Potential of Eucalyptus globulus for the phytoremediation of metals in a Moroccan iron mine soil-a case study

The contamination left by abandoned mines demands sustainable mitigation measures. Hence, the aim of this study was to examine the phytoremediator ability of Eucalyptus globulus Labill. to be used for cleaning up metal-contaminated soils from an African abandoned iron (Fe) mine (Ait Ammar, Oued Zem, Morocco). Plantlets of this species were exposed to a control (CTL), a reference (REF), and a mine-contaminated soil (CS). Morphological (growth, leaf area) and physiological stress biomarkers (photosynthetic efficiency, pigments content, leaf relative water, and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels) and metal bioaccumulation were assessed. The growth and leaf area of E. globulus increased overtime in all soils, although at a lower rate in the CS. Its photosynthetic efficiency was not markedly impaired, as well as MDA levels decreased throughout the experiment in CS. In this soil, higher metal contents were detected in E. globulus roots than in leaves, especially Fe (roots: 15.98-213.99 mu g g(-1); leaves: 5.97-15.98 mu g g(-1)) and Zn (roots: 1.64-1.99 mu g g(-1); leaves: 0.67-1.19 mu g g(-1)), indicating their reduced translocation. Additionally, though at low extent, the plants bioaccumulated some metals (Pb > Zn > Cu) from CS. Overall, E. globulus may be potentially used for the phytoremediation of metals in metal-contaminated soils.

Automated summary

The study aimed to examine the phytoremediation potential of Eucalyptus globulus in cleaning up metal-contaminated soils, with results showing that the plant can grow and absorb some metals, although at a lower rate in contaminated soils. This suggests that Eucalyptus globulus may potentially be used for phytoremediation of metal-contaminated soils.