Phytoremediation potential of two maize varieties cultivated on metal-particulate-contaminated soil

Arbitrary cultivation of vacant land, even within the periphery of cottage industries in devel­oping countries, particularly in Nigeria, is on the increase. Two maize varieties [ART98/SW1 (protein) and BR-9928-DMR-SR-Y (non-protein)] were planted within the vicinity of a metal recycling plant in Ile-Ife, Nigeria to assess the metal removal potentials of these maize cultivars. The experiment was conducted in two locations, each per maize variety and laid out in a ran­domised complete block design. Two biochars produced from maize stover and Milicia exelsa, each at 10 t ha-1 were used as soil amendments. Metal uptake by the two maize varieties was in the order: root > shoot > grain, with protein maize having higher bioconcentration factors: Fe 86.82, Zn 1.19, Cu 4.53, Mn 2.42 and Pb 0.15, and hence, a pathway through which animals, including humans could ingest these metals. It was concluded that maize crop is a bioaccumu­lator of metals in soil, and protein maize cultivar removes more metals than non-protein maize. Keywords: Biochar; farm waste; heavy metal; maize; particulate matter; remediation