Pot experiment of the uptake of metals by Amaranthus cruentus grown in artificially doped soils by copper and zinc

Abstract

The supplementation of metals is a mean used to ameliorate the nutritional quality of vegetables. Pot experiment was carried to evaluate the addition effects of copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) in soils on their distribution and those of other metals in plant tissues. The experiment consisted of growth Amaranthus cruentus, a leafy vegetable, for 30 days in a soil to which copper and zinc were added singly and in combination. At the end of the experiment roots, stems and leaves of plants were analyzed for metal uptake in tissues. The results show that accumulation of Cu and Zn was significantly higher in roots than in leaves and stems (p < 0.0001). There were no significant difference between Cu and Zn uptake in leaves and roots. The supplementation of Cu and Zn in soil had an obvious effect on the enrichment of Cu and Zn in Amaranthus cruentus, the leaves had better enrichment effect of Cu and the roots had better enrichment effect of Zn. Furthermore, the enrichment effect of Zn in leaves was also important (until 237%). The present study showed that Amaranthus cruentus plant can accumulate higher concentrations of Cu and Zn if the cultivated soil contains moderately higher Cu and Zn levels. Antagonist effects were observed between Cu and Zn supplementation and other metals in roots. In stems, it was synergic effects which were observed. Many synergic and antagonist effects between Cu and Zn added in soil and other metal transfer in leaves were often observed.

Keywords: pot experiment; copper; zinc; Amaranthus cruentus; metal uptake