Phytoremediation of soil co-contaminated with arsenic,lead,zinc and copper using Pteris vittata L.:A field study

Pteris vittata L. is a promising hyperaccumulator in the phytoremediation of arsenic-contaminated soil. However,little is known about its phytoremediation potential for multi-metal contaminated soil. A two-year field experiment was carried out to investigate the capacity of P. vittata to phytoremediate As,Pb,Zn and Cu from contaminated soils. The results showed that P. vittata hyperaccumulated both As and Pb. The concentration of Pb in shoots was as high as 1303 mg·kg-1,and the biomass of P. vittata reached a maximum when As,Pb,Zn and Cu concentrations in shoots were 1455,937,365 and 101 mg·kg-1,respectively. P. vittata removed 15.5 kg·hm-2 (As) and 8.5 kg·hm-2(Pb) per year (with 2 harvests). P. vittata also had a very strong tolerance to As,Pb and Zn. The biomass of P. vittata was not significantly decreased when the heavy metal concentrations of soil were as high as 10913 mg·kg-1(Pb),2511 mg·kg-1(Zn) and 510 mg·kg-1(Cu).