Remediation of Pb and Cd Polluted Soils with Fulvic Acid

Heavy metal pollution is among the important environmental problems in the world. Many techniques have already been used to remove the heavy metals such as lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd). Among them, the phytoremediation method is an environmentally friendly and green technology. This study was carried out to determine the efficiency of fulvic acid (FA) application in removing Pb and Cd from polluted soil using Tagetes eracta L. and Zinnia elegans Jacq. ornamental plants. The results indicated that, FA application, number of flower per plants, and plant fresh weight of Tagetes eracta plants and Zinnia elegans plants increased 187.5%, 104.5% and 155.5%, 57.7%, respectively with application of 7000 mg L−1 FA at 100 mg kg−1 Pb pollution condition, whereas 42.85%, 16.5%, and 44.4–36.1% with application of 7000 mg L−1 FA at 30 mg kg±1 Cd pollution condition, respectively. With the FA application in the Zinnia elegans plant, the root part has accumulated 51.53% more Pb than the shoot part. For Cd, the shoot part accumulated 35.33% more Cd than the root. The effect of FA application on superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD) and, catalase (CAT) of the Tagetes eracta were decreased as 32.7%, 33.1%, and 35.1% for Pb, 21.2%, 25.1%, and 26,1%, for Cd, and 15.1%, 22.7%, and 37.7% for Pb, and 7.55%, 18.0%, and 18.8% for Cd were in Zinnia elegans respectively. In conclusion, Tagetes eracta and Zinnia elegans can not be recommended for remediation of Pb and Cd polluted area, but FA can be recommended for Pb and Cd stabilization in polluted soil.