17
Phytotechnologies for Site Remediation
none to 11 tons of dry matter ha −1 (Borkowska & Wardzinska, 2003). The welldeveloped root system allows it to efficiently use limited nutrients and water
from marginal soils (Borkowska & Wardzinska, 2003). S. hermaphrodita grows
well in stony or sandy soil with high yields, and best growth is reported for
moderately humid areas. Hybrids and cultivars are mainly cultivated now
because they have higher yields than the original species. The data about
phytoremediation potential of Virginia mallow are summarized in Table 2.5.
Sorghum × drummondii Steud. (Sudan grass) is an annual, warm-season, fast
growing plant (Figure 2.6), which belongs to Poaceae family and is a hybrid of
S. bicolor and S. arundinaceum, and possesses C 4 photosynthesis. Sudan grass
is originally from Southern Egypt and Sudan; in 1909 it was imported to the
US where it began to be grown as a fodder species. The crop is widespread
in South America, Australia, South Africa, Central and Northern Europe. It
shows best growth in areas with average annual precipitation between 600
and 900 mm, nevertheless tolerates drought periods, and can be produced in
all soil types (FAO, 2012). Recently S. drummondii has attracted interests due to
its ability to remove trace elements from different media (Table 2.6). According
to Pivetz (2001) it can absorb and accumulate Co. Application of microbial
inoculants improved the remediation process (Shim et al., 2014). Utilization
of certain mycorrhizal fungi which form a symbiosis with S. × drummondii
can increase the accumulation of trace elements from the contaminated soil
(Gaur & Adholeya, 2004).
The Miscanthus genus belongs to the Poaceae (or grasses) family (Figure 2.7).
It has C 4 photosynthesis with high water and nutrient-use efficiency and cold
tolerance (Chung & Kim, 2012). The genus can be found within high lawns of
TABLE 2.5
Phytoremediation Potential of Sida hermaphrodita L. to Different Trace Elements
Phytoremediation
Trace Element
Potential
References
Cd
Phytoextraction
Rhizofiltration
Potential accumulator
Cr
Efficiently removes Cr
from the media
Cu
Efficiently removes Cu
from the media
Rhizoextraction
Ni
Efficient in
phytoextraction
Rhizoextraction
Pb
Phytoextraction
Accumulator
Ociepa (2011)

Antonkiewicz & Jasiewicz (2002)

Borkowska et al. (2001); Krzywy-Gawrońska (2012)

Borkowska et al. (2001)

Borkowska et al. (2001)

Antonkiewicz & Jasiewicz (2002);
Krzywy-Gawrońska (2012)
Krzywy-Gawrońska (2012)
Antonkiewicz & Jasiewicz (2002)
Krzywy-Gawrońska (2012)
Kocoń & Matyka (2012)
Zn
Phytoextraction
Krzywy-Gawrońska (2012)
Accumulator
Borkowska et al. (2001)