PJB-2021-529
The potential of commercial composts in reducing heavy metals and metalloids phytoaccumulation in maize
Waqas Ahmed, Qamar Uz Zaman, Faisal Mehmood, Asim Abbasi, Kamran Ashraf, Komal Fatima, Saba Nazir, Nayab Komal and Muhammad Waqas
Abstract
Plants uptake the heavy metals (HMs) from soil and accumulate in human body and biomagnifications via food chain causes both environment pollution and human health issues. Various amendments of organic and inorganic nature were applied to minimize the metal contamination of soil. Present study investigated the effects of composts for mitigation of metals and metalloids stress in maize. Experimental treatments were comprised of composts (GO-Organic composts and Lahore compost), metals and metalloids (Cd, As and Cr) and their levels (0, 25 and 50 ppm). Results revealed that as HMs and metalloids stress increased in soil, the physiological, growth, quality and yield attributes gradually decreased. Higher levels (50 ppm) of metals stress significantly reduced all attributes as compared to control (0 ppm). The decreasing order of metals and metalloids stress in all parameters was As > Cr > Cd. Maximum reduction in chlorophyll contents (23.1%), cob length (41.3%), cob diameter (32.6%) and grain yield per plant (26.8%) were observed at the 50 ppm of metals and metalloids compared to control. However, an increase of 70.5%, 118.4% and 43.9% in enzymatic activities of SOD, POD and CAT, respectively, was noticed at the same level. Whereas, by using compost, all attributes were significantly improved primarily due to the gradual decrease in accumulation of metals and metalloids in different parts of the plant which ultimately diminishes stress in maize plants with GO-Organic Compost more profound than Lahore Compost. In crux, heavy metals have detrimental effects on the growth, photosynthesis, enzymatic antioxidants, yield and quality of maize. However, compost can be applied safely for maize cultivation in soil spiked with metals and metalloids.
To Cite this article:
Ahmed, W., Q.U. Zaman, F. Mehmood, A. Abbasi, K. Ashraf, K. Fatima, S. Nazir, N. Komal and M. Waqas. 2023. The potential of commercial composts in reducing heavy metals and metalloids phytoaccumulation in maize. Pak. J. Bot., 55(2): DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.30848/PJB2023-2(25)
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