PHYTOREMEDIATION POTENTIAL OF CANNABIS SATIVA L. GROWN ON METALLIFEROUS SOIL AND METAL RECOVERY

Abstract

Heavy metals in soil, especially at higher concentrations near industrial zones, present potential hazards to human well-being and agricultural productivity. In this study, the ultimate goal was to examine Cannabis sativa L. potential in the remediation of metalliferous soils using phytoremediation techniques. The research included growing Cannabis sativa L. seeds using two different soil compositions. The research findings demonstrate a significant decrease in many plant growth indicators within Soil Type 2 compared to Soil Type 1. The study examined variations in photosynthetic parameters under both soil types. The relative chlorophyll content exhibited a reduction of 17% under Soil Type 1. The PhiNPQt and PhiNO decreased 47% and 97%, while Phi2 demonstrated a decline of 33% under Soil Type 2. The study detected variations in the enzymatic responses of antioxidants influenced by the presence of heavy metals. The quantity of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in plants grown in Soil Type 2 showed a reduction of 42%. There was a significant increase in levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD; 20%), catalase (CAT; 27%), and peroxidase (POD; 24%), respectively. The root part of the plants significantly had a higher concentration of heavy metals. Consequently, the recorded values for BCF, TF, and ECf were below factor 1, suggesting limited translocation and bioconcentration inside the plant. The study used residual plant biomass in a new green synthesis technique. For this purpose, zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles were made using the waste material. Thus, this research presents a valuable methodology for extracting potentially toxic metals and the possible role that Cannabis sativa L. plays in solving the soil contamination problem via phytoremediation in regions affected by heavy metal contamination