ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Uptake and Leaching of Cu, Cd, and Cr after
EDTA Application in Sand Columns Using
Sorghum and Pearl Millet
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1
Department of Botany, University of the Punjab, Lahore 54590, Pakistan
2
Department of Botany, University of Gujrat, Gujrat-50700, Pakistan
3
College of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of the Punjab, Lahore-54590, Pakistan
Submission date: 2017-07-08
Final revision date: 2018-01-22
Acceptance date: 2018-01-27
Online publication date: 2019-01-09
Publication date: 2019-03-01
Corresponding author
Firdaus-e- Bareen
University of the Punjab, College of Eath and Environmental Sciences, Quaid-e-Azam Campus,, 54590 Lahore, Pakistan
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2019;28(4):2065-2077
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ABSTRACT
In a greenhouse experiment using sand columns, sorghum and pearl millet were grown and spiked
with metal solutions of Cu, Cd, and Cr in two concentrations. The chelating agent EDTA was applied
to one-month-old plants and metal mobilization was observed through uptake by the plants or leaching
through the columns during a period of one month. Growth was much better in pearl millet than
sorghum under metal stress. Metal uptake was significantly higher in sorghum and was in the order
root>shoot>leaves in both the plants. Metals were differentially mobilized in the order of Cu>Cr>Cd
as shown by plant uptake and leaching through the columns. The root to shoot translocation of Cd was
significantly improved after EDTA application, and to some extent for Cu but not for Cr. The leaching of
metals was the maximum in the second week of application and was almost negligible by the fourth week
conforming to the amount of EDTA detected in the leachate. Leaching of Cr differed in the maximum
amount at the time of chelant application, while Cu and Cd showed maximum leaching after 7 days.
As compared to sorghum, pearl millet was better at controlling leaching because of its extensive root
system.