Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Evaluating heavy metal concentration of plants on a serpentine site for phytoremediation applications

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Environmental Earth Sciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The chemical analysis of plants and soils is a frequently used approach in understanding a serpentine ecosystem. Studies on vegetation growth in serpentine soils focused on various plant species for remediation purposes of soil contamination with heavy metals, emphasizing their role in the metal extraction or stabilization in the soil. The aims of this study were to measure the concentrations of Cr, Mn, and Ni in the soils and plants and to elucidate the phytoremediation potential of the studied plants. This study was performed at an abandoned site of serpentine mining in eastern Taiwan. Seven plant species were collected for analysis of Cr, Mn, and Ni, including Crotalaria micans, Miscanthus floridulus, Leucaena leucocephala, Bidens pilosa, Pueraria lobata, Melilotus indicus, and Conyza canadensis. The Cr and Ni concentrations in all studied plants were higher than those in general plants. In all species, the mean concentrations of Cr, Mn, and Ni in the shoots were lower than those in the root. None of the collected specimens exhibited hyperaccumulation of Cr, Mn, and Ni. All studied species may be used to remediate contaminated soils through phytostabilization of Cr and Mn, whereas M. floridulus and M. indicus are appropriate plants for phytostabilization of Ni. However, C. micans, L. leucocephala, B. pilosa, P. lobata, and C. canadensis have the potential to remove Ni from contaminated soils for the purpose of phytoextraction.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Alexander EB, Coleman RG, Keeler-Wolf T, Harrison S (2007) Serpentine geoecology of western North America. Oxford University Press, New York, p 512

    Google Scholar 

  • Angle JS, Baker AJM, Whiting SN, Chaney RL (2003) Soil moisture effects on uptake of metal by Thlaspi and Alyssum. Plant Soil 256:325–332

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baker AJM (1981) Accumulators and excluders—strategies in the response of plants to heavy metals. J Plant Nutr 3:643–654

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baker DE, Amacher MC (1982) Nickel, copper, zinc, and cadmium. In: Page AL, Miller, RH, Keeney DR (eds) Methods of soil analysis, Part 2. Chemical and microbiological properties, Agronomy Monograph 9, second edn. Agronomy Society of America and Soil Science Society of America, Madison, Wisconsin, pp 323–336

  • Baker AJM, Proctor J, Reeves RD (1992) The vegetation of ultramafic (serpentine) soils. Intercept, Andover, p 509

    Google Scholar 

  • Baker AJM, McGrath SP, Reeves RS, Smith JAC (2000) Metal hyperaccumulator plant: a review of the ecology and physiology of a biological resource for phytoremediation of metal-polluted soils. In: Terry N, Bannelos GN (eds) Phytoremediation of contaminated soil and water. Lewis, New York, pp 85–107

    Google Scholar 

  • Berazain R, Fuente V, Sanchez-Mata D, Rufo L, Rodriguez N, Amils R (2007) Nickel localization on tissues of hyperaccumulator species of Phyllanthus L. (Euphorbiaceae) from ultramafic areas of Cuba. Biol Trace Elem Res 115:67–86

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brady KU, Kruckeberg AR, Bradshaw HD Jr (2005) Evolutionary ecology of plant adaptation to serpentine soils. Ann Rev Ecol Evol Syst 36:243–266

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brooks RR (1987) Serpentine and its vegetation: a multidisciplinary approach. Croom Helm, London, p 454

    Google Scholar 

  • Brooks RR (1998) Plants that hyperaccumulate heavy metals: their role in phytoremediation, microbiology, archaeology, mineral exploration and phytomining. CAB International, New York, p 380

    Google Scholar 

  • Chardot V, Massoura ST, Echevarria G, Reeves RD, Morel JL (2005) Phytoextraction potential of the nickel hyperaccumulators Leptoplax emarginata and Bornmuellera tymphaea. Intern J Phytoremed 7:323–335

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cheng CH, Jien SH, Tsai H, Chang YH, Chen YC, Hseu ZY (2009) Geochemical element differentiation in serpentine soils from the ophiolite complexes, eastern Taiwan. Soil Sci 174:283–291

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cheng CH, Jien SH, Iizuka Y, Tsai H, Chang YS, Hseu ZY (2011) Pedogenic chromium and nickel partitioning in serpentine soils along a toposequence. Soil Sci Soc Am J 75:659–668

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cunningham SD, Ow DW (1996) Promises and prospects of phytoremediation. Plant Physiol 110:715–719

    Google Scholar 

  • Economou-Eliopoulos M, Megremi I, Vasilatos C (2011) Factors controlling the heterogeneous distribution of Cr(VI) in soil, plants and groundwater: Evidence from the Assopos basin, Greece. Chem Erde 71:39–52

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fan KC, Hsi HC, Chen CW, Lee HL, Hseu ZY (2011) Cadmium tolerance and accumulation in the seedlings of mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla) for phytoextraction implications. J Environ Manag 92:2818–2822

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gee GW, Bauder JW (1986) Particle-size analysis. In: Klut A (ed) Methods of soil analysis, Part 1. Physical and mineralogical methods. Agronomy Monograph 9, second edn. Agronomy Society of America and Soil Science Society of America, Madison, Wisconsin, pp 383–411

  • Ghaderian SM, Baker AJM (2007) Geobotanical and biogeochemical reconnaissance of the ultramafics of Central Iran. J Geochem Explor 92:34–42

