An Initial Study And Prospective Application Of Sesuvium Portulacastrum L. In The Simultaneous Removal Of Salts And Lead From Polluted Agricultural Soils

Abstract

Salinization has a negative impact on biodiversity, agricultural productivity, and sustainable development, while the increase of heavy metals in agricultural soil may threaten soil quality and pose a risk to human health, which requires suitable, friendly, and low-cost solutions. This study investigated the potential application of a halophyte (Sesuvium portulacastrum L.) in removing salts and Pb from polluted agricultural soils over a 70-day experimental period. The growth of S. portulacastrum L. under soil salinity (1000, 5000, and 10000 mg/kg NaCl) and Pb pollution (100, 500, and 1000 mg/kg Pb(NO₃)₂) conditions was studied. In addition, the change in salt concentration and Pb content in the soils as well as the accumulation in the tissues of S. portulacastrum L. was evaluated. The results revealed that there was a significant increase in biomass of S. portulacastrum L. under the saline and Pb pollution soil conditions. After 70 days of the testing, S. portulacastrum L. eliminated between 33% and 100% of the salt content and 7.15% to 80% of the Pb concentration in the soil treatments. There were 4.8 mg/kg to 8.8 mg/kg of NaCl and 120 µg/g DW to 3420 µg/g DW of Pb found in the shoots of S. portulacastrum L. Particularly, the contents of Pb in the roots were reported in the range of 27.000 µg/g DW and 136.500 µg/g DW. This suggests that S. portulacastrum L. can absorb both salts and Pb in the soils and accumulate these chemicals in its tissues, which plays a pivotal role in decreasing lead pollution and salinity in agricultural soils, enhancing soil quality, and improving crop yield and safety for humans and animals.