Phytostabilization of a Pb-contaminated mine tailing by various tree species in pot and field trial experiments

Abstract

The potential of 6 tree species (Leucaena leucocephala, Acacia mangium, Peltophorum pterocarpum, Pterocarpus macrocarpus, Lagerstroemia floribunda, Euca lyptus camaldulensis) for phytoremediation of Pb in sand tailings (total Pb > 9850 mg kg -1 ) from KEMCO Pb mine in Kanchanaburi province, Thailand, were investigated employing a pot experiment (3 months) and field trial experiment (12 months). In pot study E. camaldulensis treated with Osmocote fertilizer attained the highest total biomass (15.3 g plant -1 ) followed by P. pterocarpum (12.6 g plant -1 ) and A. mangium (10.8 g plant -1 ) both treated with cow manure. Cow manure application resulted in the highest root Pb accumulation ( > 10000 mg kg -1 ) in L. floribunda and P. macrocarpus. These two species also exhibited the highest Pb uptake (85-88 mg plant -1 ). Results from field trial also showed that Osmocote promoted the best growth performance in E. camaldulensis (biomass 385.7 g plant -1 , height 141.7 cm) followed by A. mangium (biomass 215.9 g plant -1 , height 102.7 cm), and they also exhibited the highest Pb uptake (600-800 μg plant -1 ). A. mangium with the addition of organic fertilizer was the best option for phytostabilization of Pb-contaminated mine tailing because it retained higher Pb concentration in the roots. © 2012 Taylor and Francis Group, LLC.