Senna multijuga and peat in phytostabilization of copper in contaminated soil

Abstract

ABSTRACT Phytoremediation is a technique that uses plants, whether associated or not to ameliorating agents, for phytostabilization of contaminated soil. The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of Senna multijuga associated with peat in the phytostabilization of copper contaminated soil. The experiment was carried out in a greenhouse for 120 days, using an entirely randomized design in a factorial arrangement (2 x 6), with and without peat (200 mL L-1 soil) and six doses of copper (0, 60, 120, 180, 240, 300 mg kg-1), with six repetitions of each treatment. At 120 days after seedling, the plants were evaluated for height, stem diameter, root and aerial dry matter, contents and accumulated amount of copper in the root system and aerial part. Also, the Dickson quality indexes, as well as tolerance and translocation indexes were analyzed. The results showed that the use of 200 mL of peat L-1 of soil was inefficient as an ameliorating agent for copper-contaminated soil, but it acted as a soil conditioner, increasing the morphological parameters of S. multijuga. In its initial development period, the S. multijuga species presented low copper phytostabilization potential in contaminated soil.