Living plants and straws of four hyperaccumulator plants increase the cadmium uptake of Ziziphus acidojujuba seedlings

ABSTRACT

The effects of living plants and straws of four hyperaccumulator plant species (Siegesbeckia orientalisL., Crassocephalum crepidioides, Galinsoga parviflora and Solanum nigrumL.) on the growth and cadmium (Cd) content of Ziziphus acidojujuba seedlings were studied through intercropping and straw-applying experiments. Compared to the control, the four hyperaccumulator plant species and their straws increased the biomass, photosynthetic pigment contents, antioxidant enzyme activities and soluble protein content of Z. acidojujuba seedlings. The growth of Z. acidojujuba seedlings was increased most significantly by intercropping with G. parviflora and applying S. orientalis straw. Two experiments both reduced Cd content in roots of Z. acidojujuba seedlings, while increased the Cd content in shoots of Z. acidojujuba seedlings. The Cd content in shoots of Z. acidojujuba seedlings increased most significantly when intercropping with G. parviflora and applying C. crepidioides straw. In summary, four living hyperaccumulator plant species and their straws promoted the growth of Z. acidojujuba seedlings while increased the Cd content of the shoots, an outcome not conducive to the remediation of Cd-contamination jujube orchards.

KEYWORDS:

• Hyperaccumulator plant
• intercropping
• straw
• Ziziphus acidojujuba seedlings
• cadmium

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was financially supported by Foundation for Disciplines Construction and Development of Sichuan Agricultural University (035-19211993032), and Key Science and Technology Research Project of Deyang (2018CKJ018), Special Action Plan Project of Science and Technology Rich People and Strong County of Sichuan Province ‘Integration and Demonstration of Key Technologies for Industrialized Development of Zizyphus jujuba “Zhanshangmizao” of Santai County’ (2012-2014).