Co-Planting Cd Contaminated Field Using Hyperaccumulator Solanum Nigrum L. Through Interplant with Low Accumulation Welsh Onion

Abstract

Monoculture and intercrop of hyperaccumulator Solanum nigrum L. with low accumulation Welsh onion Renbentieganchongwang were conducted. The results showed that the remove ratio of S. nigrum to Cd was about 7% in intercrop plot when top soil (0–20 cm) Cd concentration was 0.45–0.62 mg kg⁻¹, which did not significantly impact the yield of low accumulation Welsh onion compared to the monoculture. The consistency of remove ratio in practice and theory indicated the remediation of S. nigrum to Cd was significant. The Cd concentration and yield of Welsh onion were not affected by the growth of S. nigrum either in intercrop plot. The Cd concentration in edible parts of Welsh onion was available either. In short, inter-planting hyperaccumulator with low accumulation crop could normally remediate contaminated soil and produce crop (obtain economic benefit), which may be one practical pathway of phytoremediating heavy metal contaminated soil in the future.

Keyword:

• hyperaccumulator
• low accumulation crop
• intercrop

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by Hi-tech research and development program of China (2012AA06A202 and 2009AA06Z316), National Natural Science Foundation of China (31270540, 31070455 and 40971184), and the National Science & Technology Pillar Program (2012BAC17B04).