 05029, Korea.
Yooeun
Y
Chae
Department of Environmental Health Science, Konkuk University , Seoul 05029, Korea.
Jongmin
J
Moon
Department of Environmental Health Science, Konkuk University , Seoul 05029, Korea.
Dokyung
D
Kim
Department of Environmental Health Science, Konkuk University , Seoul 05029, Korea.
Rongxue
R
Cui
Department of Environmental Engineering, Kunsan National University , Kunsan 54150, Korea.
Gyeonghyeon
G
An
Department of Environmental Engineering, Kunsan National University , Kunsan 54150, Korea.
Seung-Woo
SW
Jeong
Department of Environmental Health Science, Konkuk University , Seoul 05029, Korea.
Youn-Joo
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0193-1929
YJ
An
D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D018556:Crops, Agricultural / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000032:analysis*; D059022:Food Safety; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D012275:Oryza / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D056910:Republic of Korea; D012639:Seeds / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D045868:Sorghum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D014908:Triticum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism
D019216:Metals, Heavy; D012987:Soil; D012989:Soil Pollutants
amendment; contamination; field study; heavy metal; rice; soil remediation