Resistance to and uptake of heavy metals by four herbaceous plants grown in the soil polluted by lead/zinc mine tailings

A pot experiment showed that four herbaceous plants, tall Fescue, Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass and alfalfa could survive in the soil polluted by lead/zinc mine tailings or in this polluted soil treated by CaCO3, organic manure and their mixed sub- strates, but grown in the check soil was poorer than in the treatments, therefore, CaCO3 and organic manure could be used as an am- eliorant to improve the growth of plants in the polluted soil. The biomass of alfalfa was influenced by heavy metals more severely than that of others, which meant that alfalfa was less resistant to heavy metals than other three plants. The contents of Cd, Pb, Zn and Cu in the four herbaceous plants all presented in the order w(Zn) w(Pb) w(Cu) w(Cd), but it varied in Cd, Pb, Zn and Cu uptake and distribution. Generally, their contents were higher in the roots than in the shoots. CaCO3 and organic manure reduced the contents of Cd, Pb , Zn and increased content of Cu in these plants. But increased biomass may raise the uptake rate per unit area. So it is feasible to using this method that applying ameliorants and herbaceous plants to removing heavy metals from the soil.