Efficiency Salix viminalis L. to treat polluted acid soils

Abstract

The absorbtion efficiency of common osier (Salix viminalis L.) of ions of the heavy metals was investigated at the Vėžaičiai Branch of the Lithuanian Research (Western Lithuania, ). The soil of the experimental site – naturally acidic Retisol (WB 2014; pH_KCl 4.35–4.58). Granulated sewage sludge substrate containing heavy metals was applied once at 45 and 90 t ha^-1 rates (in 2014) for common osier fertilization. The concentrations of 6 heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Ni, Pb, Cu, Zn) in common osier dry mass (DM) were measured after 4 and 7 growing years. A trend can be observed that higher accumulation of some heavy metals (Cd, Ni, Cu) occurred during the first 4 years of growth. Heavy metals accumulated in plant biomass in the following descending order: Zn>Cu>Ni>Pb>Cd. The use of highest 90 t ha^-1 sewage sludge rate caused the increase of Ni concentration in biomass; meanwhile the application of both 45 and 90 t ha^-1 sewage sludge rates had no significant impact on the concentration of other heavy metals in common osier biomass.