Growth Performance of Jatropha curcas Cultivated on Local Abandoned Bauxite Mine Soil

Abstract

Lack of regulation in bauxite mining has caused land contamination in Malaysia. Land rehabilitation requires plants with excellent adaptability to adverse conditions. Inedible, economical viable crops with environmental co-benefits, like phytoremediation, are preferred. In this study, Jatropha curcas was evaluated for its growth performance in bauxite mine soil. Topsoil and exposed subsoil were sampled from a bauxite mine at Bukit Goh, Kuantan and used for growing J. curcas for 90 days under greenhouse conditions. The soil physicochemical properties, plant growth parameters (increase in number of leaves, plant height, and basal diameter), and oil yield were determined. The findings showed that the mine soils had lower nutrient status than unmined soil as reflected by the total C, N, P, and K values. Al, Fe, and Pb were relatively high in topsoil and subsoil. Plants grown in both mine soils recorded significantly lower increases in plant height and basal diameter but higher increases in number of leaves than that of nursery soil. Oil yield was significantly different between the plants grown in subsoil (46.54%) and topsoil (41.65%). The study demonstrated that J. curcas has the potential to be cultivated as an alternative crop in bauxite mine soil.

Enhancing Phytoremediation of Bauxite Mine Subsoil by Jatropha curcas L. using Sewage Sludge and Poultry Sludge

“…A lower soil pH was recorded in soils amended with sewage sludge while a high pH was recorded in soils amended with poultry sludge. Soil pH in bauxite mine soil was reported to be negatively correlated to organic matter content [15]. Therefore, a pH-lowering effect was expected from sewage sludge amendment as sewage sludge has high organic matter content [12].…”

“…An irrigation scheme of 200 mL water in every two days was provided to the plants. The pot experiment lasted for 120 days in a greenhouse condition where the average humidity was at 80% and natural sunlight was the sole light source [15].…”

“…Previous study has demonstrated the potential of J. curcas to be grown in bauxite mine subsoil as a biofuel and phytoremediation crop [15]. Nevertheless, its growth was limited by the poor nutrient content in bauxite mine subsoil.…”

Organic amendment additions to cadmium-contaminated soils for phytostabilization of three bioenergy crops

“…Cassava is another appealing bioenergy crop for the reclamation of metal-polluted soils because this tuber crop is easy to cultivate in tropical and subtropical areas, and cassava tubers contain a high content of starch that could be used commercially as a renewable feedstock to produce ethanol fuel 31 . Jatropha has advantageous properties such as easy propagation, rapid growth, and drought tolerance, thus it can be grown widely in locations globally 32 . This species offers promise for sustainable industrial application as its components can be used as fertilizer, insecticide, soap, medicine, and energy source.…”