Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Pig manure vermicompost (PMVC) can improve phytoremediation of Cd and PAHs co-contaminated soil by Sedum alfredii

  • SOILS, SEC 3 • REMEDIATION AND MANAGEMENT OF CONTAMINATED OR DEGRADED LANDS • RESEARCH ARTICLE
  • Published:
Journal of Soils and Sediments Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

A major challenge to phytoremediation of co-contaminated soils is developing strategies for efficient and simultaneous removal of multiple pollutants. A pot experiment was conducted to investigate the potential for enhanced phytoextraction of cadmium (Cd) by Sedum alfredii and dissipation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in co-contaminated soil by application of pig manure vermicompost (PMVC).

Materials and methods

Soil contaminated by Cd (5.53 mg kg−1 DW) was spiked with phenanthrene, anthracene, and pyrene together (250 mg kg−1 DW for each PAH). A pot experiment was conducted in a greenhouse with four treatments: (1) soil without plants and PMVC (Control), (2) soil planted with S. alfredii (Plant), (3) soil amended with PMVC at 5 % (w/w) (PMVC), and (4) treatment 2 + 3 (Plant + PMVC). After 90 days, shoot and root biomass of plants, Cd concentrations in plant and soil, and PAH concentrations in soil were determined. Abundance of PAH degraders in soil, soil bacterial community structure and diversity, and soil enzyme activities and microbial biomass carbon were measured.

Results and discussion

Application of PMVC to co-contaminated soil increased the shoot and root dry biomass of S. alfredii by 2.27- and 3.93-fold, respectively, and simultaneously increased Cd phytoextraction without inhibiting soil microbial population and enzyme activities. The highest dissipation rate of PAHs was observed in Plant + PMVC treatment. However, neither S. alfredii nor PMVC enhanced PAH dissipation when applied separately. Abundance of PAH degraders in soil was not significantly related to PAH dissipation rate. Plant + PMVC treatment significantly influenced the bacterial community structure. Enhanced PAH dissipation in the Plant + PMVC treatment could be due to the improvement of plant root growth, which may result in increased root exudates, and subsequently change bacterial community structure to be favorable for PAH dissipation.

Conclusions

This study demonstrated that remediation of Cd and PAHs co-contaminated soil by S. alfredii can be enhanced by simultaneous application of PMVC. Long-term evaluation of this strategy in co-contaminated field sites is needed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Alvarez-Bernal D, Garcia-Diaz EL, Contreras-Ramos SM, Dendooven L (2006) Dissipation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from soil added with manure or vermicompost. Chemosphere 65(9):1642–1651

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cébron A, Norini MP, Beguiristain T, Leyval C (2008) Real-time PCR quantification of PAH-ring hydroxylating dioxygenase (PAH-RHDα) genes from Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria in soil and sediment samples. J Microbiol Methods 73(2):148–159

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chaney RL, Reeves PG, Ryan JA, Simmons RW, Welch RM, Angle JS (2004) An improved understanding of soil Cd risk to humans and low cost methods to phytoextract Cd from contaminated soils to prevent soil Cd risks. Biometals 17(5):549–553

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chen Y, Wang CX, Wang ZJ, Huang SB (2004) Assessment of the contamination and genotoxicity of soil irrigated with wastewater. Plant Soil 261(1–2):189–196

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cheng KY, Lai KM, Wong JWC (2008) Effects of pig manure compost and nonionic-surfactant Tween 80 on phenanthrene and pyrene removal from soil vegetated with Agropyron elongatum. Chemosphere 73(5):791–797

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cofield N, Schwab AP, Banks MK (2007) Phytoremediation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in soil: part I. Dissipation of target contaminants. Int J Phytorem 9(5):355–370

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fu DQ, Teng Y, Luo YM, Tu C, Li SX, Li ZG, Christie P (2011) Effects of alfalfa and organic fertilizer on benzo[a]pyrene dissipation in an aged contaminated soil. Environ Sci Pollut Res. doi:10.1007/s11356-011-0672-4

  • Gao YZ, Zhu LZ (2004) Plant uptake, accumulation and translocation of phenanthrene and pyrene in soils. Chemosphere 55(9):1169–1178

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Huang HG, Yu N, Wang LJ, Gupta DK, He ZL, Wang K, Zhu ZQ, Yan XC, Li TQ, Yang XE (2011) The phytoremediation potential of bioenergy crop Ricinus communis for DDTs and cadmium co-contaminated soil. Bioresour Technol 102(23):11034–11038

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Huang HG, Li TQ, Gupta DK, He ZL, Yang XE, Ni BN, Li M (2012) Heavy metal phytoextraction by Sedum alfredii is affected by continual clipping and phosphorus fertilization amendment. J Environ Sci 24(3):376–386

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kastner M, Mahro B (1996) Microbial degradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in soils affected by the organic matrix of compost. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 44(5):668–675

