• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.315-320
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• 2002

Phytoremediation of soil contaminated with cadmium was studied using Indian mallow (Abutilon avicennae) in columns packed with 80 mg Cd/kg soil. At 90 days after transplat, root biomass of the exposed plants was 4 times more inhibited compared to the control. Also, shoot length of the exposed plants was 3 times more inhibited than that of control plants. Accumulation of cadmium into tissues was in the order roots> stems> leaves during the 50 days, but the order was roots> stems> seeds> leaves during the 90 days after transplant. Regardless of cadmium contaminations, microbial activities were significantly greater in soil with plants than without plants. In soil column, cadmium was not transferred toward the lower part. Uptake of Cd by plant tissues was about 3.5% of the initial bioavailable cadmium for leaves, stems, and roots during the 90 days after transplant.