Phytoremediation potential of Centella asiatica (gotu kola) in nickel ore-contaminated soils | JBES 2018

Map showing the operating nickel mining sites in Carrascal, Surigao del Sur, Philippines.

Author Information

Genelyn G. Madjos from the Institute of the Department of Biological Sciences, College of Science and Mathematics, Western Mindanao State University, Zamboanga City, Philippines

Journal Name

Journal of Biodiversity and Environmental Sciences | JBES

Abstract

Nickel miningposed a serious environmental problem due to run-offs and tailings. To address this, current techniques include excavation, chemical stabilization and soil flushing, but these methods are costly and impractical. One of the ecologically accepted treatments is phytoremediation. With the capacity of Centella asiatica (gotu kola) to thrive in moist soils with domestic effluents, this present study sought to evaluate its phytoremediation potential by employing an experimental design with three replicates of: (a) nickel-rich bio-ore soils from the mining site in Carrascal, Surigao del Sur as treatment substrates; and (b) natural background soils from Iligan City as the control substrate). Phytoremediation potential of C.  asiatica was assessed through relative plant growth, bioaccumulation capacity through Atomic Absorption Spectrometer (AAS), contamination factor (CF) computationand tolerance-accumulating mechanism through SHAPE software tool which evaluates shape variations based on elliptic Fourier descriptors. Results reveal relative growth values close to 1 which means that they have the potential to survive in nickel-contaminated condition. AAS results show a greater decrease in soil nickel content and a bigger increase in nickel accumulation in the plant samples in the nickel-ore contaminated soils than in the background (control soils). Contamination factor values indicate that soil and plant samples have very high contamination factor (6 < CF). SHAPE analysis between the control and treatment set-up shows no variations (p= 0.155) in the leaf shape of C. asiatica which indicates its tolerance-accumulating mechanism. These concerted results suggest that C. asiatica may exhibit phytoremediation potential in nickel-ore contaminated soils.

Introduction

Nickel contamination is a very important environmental problem though, the fact remains that it is extremely difficult to remediate the heavy-metal contaminated soils. Current techniques used to remediate heavy-metal contaminated soils include excavation, chemical stabilization, soil washing or soil flushing, but these methods are costly and impractical (Mehes-Smith et al., 2013). Phytoremediation is an ecologically acceptable process and cost-effective use of hyper-accumulator plants to remediate contaminated soils (Lone et al., 2008; Sharma et al., 2013). Centella asiatica (gotu kola) is a small, herbaceous plant usually seen in shady and moist areas and can even thrive abundantly in canals with domestic effluence. 

In the context of phytoremediation, it was reported to be accumulate copper, lead, and zinc in contaminated media (Yap et al., 2010; Mokhtar et al., 2011a,b;Bahnika&Baruah 2014;). This, however, is still a less studied plant in the field of phytoremediation, especially in the case of nickel. Carrascal nickel mining sites in Surigaodel Sur, Mindanao, Philippines is one of the worlds’ largest producers of nickel (US Geological Survey, 2015). Current mining operations are all conducted above ground however; reported nickel mobility includes erosion and run-offs through river systems, estuaries and finally oceans, the ultimate sink. 

It can also enter groundwater supplies by leaching through the soil column. Soils in agricultural areas are becoming inappropriate for sustainable agriculture due to siltation which leads to phytotoxicity (NSCEP-EPA, 1990). With this present condition, this study sought to evaluate the possibility of using Centella asiatica (gotukola) for phyto-remediating nickel-rich bio-ore contaminated soils though an experimental design. Check out more Phytoremediation potential of Centella asiatica (gotu kola) in nickel ore-contaminated soils

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