Feasibility Study on Reducing Lead and Cadmium Absorption in Sweet Basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) With Using Active Carbon

Subject Areas : Journal of Crop Nutrition Science

Solmaz Divani ¹ , Farzad Paknejad ² , Hossein Ghafourian ³ , Mojtaba Alavifazel ⁴ , Mohammad Reza Ardakani ^{5 *}

1 - Department of Agronomy, Karaj Branch, Islamic Azad University, Karaj, Iran.
2 - Department of Agronomy, Karaj Branch, Islamic Azad University, Karaj, Iran.
3 - Department of Marine Science and Technology, North Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
4 - Department of Agronomy, Ahvaz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Ahvaz, Iran.
5 - Department of Agronomy, Karaj Branch, Islamic Azad University, Karaj, Iran.

Received: 2016-12-26 Accepted : 2017-03-07 Published : 2017-03-01

Keywords: Heavy metals, Soil Pollution, Root dry weight,

Abstract :

In order to reducing the risk of heavy metals concentration in plant tissues which areamong the edible plants by human, find the active carbon ability in heavy metals removalfrom Lead (Pb) and Cadmium (Cd) contaminated soils and its effect on growthand nutrient absorption of Sweet basil, this greenhouse experiment was conducted inthe faculty of agriculture, Islamic Azad University, Karaj branch, Iran. The experimentwas conducted in factorial in the form of a completely randomized design with fourreplications and three treatments: different levels of active carbon (0. 5, 10, 15 and 20g.kg-1soil), Lead (0 and 4 g.kg-1 soil) and Cadmium (0 and 0.08 g.kg-1 soil). Resultsshowed that active carbon significantly affected the sweet basil trials. It was observedthat the Pb and Cd absorption was reduced in soil contaminated with heavy metalwhen active carbon was applied. The optimum results were obtained through the applicationof active carbon in 20 g.kg-1 soil treatment. Totally, our results showed that activecarbon could improve the basil growth in heavy metal contaminated soil by inhibitionof Pb and Cd translocation into the plant tissues. Moreover, it was found thatSweet basil has a high ability in heavy metals removals in polluted regions.