DefinePK

Abstract

Phytoextraction is an emerging technology that uses plants to extract metals from contaminated soils. Improving the phytoextraction process is a primary goal of current research. The application of earthworm to soils has been proposed as a way of biologically improving phytoextraction. In this study, we conducted a greenhouse experiment to evaluate the effects of earthworms Pontoscolex corethrurus on Lantana camara growth and the phytoextraction process in Pb-contaminated soils at 500 and 1000 mg kg-1. The results showed that earthworm activity significantly increased the shoot and root biomass in soils contaminated with lead 1.75 and 1.71 times higher for 500 mg Pb kg-1, 1.63 and 1.27 times higher for 1000 mg Pb kg-1, respectively. The lead phytoextraction by L. camara was also higher in the soils with earthworms, with the total lead uptake higher by factors of 2.96 and 2.03 at the two different contamination levels. In addition, positive correlations were found between lead absorption and biomass of L. camara in the presence of earthworm. The combination of earthworm P. corethrurus and plant L. camara suggested a considerable potential for the treatment of industrial sites polluted with lead.