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kim SY, Lee SH, Freeman C, Fenner N, Kang H (2008) Comparative analysis of soil microbial communities and their responses to the short-term drought in bog, fen, and riparian wetlands. Soil Biol Biochem 40(11):2874–2880

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lee SH, Lee WS, Lee CH, Kim JG (2008) Degradation of phenanthrene and pyrene in rhizosphere of grasses and legumes. J Hazard Mater 153(1–2):892–898

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li JT, Liao B, Dai ZY, Zhu R, Shu WS (2009) Phytoextraction of Cd-contaminated soil by carambola (Averrhoac arambola) in field trials. Chemosphere 76(9):1233–1239

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lin Q, Shen KL, Zhao HM, Li WH (2008) Growth response of Zea mays L. in pyrene-copper co-contaminated soil and the fate of pollutants. J Hazard Mater 150(3):515–521

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liu WT, Marsh TL, Cheng H, Forney LJ (1997) Characterization of microbial diversity by determining terminal restriction fragment length polymorphisms of genes encoding 16S rRNA. Appl Environ Microbiol 63(11):4516–4522

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liu D, Islam E, Li TQ, Yang X, Jin XF, Mahmood Q (2008) Comparison of synthetic chelators and low molecular weight organic acids in enhancing phytoextraction of heavy metals by two ecotypes of Sedum alfredii Hance. J Hazard Mater 153(1–2):114–122

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lopez ML, Peralta-Videa JR, Benitez T, Gardea-Torresdey JL (2005) Enhancement of lead uptake by alfalfa (Medicago sativa) using EDTA and a plant growth promotor. Chemosphere 61(4):595–598

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Louvel B, Cébron A, Leyval C (2011) Root exudates affect phenanthrene biodegradation, bacterial community and functional gene expression in sand microcosms. Int Biodeterior Biodegrad 65(7):947–953

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lu L, Zhu L (2009) Reducing plant uptake of PAHs by cationic surfactant-enhanced soil retention. Environ Pollut 157(6):1794–1799

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lu HH, Wu WX, Chen YX, Wang HL, Devare M, Thies JE (2010) Soil microbial community responses to Bt transgenic rice residue decomposition in a paddy field. J Soils Sediments 10(8):1598–1605

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Marinari S, Masciandaro G, Ceccanti B, Grego S (2000) Influence of organic and mineral fertilizers on soil biological and physical properties. Bioresour Technol 72(1):9–17

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • McGrath SP, Zhao FJ (2003) Phytoextraction of metals and metalloids from contaminated soils. Curr Opin Biotechnol 14(3):277–282

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mehlich A (1984) Mehlich-3 soil test extractant: a modification of Mehlich-2 extractant. Commun Soil Sci Plan 15(12):1409–1416

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Meng L, Zhu YG (2011) Pyrenebiodegradation in an industrial soil exposed to simulated rhizodeposition: how does it affect functional microbial abundance? Environ Sci Technol 45(4):1579–1585

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Moeseneder MM, Arrieta JM, Muyzer G, Winter C, Herndl GJ (1999) Optimization of terminal-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis for complex marine bacterioplankton communities and comparison with denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis. Appl Environ Microbiol 65(8):3518–3525

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mühlbachová G (2011) Soil microbial activities and heavy metal mobility in long-term contaminated soils after addition of EDTA and EDDS. Ecol Eng 37:1064–1071

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Murakami M, Nakagawa F, Ae N, Ito M, Arao T (2009) Phytoextraction by rice capable of accumulating Cd at high levels: reduction of Cd content of rice grain. Environ Sci Technol 43(15):5878–5883

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rentz JA, Alvarez PJJ, Schnoor JL (2005) Benzo[a]pyrene co-metabolism in the presence of plant root extracts and exudates: implications for phytoremediation. Environ Pollut 136(3):477–484

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sandrin TR, Maier RM (2003) Impact of metals on the biodegradation of organic pollutants. Environ Health Perspect 111(8):1093–1101

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shannon CE (1948) A mathematical theory of communication. Bell Syst Technol J 27(3):379–423

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith KE, Schwab AP, Banks MK (2008) Dissipation of PAHs in saturated, dredged sediments: a field trial. Chemosphere 72(10):1614–1619

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Smith MJ, Flowers TH, Duncan HJ, Saito H (2011) Study of PAH dissipation and phytoremediation in soils: comparing freshly spiked with weathered soil from a former coking works. J Hazard Mater 192(3):1219–1225

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sun YB, Zhou QX, Wang L, Liu WT (2009) Cadmium tolerance and accumulation characteristics of Bidens pilosa L. as a potential Cd-hyperaccumulator. J Hazard Mater 161(2–3):808–814

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sun TR, Cang L, Wang QY, Zhou DM, Cheng JM, Xu H (2010) Roles of abiotic losses, microbes, plant roots, and root exudates on phytoremediation of PAHs in a barren soil. J Hazard Mater 176(1–3):919–925

