Impacts of Vermicomposting on Heavy Metals Accumulation in Plant and Soil

Document Type : Research Paper

Author

Instructure, Department of Water Engineering, Agriculture and Natural Resources Campus, Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran

Abstract

The present study was conducted to investigate the effect of vermicomposting on heavy metals accumulation in plants and soil irrigated with contaminated water at the Campus of Agriculture and Natural Resources of Razi University. The research was carried in two treatments, using vermicomposting and non-use of vermicomposting (control) in three replications on the accumulation of copper, iron, zinc, cadmium and manganese in roots, shoots and fruits of tomato and okra plants as well as in two soil layers (0-30 and 30-60 cm). The results indicated that vermicomposting application significantly increased the amount of metals in most parts of tomato (fruit: Cu 10.1, Fe -11.86, Mn 5.97; leaves: Fe 8.4, Zn 9.73, Mn 2.97; root: Mn -5.56) and okra (fruit: Cu 6.73, Fe 9.98, Zn -7.18, Mn 3.06; leaves: Fe 9.51, Zn 6.63, Mn 3.84; root: Cu -9.7, Fe -10.2, Zn -14, Mn -7.12). Although vermicomposting treatment increased the amount of metals in the soil but it was not significant (only in the first layer Zn 6.33 showed a significant increase). Also, vermicomposting prevented moving of metals into the soil. Therefore, the use of vermicomposting and irrigation with contaminated water due to increase in heavy metals content in different part of plant and soil is not recommended

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References

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Environmental Resources Research
Volume 10, Issue 2
July 2022
Pages 209-220

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