PHYTOREMEDIATION OF CHROMIUM CONTAMINATED SOILS USING HELIANTHUS ANNUUS (SUNFLOWER)

摘要

Efficiency of Helianthus annuus and the role nutrients in the remediation of chromium from contaminated soil was investigated by using soil samples added with chromium at varying concentrations of 10,30 and 50 mg/kg and H. annuus grown to 6-8 weeks. The rate of germination of the seeds increased from 40 to 60 % and growth of sunflower plants increased two folds with the addition of nutrients. The efficiency of the phytoremediation of soil samples was found 72,96.3 and 77.8 % at the chromium concentration of 10,30 and 50 mg/kg, respectively. The plants grew well even in the presence of chromium and were capable of removing chromium in the contaminated soil. The germination rate, growth of the plants and removal of chromium by the plants were enhanced by the addition of nutrients to the contaminated soil. The relationship among germination, growth and remediation was directly proportional. The study revealed that the nutrients play an important role and enhance the phytoremediation process and sunflower plant may have the potential to act as phytoremediators of heavy metal contaminated soil.