Vermicompost assisted phytoremediation of toxic trace element contaminated soil in Madaka, Nigeria, using Melissa ofcinalis L and Sida acuta

Abstract

The aim of this study was to clean up toxic element polluted soil in Madaka, Niger State, Nigeria. Standard techniques were used to determine the soil physicochemical properties. To aid the plants (Melissa officinalis L and Sida acuta) during the remediation process, standard methods were used to make chicken dropping vermicompost and goat manure vermicompost. M. officinalis L mopped up toxic elements in the first location (Angwan Kawo), with concentrations of cadmium, arsenic, and lead ranging from 0.007 to 0.33 mg/kg, 0.09 to 4.39 mg/kg, and 0.07 to 10.35 mg/kg, respectively, while toxic elements, cadmium, arsenic, and lead in S. acuta, ranged from 0.002 to 0.43 mg/kg, 0.27 to 3.79 mg/ kg, and 1.68 to 10.7 mg/kg, respectively. The two plants mopped up toxic elements at different rates in the second location of the polluted soil (Angwan Magiro). Cadmium, arsenic, and lead concentrations in M. officinalis L ranged from 0.03 to 0.41 mg/kg, 0.65 to 4.65 mg/kg, and 1.93 to 11.49 mg/kg, respectively, while toxic element concentrations in S. acuta ranged from 0.06 to 0.66 mg/kg, 0.68 to 4.64 mg/kg, and 1.53 to 11.53 mg/kg, respectively. Melissa officinalis L and Sida acuta were found to be the most suitable plants for phytoextraction of toxic element-contaminated sites because their bioconcentration factor, translocation factor, and biological accumulation coefficient were all greater than one (> 1), and both plants had bioconcentration and translocation factor < 1; they were also classified as phytostabilizers. As a result, the plants could be used to clean up Madaka soil polluted with toxic element.