Application of Organic Amendments to Cadmium-contaminated Soils for Phytostabilization Potential by Dicotyledonous Bioenergy Crops

Abstract

Acacia (Acacia mangium), jatropha (Jatropha curcas), and cassava (Manihot esculenta) were cultivated in a greenhouse to see how organic amendments affected plant survival and accumulation of cadmium (Cd) in plant tissues. The study plants are bioenergy crops, which are advantageous to phytomanagement because they provide a significant economic benefit to local residents and farmers in the agricultural sector while also simultaneously reducing Cd entry into food webs through consumption. In this study, bone meal/bat manure and leonardite/bat manure were the key organic amendments that promoted the best growth performances in acacia (growth rate in dry biomass; GRDB 24.2) and cassava (GRDB 22.2), respectively, while jatropha preferred bone meal (GRDB 17.2). However, leonardite/bone meal considerably reduced Cd uptake values in whole plant tissues of acacia and cassava (35 mg plant-1 and 119.1 mg plant-1, respectively), while bone meal/chicken manure greatly reduced Cd uptake values in jatropha (127.8 mg plant-1). Cassava is a Cd excluder; however, it may not be a useful bioenergy crop to cultivate in Cd soil because it displayed toxicity symptoms after harvesting. The best plant for phytomanagement in this study was jatropha, which demonstrated substantial growth biomass and Cd accumulation, followed by acacia.