Eco-physiological Responses of Saccharum spontaneum to Chromium (Cr), Cadmium (Cd), Lead (Pb), and Mercury (Hg) in Augmented Phytoremediation Paradigm

Environmental pollution of the soil with heavy metals is of great concern. This tends to affect the physiological response of plant species in the tolerance of these mineral uptakes in the plant tissues. This study evaluated the physiological response of Saccharum spontaneum L (wild sugarcane) in the phytoremediation of Cr, Cd, Pb and Hg heavy metal contaminated soils using augmentation process in a potted experiment. Data analysis was carried out using Minitab (17.0). The results show that, augmented wild sugarcane plant performed best in the uptake of Lead (197.05) Cadmium (188.39) and Mercury (132.37) at week 10. These heavy metals were also up taken by non-augmented wild sugarcane plant but below the augmented plant. Chromium uptake was highest (85.86) under the application of augmented wild sugarcane at week 5 and 10. Heavy metal uptake index was significantly higher in week 10 than in week 5 (T=1.99, P=0.05). The relationship between heavy metal concentrations in plant tissues and growth or yield parameters of the test plants was highly positive (R =+0.943, P<0.05). The test plant is recommended for ex-situ phytoremediation of soils contaminated with Cr, Cd, Pb and Hg. This is particularly advantageous as the plant has bio-economic value and is easy to propagate. The plant can be allowed to stay for a longer time in polluted soils for a more effective phyto-extraction than the period adopted in a simulated pot experiments carried out in this study.