Features of the Phytoremediation by Agricultural Crops of Heavy Metal Contaminated Soils

Abstract

The novelty of the present research consisted in the study of the features of heavy metals accumulation in the phytomass of agricultural plants under the conditions of complex heavy metals contamination of podzolized chernozem (ashy soil) in the Ryazan region (Russia). Results of the vegetation experiments conducted on four crops—oats, black beans, buckwheat, and soybeans—were analyzed, which made it possible to assess the ability of these plants to accumulate heavy metals in their phytomass depending on the level of the heavy metals contamination of the soil. Results of the study showed that the removal of copper, zinc, and lead by beans was noticeably higher than that by oats, buckwheat and soy, due to their greater tolerance and ability to form a large phytomass, which must be taken into consideration when choosing phytoremediation for soil decontamination. This made it possible to evaluate the possibility of using the analyzed plants for the biological purification of polluted soil. The results are also planned to be used in the digitalization of agricultural production.