PHYTOREMEDIATION OF CADMIUM AND LEAD IN CONTAMINATED SOILS

In the years 2006 - 2008 studies were carried out of cadmium and lead uptake from soil by non-traditional crops. A small-plot trial was established on non-agricultural land in Troubsko. Troubsko is located in a sugar beet growing region with the mean annual temperature of 8.4(circle)C and mean annual precipitation of 547 mm. Studies were made of phytoremedial effects of safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.), fenugreek (Trigonella foenum graecum L.), fodder mallow (Malva verticillata L.), rye (Secale cereale L. var. multicaule METZG. ex ALEF) and white sweet clover (Melilotus alba L.). The amount of cadmium and lead in DM of aboveground biomass of plants was determined by atomic emission spectrometry. The amount of metals was subsequently converted to unit area (m(2)). This enabled comparison of accumulation capacity of plant species growing on contaminated soil. Also, the effect of compost application on metal accumulation in plants was examined. There were considerable differences between plants in metal uptake. The most suitable crops for phytoremediation seem to be fodder mallow and rye. The present results show a positive effect of compost on heavy metal uptake by plants.