Phytoextraction of excess soil phosphorus

• Published in: Environmental pollution (1987) Vol. 146; no. 1; pp. 120 - 127
• Main Authors: Sharma, Nilesh C., Starnes, Daniel L., Sahi, Shivendra V.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01-03-2007; Elsevier
• Subjects: 6-Phytase - metabolism; Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Applied sciences; bioaccumulation; Biodegradation, Environmental; Biological and medical sciences; Biomass; Biotransformation; Crop plants; cucumbers; Cucumis sativus; Cucurbita pepo; Cucurbita pepo var. melopepo; Decontamination. Miscellaneous; dry matter accumulation; Earth sciences; Earth, ocean, space; Engineering and environment geology. Geothermics; enzyme activity; Exact sciences and technology; Fabaceae - growth & development; Fabaceae - metabolism; food crops; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; greenhouse experimentation; Helianthus; Helianthus - growth & development; Helianthus - metabolism; Helianthus annuus; herbs; hyperaccumulators; legumes; Phosphomonoesterase; Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases - metabolism; Phosphorus; Phosphorus - metabolism; Phytase; phytases; Phytoextraction; phytoremediation; Plant Development; Plants - metabolism; Plants, Edible - growth & development; Plants, Edible - metabolism; polluted soils; Pollution; Pollution, environment geology; roots; shoots; Soil and sediments pollution; Soil and water pollution; Soil Pollutants - metabolism; soil pollution; Soil science; squashes; vegetables; Vegetables - growth & development; Vegetables - metabolism; Phosphorus; Phytase; Phosphomonoesterase; Crop plants; Phytoextraction; Enzyme; Interspecific comparison; In situ; Pollution control; 6-Phytase; Phosphoric monoester hydrolases; Esterases; Biomass; Soil pollution; Eutrophication; Phytoremediation; Trace element; Enzymatic activity; Decontamination; Hydrolases; Nutrient; Bioremediation; Biological accumulation
• ISSN: 0269-7491; 1873-6424
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2006.06.006

In the search for a suitable plant to be used in P phytoremediation, several species belonging to legume, vegetable and herb crops were grown in P-enriched soils, and screened for P accumulation potentials. A large variation in P concentrations of different plant species was observed. Some vegetable species such as cucumber (
Cucumis sativus) and yellow squash (
Cucurbita pepo var.
melopepo) were identified as potential P accumulators with >1% (dry weight) P in their shoots. These plants also displayed a satisfactory biomass accumulation while growing on a high concentration of soil P. The elevated activities of phosphomonoesterase and phytase were observed when plants were grown in P-enriched soils, this possibly contributing to high P acquisition in these species. Sunflower plants also demonstrated an increased shoot P accumulation. This study shows that the phytoextraction of phosphorus can be effective using appropriate plant species.
Crop plants such as cucumber, squash and sunflower accumulate phosphorus and thus can be used in the phytoextraction of excess phosphorus from soils.