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ho CS (1988) An introduction to the geology of Taiwan: explanatory text of the geologic map of Taiwan, 2nd edn. Central Geological Survey, Taipei, Taiwan

    Google Scholar 

  • Hseu ZY (2006) Concentration and distribution of chromium and nickel fractions along a serpentinitic toposequence. Soil Sci 171:341–353

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnston WR, Proctor J (1981) Growth of serpentine and non-serpentine races of Festuca rubra in solutions simulating the chemical conditions in a toxic serpentine soil. J Ecol 69:855–869

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kabata-Pendias A, Pendias H (2001) Trace elements in soils and plants. CRC Press, New York, p 413

    Google Scholar 

  • Keller C, Hammer D (2004) Efficiency of repeated phytoextraction with Thlaspi caerulescens in Cd and Zn contaminated soils on soil toxicity and metal availability. Environ Pollut 131:243–254

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lasat MM (2002) Phytoextraction of toxic metals: a review of biological mechanisms. J Environ Qual 31:109–120

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lázaro DJ, Kidd PS, Martínez CM (2006) A phytogeochemical study of the Tras-os-Montes region (NE Portugal): possible species for plant-based soil remediation technologies. Sci Total Environ 354:265–277

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lindsay WL, Norvell WA (1978) Development of DTPA soil test for Zn, Fe, Mn, Cu. Soil Sci Soc Am J 42:421–428

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McGrath SP, Zhao F (2003) Phytoextraction of metals and metalloids from contaminated soils. Current Opin Biotechnol 14:277–282

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McLean EO (1982) Soil pH and lime requirement. In: Page AL, Miller RH, Keeney DR, (eds) Methods of soil analysis, Part 2. Chemical and microbiological properties, Agronomy Monograph 9, second edn. Agronomy Society of America and Soil Science Society of America, Madison, Wisconsin, pp 199–224

  • Mengoni A, Schat H, Vangronsveld J (2010) Plants as extreme environments? Ni-resistant bacteria and Ni-hyperaccumulators of serpentine flora. Plant Soil 331:5–16

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nelson DW, Sommers LE (1982) Total carbon, organic carbon, and organic matter. In: Page AL, Miller RH, Keeney DR (eds) Methods of soil analysis, Part 2. Chemical and microbiological properties, Agronomy Monograph 9, second edition. Agronomy Society of America and Soil Science Society of America, Madison, Wisconsin, pp 539–577

  • O’Hanley DS (1996) Serpentinites: records of tectonic and petrological history. Oxford University Press, New York, p 277

    Google Scholar 

  • Rascio N, Navari-Izzo F (2011) Heavy metal hyperaccumulating plants: how and why do they do it? And what makes them so interesting? Plant Sci 180:169–181

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reeves RD, Baker AJM, Borhidi A, Berazaìn R (1999) Nickel hyperaccumulation in the serpentine flora of Cuba. Ann Bot 83:29–38

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reeves RD, Baker AJM, Romeco R (2007) The ultramafic flora of the Santa Elena peninsula, Costa Rica: a biogeochemical reconnaissance. J Geochem Explor 93:153–159

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rhoades JD (1982) Cation exchange capacity. In: Page AL, Miller RH, Keeney DR (eds) Methods of soil analysis. Part 2. Chemical and microbiological properties, Agronomy Monograph 9, second edn. Agronomy Society of America and Soil Science Society of America, Madison, Wisconsin, pp 149–157

  • Roberts BA, Proctor J (1992) The ecology of areas with serpentinized rocks—a world view. Kluwer, Dordrecht, the Netherlands

  • Shanker AK, Cervantes C, Loza-Tavera H, Avudainayagam S (2005) Chromium toxicity in plants. Environ Intern 31:735–753

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tang T, Miller DM (1991) Growth and tissue composition of rice grown in soil treated with inorganic copper, nickel, and arsenic. Commun Soil Sci Plant Anal 22:2037–2045

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang X, Liu Y, Zeng G, Chai L, Xiao X, Song X, Min Z (2008) Pedological characteristics of Mn mine tailings and metal accumulation by native plants. Chemosphere 72:1260–1266

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wu Y, Hendershot WH (2010) The effect of calcium and pH on nickel accumulation in and rhizotoxicity to pea (Pisum sativum L.) root–empirical relationships and modelling. Environ Pollut 158:1850–1856

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zacchini M, Pietrini F, Mugnozza GS, Iori V, Pietrosanti L, Massacci A (2009) Metal tolerance, accumulation and translocation in poplar and willow clones treated with cadmium in hydroponics. Water Air Soil Pollut 197:23–34

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors thank the National Science Council of the Republic of China, Taiwan, for financially supporting this research under Contract No. NSC 96-2313-B-020-010-MY3 and NSC 99-2313-B-020-010-MY3.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Pingtung, 91201, Taiwan

    Cheng-Ping Ho, Zeng-Yei Hseu & Nien-Chu Chen

  2. Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, National I-Lan University, I-Lan, 26501, Taiwan

    Chen-Chi Tsai

Authors
  1. Cheng-Ping Ho
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Zeng-Yei Hseu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Nien-Chu Chen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Chen-Chi Tsai
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Zeng-Yei Hseu.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Ho, CP., Hseu, ZY., Chen, NC. et al. Evaluating heavy metal concentration of plants on a serpentine site for phytoremediation applications. Environ Earth Sci 70, 191–199 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-012-2115-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-012-2115-z

Keywords

Search

Navigation