Phytoextraction of Pb, As and Cd, present in agricultural soils contaminated by mining tailings by corn (Zea mays L.) and beetroot (Beta vulgarisL.)

Abstract

Pollution generated by the mining and metallurgical industry is one of the most dangerous forms of pollution that mainly affects the headwaters of basins, and that negatively impacts on water and agricultural resources; Therefore, in this research, the absorption of heavy metals Pb, As and Cd by corn (Zea mays L.) and beet (Beta vulgaris L.) is quantified, using soils contaminated by mining tailings that contain heavy metals, from the Samne area, La Libertad, Peru. To determine the concentration of the heavy metals Pb, As and Cd, the methodology of atomic absorption spectrophotometry was used. The results found indicate that the maximum concentration values of heavy metals were determined in the beet with values of 432,95 mg/ kg for Pb, 3,89 mg/ kg for as and 13,88 mg/ kg for Cd in the root organ; following the absorption trend: Pb > Cd > As, with Pb having the highest absorption level at 65, 95 and 125 days of experimentation.