Restoration of marginal soils polluted with heavy metals to agricultural production

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to assess the possibility of cultivation of maize (Zea mays L.) on marginal soils polluted by heavy metals. The research was conducted on a Stagnic Luvisol soil that varied in terms of pH and the degree of heavy metal (cadmium [Cd], copper [Cu], and zinc [Zn]) contamination. The usefulness of maize for cultivation on contaminated soils was assessed on the basis of indicators such as tolerance index (TI), translocation factor (TF), bioaccumulation coefficient (BAC), and bioconcentration factor (BCF). Heavy metals taken up by the maize plant are accumulated mainly in the roots and in a small amount transported to the aboveground parts of the plant. The series of decreasing concentration of heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Zn) in the dry mass of maize plants is as follows: roots > leaves > stalk > ears. The TF, BAC, and BCF values indicate that maize can be used for phytoextraction of metals such as Cd and Zn, and for phytostabilization of Cu in soils contaminated with this element.