In this study, we explored the effect of salinity on cadmium (Cd) tolerance and phytoremediation potential of Acacia nilotica. Two-month-old uniform plants of A. nilotica were grown in pots contaminated with various levels of Cd (0, 5, 10, and 15 mg kg), NaCl (0%, 0.5%, 1.0% (hereafter referred as salinity), and all possible combinations of Cd + salinity for a period of six months. Results showed that shoot and root growth, biomass, tissue water content and chlorophyll (chl a, chl b, and total chl a+b) contents decreased more in response to salinity and combination of Cd + salinity compared to Cd alone. Shoot and root K concentrations significantly decreased with increasing soil Cd levels, whereas Na and Cl concentrations were not affected significantly. Shoot and root Cd concentrations, bioconcentration factor (BCF) and translocation factor (TF) increased with increasing soil Cd and Cd + salinity levels. At low level of salinity (0.5%), shoot and root Cd uptake enhanced, while it decreased at high level of salinity (1.0%). Due to Cd tolerance, high shoot biomass and shoot Cd uptake, this tree species has some potential for phytoremediation of Cd from the metal contaminated saline and nonsaline soils.

Phytoremediation is the most promising approach for the remediation of Cd contaminated soils. In the present study, Cd tolerance and phytoremediation potential of Conocarpus erectus and Eucalyptus camaldulensis, was evaluated in a pot experiment for a growth period of 6 months. Two-month-old plants of uniform size were transplanted in Cd-contaminated soil (0, 5, 10 and 15 mg kg-1), and their growth attributes, chlorophyll contents, root and shoot Cd concentration, bioconcentration factor (BCF) and translocation factor (TF) were determined. With increasing soil Cd levels, shoot and root biomass, leaf water and chlorophyll contents (chl a, chl b and total chl) of E. camaldulensis were decreased more than C. erectus. Shoot and root Cd concentrations as well as Cd uptake were more in C. erectus than E. camaldulensis. The TF was less than one for both plant species, while BCF was more than one. It is concluded that due to relatively higher Cd tolerance and greater capacity to retain higher concentration of Cd in roots, C. erectus is a better species than E. camaldulensis for phytostabilization of Cd contaminated soils.

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