Enhanced uptake of cadmium by native plant (Artemisia princeps var. orientalis) using ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid

Phytoextraction using plants to clean up metals from the environment is an emerging technology for contaminated land restoration. Efficiency of phytoextraction is controlled by metal availability in the soil and the availability can be maximized by addition of chelates. The objective of this study was to determine Cd availability to native plant (Artemisia princeps var. orientalis) under hydroponic condition as influenced by different sources of ligands. Result showed that 1 mM MEDTA was more effective than oxalate or sulfate in mobilizing Cd in the contaminated soil into labile forms, resulting also in enhanced translocation of Cd from roots into shoots. Oxalate and sulfate had little effect on the Cd availability by Artemisia princeps. Plant seedlings accumulated relatively small amounts of Cd from the field contaminated soil than the artificially contaminated one. Overall results indicated that the species of Cd not the total content govern the Cd availability and EDTA could be used as the soil treatment agent enhancing phytoextraction of Cd from the contaminated soil.