CADMIUM PHYTOREMEDIATION POTENTIAL OF ELEPHANT GRASS CULTIVATED ON CADMIUM POLLUTED LAND.

The objective of current study was to explore the phytochemical potential of elephant grass cultivated on cadmium (Cd) polluted soil of Hunan Providence, China. Results of current study explored that the plant height, yield and tiller number were similar in elephant grass planted on soil with different Cd concentration (P>0.05). In stem, the Cd contents increased from 0.80±0.14 mg·kg^-1 to 5.67±4.25 mg·kg^-1 with the increase of the soil Cd contents from 1.68 mg·kg^-1 to 2.99 mg·kg^-1 (P<0.05), while the Cd contents in stem decreased from 3.26±1.89 mg·kg^-1 to 1.24±0.30 mg·kg^-1 with further increase in the soil Cd concentration from 5.34 mg·kg^-1 to 9.37 mg·kg^-1 (P<0.05). Similar trends of results were observed for Cd contents in leaves and roots of elephant grass (P<0.05). Bioconcentration factor (BCF) results showed that BCF of Cd in stem, leaves, roots and whole plant of elephant grass initially increased when Cd concentration of soil increased from 1.68 mg·kg^-1 to 2.99 mg·kg^-1 (P<0.05), while the BCF of Cd in stem, leaves, roots and whole plant of elephant grass decreased with further increased of Cd concentration of soil (P<0.05) and the lowest BCF of Cd in stem, leaves, roots and whole plant of elephant grass was observed when the Cd concentration of soil was 9.37 mg·kg^-1 (P<0.05). Translocation factor (TF) results showed that TF initially increased when Cd concentration of soil increased from 1.68 mg·kg^-1 to 2.99 mg·kg^-1 (P<0.05), while the TF decreased with further increased of Cd concentration of soil (P<0.05) and the lowest TF of was observed when the Cd concentration of soil was 9.37 mg·kg-1 (P<0.05). Cadmium distribution coefficient results of stem explored that soil Cd concentration did not influence the Cd distribution coefficient of stem (P>0.05). Similarly, Cd distribution coefficient results of leaves explored that soil Cd concentration from 1.68 mg·kg^-1 to 5.34 mg·kg-1 did not influence the Cd distribution coefficient of leaves (P>0.05), however, Cd concentration 9.37 mg·kg^-1 in the soil significantly decreased the Cd distribution coefficient of leaves (P<0.05). Based on results of current study, it could be suggested that Cd polluted land in Hunan province of China could be repaired by planting elephant grass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]