PRASANN KUMAR, ANIL KUMAR PANDEY, VIJAI KRISHNA, SHWETA PATHAK AND ANAYTULLAH SIDDIQUE*
Department of Agronomy, School of Agriculture, Lovely Professional University, Jalandhar-144 411 (Punjab), India
*(e-mail : anaytullahsiddique@gmail.com); Mobile : 7376736250
(Received : October 19, 2018; Accepted : November 28, 2018)
ABSTRACT
Phytoextraction is an emerging cost-effective solution for remediation of contaminated soils which involves the removal of toxins, especially heavy metals and metalloids, by the roots of the plants with subsequent transport to aerial plant organs. Excessive heavy metal accumulation can be toxic to most plants, leading to reduction in seed germination, root elongation and biomass production; inhibition of chlorophyll biosynthesis as well as a disturbance in cellular metabolism and chromosome distortion. For studying the heavy metals load of sewage sludge and their effect on crop quality in relation to non-applied sites, solid sludge and Tagetes plant were collected from seven STPs viz., Howrah, Garulia, Bhatpara, Nabadwip, Srirampur, Kona, Chandannager and from the Periurban areas viz., Nadia/Chakdaha/Ektapur(N/E), Nadia/Chakdaha/Pumlia (NP), Nadia/Chakdaha/Sikarpur (NS), Nadia/Chakdaha/Tatla (NT). The results suggest that plant like Tagetes has more scavenging capacity for tested heavy metals like Pb, Cr, Cd and Ni sequentially.
Key words : Agriculture, cadmium, heavy metal, metabolism, phytoremediation, Srirampur