Abstract:
Objective Enhancing effect of chemical fertilizers on the phytoextraction of king grass (Pennisetum sinese Roxb) on cadmium (Cd) in contaminated soil were evaluated.
Method Chemical fertilizers, i.e., NH4Cl, KCl, and CO(NH2)2, at the rate of 0.6 kg·m−2 were applied, along with control, to the soil nearby a cadmium-contaminated mining field for the experimentation.
Result The fertilizations significantly increased the aboveground biomass of the king grass in 150 d (P<0.05). The addition of NH4Cl or KCl raised the Cd concentration in the grass leaves (P<0.05), but CO(NH2)2 showed no significant effect. Comparing with control, which had a Cd-accumulation in grass leaves of 6.52 mg·plant−1, NH4Cl increased the accumulation by 70.19%, CO(NH2)2 by 43.58%, and KCl by 59.05%. The NH4Cl addition significantly rose the coefficients of Cd transfer from land and bioconcentration in grass. Significantly, these fertilizers improved the efficiency of Cd removal from soil by king grass reducing the time for the pollution remediation. The Cd-removal in 90-150 d was 1.13-2.58 times greater than that in 1-90 d. It was estimated that a 150 d harvest cycle and twice a year on king grass planted in the Cd-contaminated field fertilized with NH4Cl could turn the soil to meet the minimum national safety requirements of pH≤5.5 and Cd≤0.3 mg·kg−1 in 9.07 years.
Conclusion It was recommended twice a year of 150 d harvest cycle with NH4Cl-fertilization be applied on the Cd-contaminated soil to mitigate the pollution in soil.