Uptake of Heavy Metals and Other Elements by Emilia sonchifolia Grown on an Overburden in Ultramafic Soil from Sorowako, Indonesia
Authors
Aiyen B. Tjoa
Author
Henry N. Barus
Co-author
Agrotechnology of Agriculture Faculty, Tadulako University, Palu 94118, Indonesia
*Corresponding author: [email protected]
ABSTRACT
Building a phytomining field on overburden (mining waste material) without a top soil laid on it is the aim of the commercial phytomining. Developing commercial phytomining on this overburden will consequently lower the operational cost of this method of mining. Few compositae species such as Emilia sonchifolia have a good adaptation in ultramafic sites in Sorowako and accumulate 190-280 mg kg-1 of Ni. Few compositae species such as Emilia sonchifolia have a good adaptation in ultramafic sites such as Emilia sonchifolia in Sorowako and accumulate 190-280 mg kg-1 of Ni. A pot experiment was conducted to test the efficacy of E.sonchifolia in acquiring Ni and others elements from top soils and overburden soils (limonitic and saprolitic laterite) derived from of ultramafic rocks treated with and without chicken manure (w/w 1 g kg-1). Total Ni concentration in the topsoil, limonitic and saprolitic laterite were 7.051, 7.884, and 10.524 mg kg-1, respectively. The shoots were collected at 50 days after transplanting and analyzed for their Ni, Cr, Zn, Fe, K and Mg contents. Emilia sp produced significantly higher shoot dried biomass and contained higher Zn concentration when grown in topsoil on both treatments. But Ni, Cr and Mg concentrations and contents were higher in saprolitic laterite. Ni concentration in manure treated topsoil, limonitic and saprolitic laterite was 12.5, 30.7 and 254.5 mg kg-1 and in the non-treated was 14.7, 29.7 and 210.7 mg kg-1, respectively. Iron was the only element that decreased in concentration when chicken manure was applied. Potassium contents were not different in all soils and treatments. Although E.sonchifolia produced 2-5 folds greater shoots in topsoils and limonitic laterites (overburden) than in saprolitic overburden, but the rate of Ni removal was higher in the latter due to much higher concentration of Ni in this soil.