Phytoextraction of lead by Indian mustard

A screen house experiment was carried out with Brassica juncea grown on artificially spiked soil (200 µg Pb g−1) with EDTA (2 mmol kg−1 in 5 split doses), farm yard manure (FYM), vermicompost (VC) and microbial inoculants (Azotobacter sp. and Pseudomonas sp.) Results revealed that FYM and VC led to higher biomass production as compared to unamended soil. The bioinoculants also contributed in augmentation of biomass production but not significantly. The EDTA led to significant decrease in biomass as compared to FYM and VC. The Pb concentration increased significantly in Brassica juncea with the application of EDTA, the highest concentration of Pb being recorded in EDTA treatment. Among all the treatment combinations, EDTA and bio-inoculants combination led to higher uptake of Pb. The FYM and VC also increased uptake of Pb but much less than EDTA. The results indicated that EDTA in combination with bioinoculants was superior in enhancing the phytoextraction of Pb by Brassica juncea.