Effect of Sulfur Granular Municipal Solid Waste, Humic Acid, and Nano Fe-Oxide on Lead Uptake by Plants in a Calcareous Soil in the Presence of Thiobacillus

Abstract

Soil poisoning with heavy metals is one of the most significant aspects of environmental research. In the soil treated with Thiobacillus, the effect of sulfur granular municipal solid waste (sulfur granular MSW), humic acid, and nano Fe-oxide on reducing Pb absorption by plants was investigated. Treatments consisted of applying sulfur granular MSW (0 and 30 t/ha), spraying humic acid (0 and 1.5 mmol/L), and using nano Fe-oxide (0 and 2% w/w) in the soil contaminated with Pb (0, 600, and 1200 mg/kg-soil). Plants were collected after 5 months, and the Pb content in the soil and plants was estimated by atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS). The activity of ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and peroxidases (POX) enzymes were also determined. The use of 30 t/ha of sulfur granular MSW in the Pb-polluted soil reduced Pb concentration in the soil and plant by 13.4% and 15.1 %, respectively, while it increased Fe concentration by 15.2% in the plant. Using nano Fe-oxide (2% w/w) in the Pb-contaminated soil (600 and 1200 mg/kg soil) considerably enhanced Fe content in the plant. Pb absorption by plants was dramatically reduced by foliar application of humic acid. According to the findings of this study, the interaction effects of sulfur granular MSW, nano Fe-oxide, and humic acid significantly reduced the Pb absorption by plants. However, the impacts of soil physico-chemical characteristics and the kind of soil pollutant on plant Pb concentration cannot be ignored.