The Potential of Abelmoschus esculentus in EDTA Asssisted Phytoextraction of Heavy Metals from Soil of Bashiri Dumpsite, Ado Ekiti, Nigeria
The use of fast growing tropical plants in planning phytoextraction strategies has been documented by several researchers. The work presented here examines the effect of germination on chelate assisted phytoextraction of heavy metals by Abelmoschus esculentus cultivated on the Bashiri dumpsite Ado Ekiti. Topsoil (0 15 cm) samples were randomly collected from the dumpsite, control samples were collected in similar manner at 200 m away from the dumpsite. The pH, content of organic matter, cation exchange capacity as well as heavy metals concentrations of the soil samples were determined after the soil samples were treated properly. The seedlings of Abelmoschus esculentus was cultivated in different pots (for soil with EDTA) and control pots (for soil without EDTA) these plants were subsequently nurtured maturity by daily irrigation. The plants were harvested into parts at different germination stages, after which heavy metals concentrations (Cd, Cr, Pb, Zn, Co, Cu,Fe, Mn, and Ni) were determined. The result revealed the mean pH, content of organic matter and cation exchange capacity on dumpsite of 7.50 0.12, 7.8 0.12% 40.10 0.11 mmol/kg, respectively. The values for pH and the organic matter were higher than those obtained from control sites. Though, heavy metals concentrations on the dumpsite were higher than control site, their values reduced considerably to maturity. Early symptoms of phytotoxicity were noticed with an application of 0.2 g/kg EDTA of soil, which only affected the biomass levels of the experimental Abelmoschus esculentus but increased the concentrations of heavy metals in the plant shoot when compared with nonchelate assisted process. However, TF, BF and RR values greater than one measure phtoextraction efficiency, an indication of the possible application Abelmoschus esculentus for phytoextraction strategies. KeywordsEffect; Chelate Assisted; Heavy Metals; Phytoextractio; Basiri Dumpsite