Phytoremediation of heavy metals (Cd & Pb) in sewage irrigated soils using Chenopodium album

The present study was carried out in order to observe the phytoremediation potential of Chenopodium album grown on sewage irrigated soils. Soil and plant samples were collected from different sewage irrigated sites (Naini, Buxibandh, Preetam Nagar, Rajapur and Phaphamau) of Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, India. The analysis of the result showed that C. album had ability to phytoextract the different concentrations of Cd and Pb varied from 2.35±0.10–2.73±0.08, 2.85±0.10–3.02±0.17, 3.11±0.05–3.60±0.15 and 3.20±0.05–3.92±0.13, 3.86±0.09–4.59±0.08, 4.65±0.11–5.36±0.16 mg/kg in leaves, shoot and root, respectively. The results showed the maximum potential of accumulation of Pb 5.36±0.16 mg/kg followed by Cd 3.60±0.15 mg/kg in Naini sewage irrigated site. The maximum dry biomass yield of C. album plants was recorded in Phaphamau sewage irrigated site of Cd and Pb polluted soils ranging from 1068.14±8.09 and 1083.30±3.15 g/m², respectively, while the minimum dry biomass yield as 914.58±2 and 988.46±1.40 g/m² were recorded from Cd and Pb polluted soils in Naini sewage irrigated site. Furthermore, their bioconcentration factor (BCF) and translocation factor (TF) >1.0 indicated that the hyper accumulation efficiency of plant ranges of Cd and Pb was recorded 1.98±0.11–2.04±0.10, 2.52±0.12–2.62±0.07 and 1.09±0.08–1.19±0.11, 1.14±0.12–1.20±0.08 mg/kg, respectively. Thus, this study will be helpful for the decontamination of highly sewage irrigated affected soils.