STUDY REGARDING THE ASSESSMENT OF HEAVY METALS CONTENT IN FESTUCA RUBRA L. GROWN ON ARTIFICIALLY CONTAMINATED SOIL

This study aims to evaluate the heavy metals concentration in perennial grass species (Festuca rubra L.) grown on artificially contaminated soil with various doses of cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), zinc (Zn), and copper (Cu). The experiment was set up in pots and included a control variant and five experimental variants. The concentrations used ranged from 3 to 15 mg•kg-1 for Cd, 50 to 250 mg•kg-1 for Pb, 300 to 1500 mg•kg-1 for Zn, and 100 to 500 mg•kg-1 for Cu. The soil used in the experiment had a loamy texture, moderate fertility with medium levels contents of nitrogen and organic matter and the pH was slightly alkaline (7.94). The concentrations of heavy metals were within normal limits for alert and intervention thresholds for sensitive land use according to Ministerial Order No. 756/1997. The results obtained from the analysis of the regression equations showed a very significant correlation between the total content and DTPA—extractable form of heavy metals in the soil, and their accumulation in Festuca rubra L. plants, which shows the potential of this species to extract and accumulate heavy metals from the soil depending on the type of metal, level of contamination, and the physico-chemical characteristics of the soil.