Evaluación de la zantedeschia aethiopica, como planta fitorremediadora de suelos contaminados con cromo

Abstract

This research concerns the negative environmental impacts caused by industrial activities, which generate various harmful wastes such as heavy metals, in this case, hexavalent chromium. This affects natural resources which are essential for living beings, such as water, soil, and air. This study aimed to evaluate the ability of the plant Zantedeschia Aethiopica to remediate chromium VI contamination in soil. Utilizing bioassays, the effects on germination and growth were examined at concentrations of 0, 50, 100, 150, 200, and 250 ppm potassium dichromate. During the germination phase, ten experimental units, each containing 30 seeds, were used for 7 days, evaluating percentages such as relative germination, relative root elongation, and germination index. In the growth stage, six treatments were established with the doses mentioned above, each with three combinations of two types of substrates in different proportions: 1) organic matter 75%, gravel 25%; 2) organic matter 50%, gravel 50%; 3) organic matter 25%, gravel 75%. Each combination was replicated 10 times, resulting in a total of 180 experimental units, lasting 110 days. An unbalanced completely randomized block design was used to analyze plant height and leaf width. The LD50 (median lethal dose) was determined to be approximately 71 ppm using modeled methods with low levels of bioaccumulation in the plant. A lower phytoextractor potential was observed in the species Z. Aethiopica. Plot trials under controlled conditions are suggested to verify if these factors' interaction influences this species' response.