Chive (Allium schoenoprasum L.) response as a phytoextraction plant in cadmium-contaminated soils

Cadmium (Cd) soil contamination poses a major hazard to safe food production throughout the world, calling upon actions for decontamination using environmentally friendly methods, such as phytoextraction. In this study, the capability of chive (Allium schoenoprasum L.) for phytoextracting Cd from contaminated soils was tested. Growth of chive was studied in a soil spiked with 0, 15, 30, 60, and 120 mg Cd/kg soil, and then, concentrations of Cd in soil, plant shoots, and roots were measured after harvest. Chive dry matter production was not affected significantly by the different Cd levels in soil, except from the maximum Cd concentration (120 mg Cd/kg soil), where dry matter was reduced by 77%. Cadmium accumulation occurred mostly in roots rather than in shoots, with maximum Cd concentrations 482.48 and 26.65 mg/kg of dry matter, respectively. Translocation factor (the proportion of Cd concentration in the aerial plant parts to that in the roots) was below 1 in all contaminated levels and decreased with increasing Cd concentrations in soil, indicating low Cd reallocation from roots to shoots. Maximum amount of Cd absorption (Cd concentration in shoots), maximum contaminant uptake rate, and minimum clean-up time were all observed in Cd concentration 60 mg/kg soil. Based on chive potential to acquire Cd in its roots and shoots, it can be designated as a convenient species for reducing Cd from contaminated soils up to concentrations of 60 mg Cd/kg soil.