Phytoextraction and Translocation of Cadmium in Saline Soil by Hemerocallis fulva and Dodonaea viscosa Plants

Purpose: Cadmium contaminated saline soil has always been a problem for sustainable agriculture and environment. Cadmium (Cd) is a noxious heavy metal and its co-occurrence with high salt (NaCl) concentrations in soil decreases quality of food and quantity of crops. For this purposes to search the salinity problems in Cd contaminated soil, its uptake and accumulation and its effect on plant growth and biomass were studied in two terrestrial plants. Materials and methods: Different concentration of salt, NaCl (1000 ppm, 3000 ppm and 6000 ppm) in combination with Cd metal (50 ppm, 100 ppm and 150 ppm) were added into pots soil, the two plants (Hemerocallis fulva and Dodonaea viscosa) were grown in it. For control (C) is used having no cadmium and salt while the remaining three with diverse concentrations of Cd (C1=50 ppm, C2=100 ppm and C3=150 ppm). Results and discussion: Plant biomass and growth were highly reduced under variable concentrations of Cd and salt in soil. Combination of 6000 ppm NaCl and 150 ppm Cd in soil demonstrated highest significant Cd accumulation in the plants. Dodonaea viscosa showed high Cd-bioconcentration value (more than one) as compared to Hemerocallis fulva having less than one. It was noted that Dodonaea viscosa plant accumulate maximum concentration of Cd in sodium salt than Hemerocallis fulva plant. Conclusion: Dodoneae plant potentially hyper accumulator and showed enough tolerance to high concentration of salt during phytoextraction of Cd. It is strongly recommended that such plants should be planted in metal contaminated saline soil and also for the conservation of barren soil.