Thursday, 10 November 2005 - 8:45 AM
327-3

Phytoextraction of Selenium by Two Brassica Spp.

Richard W. Gardner, Muchha R. Reddy, Niedziela Carl, and Mulumebet Worku. North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, 1601 East Market Street, Carver Hall, GREENSBORO, NC 27411

Abstract:

Agricultural and industrial activities generate significant amount of soluble Selenium in the biosphere including soil environment. This presents an on going concern and challenge about this potentially toxic metalloid and thus it is necessary to removed Selenium from the affected environment. To study phytoextraction of Selenium a greenhouse study was conducted at NC A&T State University. The soil used was a Mckelenburg sandy loam (Fine, mixed, thermic Ultic Hapludalfs). The experimental design was 2x2x4 factorial in a completely randomized design with six replications. The soil was collected from Guilford County, North Carolina and prepared using standard methods. The soil was then placed in 50cm diameter pots. The pots were arranged in the greenhouse and brought to field capacity. The two brassica spp. for this study, were Brassica juncea (accession # PI 181035) and India Mustard Red Giant (Lot # 8012TK03U0). Two forms of selenium for the study were sodium selenate and sodium selenite and each form of selenium was applied in three different concentrations (1.00, 2.00 and 4.00mg/kg) and a control. The treatments were randomized and the Brassica seeds were planted in the pots. The pots were maintained at field capacity and each accession allowed to grow for sixty days and biomass recorded. The two accessions were treated with respective selenium concentration. Soil from the pots and biomass shoot and root samples were collected using standard methods for extraction and analysis of selenium by ICP. The results and treatment effects will be presented.


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