Chemically Induced Phytoextraction of Lead (Pb) Contaminated Soil by Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.)
type: CreativeWork
description: Soils contaminated with lead (Pb) from human activities including industrial byproducts create an environmental and human health risk. Phytoextraction through chemical acquisition of Pb in soils offer a potentially cost effective and ecologically driven approach to remediation. Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) is known to have a tolerance for a wide range of heavy metals including Pb. Switchgrass is also able to grow in a wide range of climates. Soil chemistry manipulation, using chelates and plant growth promoters could provide an effective field method for phytoremediation using switchgrass. In this study chemically enhanced phytoextraction using the soil-fungicide Infuse (active ingredient propiconazole), the chelator nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA), and the phytohormones salicylic acid (SA) and benzylaminopurine (BAP) were tested on switchgrass grown in Pb contaminated soil from a former superfund site in Cedartown, GA. The soil chemical manipulation aimed at increasing the bioavailability and uptake of Pb by switchgrass. Previously, the chelate ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) was found to be effective in increasing the bioavailability of Pb in soils but the main problem with its use was a long persistent time in soils. The chelator NTA is a derivative of EDTA which has been found to persist for a much shorter length of time in soils comparatively and in this study, is tested as an alternative to EDTA. Switchgrass was planted in 5L pots containing Pb-contaminated soil and grown in the Kennesaw State University Research Greenhouse. Pots were given 200 ml of nutrient solution twice a week for six months. On 49 days after planting (dap), foliar application of the phytohormones salicylic acid and benzylaminopurine were sprayed on target plants twice a week. On 170 dap, Infuse solution was given to target plants. On 184 dap, the NTA solution was given to target plants twice a week for a one-month period. The NTA solution was brought to pH 5.5 using citric acid. I…
abstract: Soils contaminated with lead (Pb) from human activities including industrial byproducts create an environmental and human health risk. Phytoextraction through chemical acquisition of Pb in soils offer a potentially cost effective and ecologically driven approach to remediation. Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) is known to have a tolerance for a wide range of heavy metals including Pb. Switchgrass is also able to grow in a wide range of climates. Soil chemistry manipulation, using chelates and plant growth promoters could provide an effective field method for phytoremediation using switchgrass. In this study chemically enhanced phytoextraction using the soil-fungicide Infuse (active ingredient propiconazole), the chelator nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA), and the phytohormones salicylic acid (SA) and benzylaminopurine (BAP) were tested on switchgrass grown in Pb contaminated soil from a former superfund site in Cedartown, GA. The soil chemical manipulation aimed at increasing the bioavailability and uptake of Pb by switchgrass. Previously, the chelate ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) was found to be effective in increasing the bioavailability of Pb in soils but the main problem with its use was a long persistent time in soils. The chelator NTA is a derivative of EDTA which has been found to persist for a much shorter length of time in soils comparatively and in this study, is tested as an alternative to EDTA. Switchgrass was planted in 5L pots containing Pb-contaminated soil and grown in the Kennesaw State University Research Greenhouse. Pots were given 200 ml of nutrient solution twice a week for six months. On 49 days after planting (dap), foliar application of the phytohormones salicylic acid and benzylaminopurine were sprayed on target plants twice a week. On 170 dap, Infuse solution was given to target plants. On 184 dap, the NTA solution was given to target plants twice a week for a one-month period. The NTA solution was brought to pH 5.5 using citric acid. I…
author: Gilly, Austin
keywords: Switchgrass, Panicum virgatum, Phytoextraction, Nitrilotriacetic acid, Lead, Second generation bioenergy crop, Biology, Environmental Health, Integrative Biology, Other Pharmacology, Toxicology and Environmental Health
date published: 2020-11-12T08:00:00Z
date modified: 2026-07-24T02:43:42Z
provider: Kennesaw State University
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: Kennesaw State University