Journal
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHYTOREMEDIATION
Volume 17, Issue 2, Pages 117-127Publisher
TAYLOR & FRANCIS INC
DOI: 10.1080/15226514.2013.862204
Keywords
hyperaccumulator; nickel; phytoextraction; ultramafic soil
Categories
Funding
- French Embassy in Tirana
- French National Research Agency through the national Investissements d'avenir program [ANR-10-LABX-21 - LABEX RESSOURCES21]
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Large ultramafic areas exist in Albania, which could be suitable for phytomining with native Alyssummurale. We undertook a five-year field experiment on an ultramafic Vertisol, aimed at optimizing a low-cost Ni-phytoextraction crop of A. murale which is adapted to the Balkans. The following aspects were studied on 18-m(2) plots in natural conditions: the effect of (i) plant phenology and element distribution, (ii) plant nutrition and fertilization, (iii) plant cover and weed control and (iv), planting technique (natural cover vs. sown crop). The optimal harvest time was set at the mid-flowering stage when Ni concentration and biomass yield were highest. The application of N, P, and K fertilizers, and especially a split 100-kg ha(-1) N application, increased the density of A. murale against all other species. It significantly increased shoot yield, without reducing Ni concentration. In natural stands, the control of graminaceous weeds required the use of an anti-monocots herbicide. However, after the optimization of fertilization and harvest time, weed control procured little benefit. Finally, cropping sown A. murale was more efficient than enhancing native stands and gave higher biomass and phytoextraction yields; biomass yields progressively improved from 0.3 to 9.0 t ha(-1) and phytoextracted Ni increased from 1.7 to 105 kg ha(-1).
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