Phytoextraction Capacity of Panicum maximum Grown on Synthetic Heavy Metals Contaminated Soil

Background and Objective: Heavy metals contaminated soils pose serious environmental and health threats and there is a need to develop suitable cost-effective soil remediation techniques.This research aimed to determine the effective capacity of Panicum maximum to accumulate heavy metals (Pb, Cd, Ni, Zn, Cu) in a controlled environment.Materials and Methods: Phytoremediation of metals contaminated soils offers a low-cost method for soil remediation.Panicum maximum has been observed in a greenhouse pot experiment on synthetic soil.Seedlings of P. maximum were sown in plastic pots containing uncontaminated or contaminated soils.Experiments were conducted to compare the growth of P. maximum and its ability to uptake heavy metals.The bioaccumulation and transfer factors, as the location of the heavy metals in the tissues and cells of the plant, have been determined.Physico-chemical parameters were also analyzed.Results: Panicum maximum showed stress for Zn and Cu and accumulated more Ni and Pb than Cd.However, Cd and Pb are mainly retained in the roots while Ni is exported to the above parts.The Pb remains essentially fixed to the cell walls in the organs of the roots and leaves, in comparison to Ni which was accumulated preferentially in the cells whatever organ considered.Conclusion: Panicum maximum accumulated more Ni and Pb than Cd.The Pb is mainly retained in the roots while Ni is exported to the above parts.Moreover, Observations and microanalytic spectra indicated that Pb remains in the cell walls and Ni was accumulated in the intracellular compartment.The phytoextraction potential of P. maximum according to the level of soil contamination can be a phytotechnology for polluted soils remediating.