Assessing the Bioaccumulation of Heavy Metals in Cabbage Grown under Five Soil Amendments

• Published in: Pollutants Vol. 4; no. 1; pp. 58 - 71
• Main Authors: Nepal, Anjan, Antonious, George F., Gyawali, Buddhi R., Webster, Thomas C., Bebe, Frederick
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Waterloo MDPI AG 02-02-2024
• Subjects: Composting; Fertilizers; Food chains; Heavy metals; Manures; metal toxicity; permissible limit; phytoremediation; pollution; Sludge; Toxicity; Trace elements; United States > US
• ISSN: 2673-4672; 2673-4672
• DOI: 10.3390/pollutants4010005

Increased heavy metal pollution worldwide necessitates urgent remediation measures. Phytoremediation stands as an eco-friendly technique that addresses this issue. This study aimed to investigate the applicability of phytoremediation in agricultural practices. Specifically, to evaluate the impact of five soil amendments (chicken manure, sewage sludge, leaf compost, cow manure, and vermicompost) on three cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata) varieties (Capture, Primo vantage, and Tiara) yield, quality, and the accumulation of Cd, Cu, Mo, Ni, Pb, and Zn in cabbage heads. The bioaccumulation efficiency of cabbage was determined using an inductively coupled plasma–optical emission spectrometer (ICP-OES). Analysis revealed that soil enriched with chicken manure exhibited the highest cabbage yield. Each cabbage variety demonstrated very high bioaccumulation factor (BAF) indicating substantial heavy metal accumulation. These findings underscore the potential of utilizing crops for phytoremediation to mitigate heavy metal pollution. Additionally, the concentrations of metals below the permissible limits suggest that employing crops for phytoremediation can simultaneously ensure food productivity. This study emphasizes the necessity for further research into the use of crops for remediation strategies.