TY - JOUR
T1 - Use and abuse of trace metal concentrations in plant tissue for biomonitoring and phytoextraction
AU - Mertens, Jan
AU - Luyssaert, Sebastiaan
AU - Verheyen, Kris
PY - 2005/11
Y1 - 2005/11
N2 - Some plant species accumulate trace metals from the soil in their aboveground biomass. Therefore, some scientists have concluded that these species are suitable for biomonitoring trace metal concentrations in the soil or for removing excessive trace metals from the soil by means of phytoextraction. A significant correlation between the chemical composition of foliage and soil is not a sufficient condition for using the chemical composition of foliage as a biomonitor for the quality of the soil. The chemical composition of foliage can, however, provide additional information to the traditional soil samples. The phytoextraction potential of a plant species cannot solely be evaluated on the basis of the trace metal concentrations in the plant and soil tissue. Data on the depth of the rooting zone, the density of the soil and the harvestable biomass should also be taken into account. Although plant tissue analysis is a useful tool in a wide range of studies and applications, trace metal concentrations in plant tissue cannot be viewed in isolation. Instead it should be analysed and interpreted in relation to other information such as soil concentrations, rooted zone, biomass production, etc.
AB - Some plant species accumulate trace metals from the soil in their aboveground biomass. Therefore, some scientists have concluded that these species are suitable for biomonitoring trace metal concentrations in the soil or for removing excessive trace metals from the soil by means of phytoextraction. A significant correlation between the chemical composition of foliage and soil is not a sufficient condition for using the chemical composition of foliage as a biomonitor for the quality of the soil. The chemical composition of foliage can, however, provide additional information to the traditional soil samples. The phytoextraction potential of a plant species cannot solely be evaluated on the basis of the trace metal concentrations in the plant and soil tissue. Data on the depth of the rooting zone, the density of the soil and the harvestable biomass should also be taken into account. Although plant tissue analysis is a useful tool in a wide range of studies and applications, trace metal concentrations in plant tissue cannot be viewed in isolation. Instead it should be analysed and interpreted in relation to other information such as soil concentrations, rooted zone, biomass production, etc.
KW - Bioindicator
KW - Foliar analysis
KW - Phytoextraction
KW - Soil analysis
KW - Trace metals
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U2 - 10.1016/j.envpol.2005.01.002
DO - 10.1016/j.envpol.2005.01.002
M3 - Article
C2 - 16023913
AN - SCOPUS:22044448627
SN - 0269-7491
VL - 138
SP - 1
EP - 4
JO - Environmental Pollution
JF - Environmental Pollution
IS - 1
ER -