Effect of EDTA and (NH4)2SO4 on Removing Cadmium Using Alfalfa Raised in Compost

Background and Nowadays, Presence of heavy metals such as cadmium in agricultural soils, is regarded as a serious threat to human health in recent years. Phytoremediation is a method by which heavy metal accumulate in plant tissues, hence elimination of these elements from contaminated soils would be possible. The aim of this study was to investigate the removal of cadmium from soil-compost by alfalfa using EDTA and (NH4)2SO4.
The effect of changes on initial concentration of cadmium (10 to 200 mg of cadmium per kg of soil-compost) and the ratio of EDTA (5 to 15 mg per kg of soil-compost) to (NH4)2SO4 (200 mg per kg of soil-compost) on the removal of cadmium were investigated. Concentration of cadmium was determined by ICP. Analysis of data was performed in R software based on central composite design (CCD) model and SPSS.
The highest concentration of cadmium uptake was observed in the root of alfalfa. Application of EDTA in higher doses had significant effect on absorption in plant root (P Phytoremediation has proved to be effective in removing cadmium from agricultural soil. It is a safe, an eco-friendly technology, and requires inexpensive reagents. According to this investigation, adding (NH4)2SO4 with EDTA can be effective in improving Phytoremediation process.