Influence of arbuscular mycorrhiza and Rhizobium on phytoremediation by alfalfa of an agricultural soil contaminated with weathered PCBs: a field study

Ying Teng, Yongming Luo, Xianghui Sun, Chen Tu, Li Xu, Wuxing Liu, Zhengao Li, Peter Christie

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

79 Citations (Scopus)
551 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted to study the effects of inoculation with the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Glomus caledonium and/or Rhizobium meliloti on phytoremediation of an agricultural soil contaminated with weathered PCBs by alfalfa grown for 180 days. Planting alfalfa (P), alfalfa inoculated with G. caledonium (P+AM), alfalfa inoculated with R. meliloti (P+R), and alfalfa co-inoculated with R. meliloti and G. caledonium (P+AM+R) decreased significantly initial soil PCB concentrations by 8.1, 12.0, 33.8, and 43.5%, respectively. Inoculation with R. meliloti and/or G. caledonium (P+AM+R) increased the yield of alfalfa, and the accumulation of PCBs in the shoots. Soil microbial counts and the carbon utilization ability of the soil microbial community increased when alfalfa was inoculated with R. meliloti and/or G. caledonium. Results of this field study suggest that synergistic interactions between AMF and Rhizobium may have great potential to enhance phytoremediation by alfalfa of an agricultural soil contaminated with weathered PCBs.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)516-533
JournalInternational Journal of Phytoremediation
Volume12
Issue number5
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 03 Jul 2010
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Plant Science
  • Environmental Chemistry
  • Pollution

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