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sun YB, Zhou Q, Xu Y, Wang L, Liang X (2011) Phytoremediation for co-contaminated soils of benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) and heavy metals using ornamental plant Tagetes patula. J Hazard Mater 186(2–3):2075–2082

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Teng Y, Shen YY, Luo YM, Sun XH, Sun MM, Fu DQ, Li ZG, Christie P (2011) Influence of Rhizobium meliloti on phytoremediation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons by alfalfa in an aged contaminated soil. J Hazard Mater 186(2–3):1271–1276

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Vance ED, Brookes PC, Jenkinson DS (1987) An extraction method for measuring soil microbial biomass-C. Soil Biol Biochem 19(6):703–707

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang X, Wang Y, Mahmood Q, Islam E, Jin XF, Li TQ, Yang XE, Liu D (2009) The effect of EDDS addition on the phytoextraction efficiency from Pb contaminated soil by Sedum alfredii Hance. J Hazard Mater 168(1):530–535

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang K, Zhu ZQ, Huang HG, Li TQ, He ZL, Yang XE, Alva A (2012) Interactive effects of Cd and PAHs on contaminants removal from co-contaminated soil planted with hyperaccumulator plant Sedum alfredii. J Soils Sediments 12(4):556–564

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wei SH, Zhou QX, Zhan J, Wu ZJ, Sun TH, Lyubu Y, Prasad MNV (2010) Poultry manured Bidens tripartite L. extracting Cd from soil—potential for phytoremediating Cd contaminated soil. Bioresour Technol 101(22):8907–8910

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wei SH, Zhu JG, Zhou QX, Zhan J (2011) Fertilizer amendment for improving the phytoextraction of cadmium by a hyperaccumulator Rorippa globosa (Turcz.) Thell. J Soils Sediments 11(6):915–922

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wellman DE, Ulery AL, Barcellona MP, Duerr-Auster S (2001) Animal waste-enhanced degradation of hydrocarbon-contaminated soil. Soil Sediment Contam 10(5):511–523

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wu LH, Luo YM, Xing XR, Christie P (2004) EDTA-enhanced phytoremediation of heavy metal contaminated soil with Indian mustard and associated potential leaching risk. Agr Ecosyst Environ 102:307–318

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yanai J, Zhao FJ, McGrath SP, Kosaki T (2006) Effect of soil characteristics on Cd uptake by the hyperaccumulator Thlaspi caerulescens. Environ Pollut 139(1):167–175

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yang WY (2002) An introduction to agronomy. Chinese Agricultural Press, Beijing, pp 18–102

    Google Scholar 

  • Yang XE, Long XX, Ye HB, He ZL, Calvert DV, Stoffella PJ (2004) Cadmium tolerance and hyperaccumulation in a new Zn-hyperaccumulating plant species (Sedum alfredii Hance). Plant Soil 259(1–2):181–189

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yaws CL (1999) Chemical properties handbook. McGraw-Hill, New York, pp 340–389

    Google Scholar 

  • Yoshitomi KJ, Shann JR (2001) Corn (Zea mays L.) root exudates and their impact on 14C-pyrene mineralization. Soil Biol Biochem 33(12–13):1769–1776

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang H, Dang Z, Zheng LC, Yi XY (2009) Remediation of soil co-contaminated with pyrene and cadmium by growing maize (Zea mays L.). Int J Environ Sci Technol 6(2):249–258

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang ZH, Rengel Z, Meney K, Pantelic L, Tomanovic R (2011) Polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) mediate cadmium toxicity to an emergent wetland species. J Hazard Mater 189(1–2):119–126

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This study was financially supported by “863” Target Goal Projects from Ministry of Science of China (#2012AA101405-1; #2009AA06Z316), a key project from Ministry of Education of China (#310003), a project from Ministry of Environmental Protection of China (#2011467057) and Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. MOE Key Laboratory of Environment Remediation and Ecosystem Health, College of Environmental and Resources Science, Zijingang Campus, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, People’s Republic of China

    Kai Wang, Jie Zhang, Zhiqiang Zhu, Huagang Huang, Tingqiang Li & Xiaoe Yang

  2. College of Agriculture, Hainan University, Renmin Road 58, Haikou, 570228, People’s Republic of China

    Zhiqiang Zhu

  3. Indian River Research and Education Center, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Fort Pierce, FL, 34945, USA

    Zhenli He

  4. Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Prosser, WA, 99350, USA

    Ashok Alva

Authors
  1. Kai Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Jie Zhang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Zhiqiang Zhu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Huagang Huang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Tingqiang Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Zhenli He
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Xiaoe Yang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Ashok Alva
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Tingqiang Li or Xiaoe Yang.

Additional information

Responsible editor: Jean-Paul Schwitzguébel

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Wang, K., Zhang, J., Zhu, Z. et al. Pig manure vermicompost (PMVC) can improve phytoremediation of Cd and PAHs co-contaminated soil by Sedum alfredii . J Soils Sediments 12, 1089–1099 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-012-0539-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-012-0539-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation