Potential of Forage Grasses in Phytoremediation of Lead through Production of Phytoliths in Contaminated Soils

Múcio Magno de Melo Farnezi, Enilson de Barros Silva (), Lauana Lopes dos Santos, Alexandre Christofaro Silva, Paulo Henrique Grazziotti, Luís Reynaldo Ferracciú Alleoni, Wesley Costa Silva, Angela Aparecida Santos, Flávio Antônio Fernandes Alves, Iracema Raquel Santos Bezerra and Li Chaves Miranda
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Múcio Magno de Melo Farnezi: Department of Forestry, Federal University of the Jequitinhonha and Mucuri Valley (UFVJM), Campus JK, Diamantina 39100-000, Minas Gerais State, Brazil
Enilson de Barros Silva: Department of Agronomy, Federal University of the Jequitinhonha and Mucuri Valley (UFVJM), Campus JK, Diamantina 39100-000, Minas Gerais State, Brazil
Lauana Lopes dos Santos: Department of Agronomy, Federal University of the Jequitinhonha and Mucuri Valley (UFVJM), Campus JK, Diamantina 39100-000, Minas Gerais State, Brazil
Alexandre Christofaro Silva: Department of Forestry, Federal University of the Jequitinhonha and Mucuri Valley (UFVJM), Campus JK, Diamantina 39100-000, Minas Gerais State, Brazil
Paulo Henrique Grazziotti: Department of Forestry, Federal University of the Jequitinhonha and Mucuri Valley (UFVJM), Campus JK, Diamantina 39100-000, Minas Gerais State, Brazil
Luís Reynaldo Ferracciú Alleoni: Department of Soil Science, ESALQ, University of São Paulo, Piracicaba 13418-900, São Paulo State, Brazil
Wesley Costa Silva: Department of Agronomy, Federal University of the Jequitinhonha and Mucuri Valley (UFVJM), Campus JK, Diamantina 39100-000, Minas Gerais State, Brazil
Angela Aparecida Santos: Department of Agronomy, Federal University of the Jequitinhonha and Mucuri Valley (UFVJM), Campus JK, Diamantina 39100-000, Minas Gerais State, Brazil
Flávio Antônio Fernandes Alves: Department of Agronomy, Federal University of the Jequitinhonha and Mucuri Valley (UFVJM), Campus JK, Diamantina 39100-000, Minas Gerais State, Brazil
Iracema Raquel Santos Bezerra: Department of Agronomy, Federal University of the Jequitinhonha and Mucuri Valley (UFVJM), Campus JK, Diamantina 39100-000, Minas Gerais State, Brazil
Li Chaves Miranda: Engineering, Federal Institute of Minas Gerais, Campus Bambuí, Bambuí 38900-000, Minas Gerais State, Brazil

Land, 2022, vol. 12, issue 1, 1-10

Abstract: Phytoremediation has become a promising technique for cleaning Pb-contaminated soils. Grasses have a phytoextractor potential for extracting metal from soil by transporting it and accumulating it in high concentrations in their shoots, and they have the ability to immobilize and inactivate it via phytoliths. The objective of this work was to evaluate the phytoremediation potential of forage grasses through the production of phytoliths and the occlusion of Pb in the phytoliths cultivated in Pb-contaminated soils. Three greenhouse experiments were conducted in a completely randomized design, separated by soil type (Typical Hapludox, Xanthic Hapludox and Rhodic Hapludox), in a 3 × 4 factorial scheme consisting of three forage grasses ( Megathyrsus maximus , Urochloa brizantha and Urochloa decumbens ) and four Pb rates (0, 45, 90 and 270 mg kg −1 ) with four repetitions. The forage grasses were influenced by increases in the Pb concentrations in the soils. The higher Pb availability in Typic Quartzipsamment promoted Pb toxicity, as indicated by the reduced dry weights of the shoots, increased phytolith production in the shoots, increased Pb in the shoots and Pb occlusion in the phytoliths of the forage grasses. The production and Pb capture in the phytoliths in the grasses in the Pb-contaminated soils were related to the genetic and physiological differences in the forage grasses and the Pb availability in the soils. Urochloa brizantha was the most tolerant forage to the excess Pb, with a higher production of phytoliths and higher Pb occlusion in the phytoliths, making it a forage grass that can be used in the future for the phytoremediation of Pb-contaminated soils.

Keywords: Urochloa; Megathyrsus maximus; lead; biomineralization; Entisol; Oxisol (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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