Zinc and cadmium uptake by the freshwater marsh plant<i>Cyperus esculentus</i>grown in contaminated sediments under reduced (flooded) and oxidized (upland) disposal conditions

Abstract

Abstract Zinc and cadmium uptake by the freshwater marsh plant Cyperus esculentus from 15 highly contaminated freshwater sediments under reduced (flooded) and oxidized (upland) disposal conditions was investigated in the greenhouse. The sediments were collected from waterways in the Great Lakes area and transported to the laboratory, where each sediment was mixed thoroughly and divided in half. One‐half of the sediment was maintained in a reduced (flooded) state and the other half was air‐dried and ground (oxidized‐upland condition). Cyperus esculentus var. sativus was grown from tubers planted in both sediments and allowed to grow to maximum vegetative growth (90 days). The moisture content of the oxidized sediments was maintained between field capacity and the wilting point of the plant. The plants were harvested and analyzed for zinc and cadmium. Disposal condition was shown to significantly influence zinc and cadmium uptake. Zinc and cadmium uptake was generally greater from upland disposal conditions. Organic matter appeared to control zinc and cadmium availability for plant uptake.