Data set for Chelate-assisted phytoextraction of metal(loid)-contaminated boreal forest soil

Description

Raw data supporting: Chelate-assisted phytoextraction of metal(loid)-contaminated boreal forest soil using Brassica juncea with natural and synthetic chelators applied alone and in combination. This dataset contains raw data from a 10-week greenhouse experiment evaluating the effectiveness of EDTA and biodegradable chelators—citric acid (CA) and oxalic acid (OA)—applied alone or in combination for remediation of moderately contaminated acidic (pH 5.6) boreal forest soil containing elevated Cd, Cu, Ni, and Zn. Six treatments were tested: control, EDTA, CA, OA, EDTA + CA, and EDTA + OA. The dataset includes replicate-level measurements of soil and plant metal concentrations, porewater metal concentrations, and aboveground biomass of Brassica juncea. Metal concentrations are reported in mg kg⁻¹ or mg L⁻¹, and biomass in g dry weight. These data support evaluation of chelate-assisted metal mobility and phytoextraction efficiency.

Steps to reproduce

Surface soil (0–20 cm) was collected from a boreal forest site near Flin Flon, Manitoba, Canada, homogenized, air-dried, and sieved (<2 mm). Basic soil properties (pH, EC, nutrients, organic matter, and bioavailable metals) were determined using standard extraction procedures and analyzed by colorimetry or inductively coupled plasma–atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES; Thermo iCAP 6500 Duo). Total metal(loid) concentrations were determined by acid digestion followed by ICP-AES at an accredited laboratory (ALS Geochemistry, Canada). A 10-week greenhouse pot experiment (15–20 °C; 16 h light/8 h dark) was conducted using Brassica juncea. Six treatments (n = 3) were established: control, EDTA (3 mmol kg⁻¹), citric acid (CA; 3 mmol kg⁻¹), oxalic acid (OA; 3 mmol kg⁻¹), EDTA + CA, and EDTA + OA. Chelators were applied at 30 and 60 days after seeding. Soil moisture was maintained at 80% field capacity, and nutrient solution was applied twice during growth. Soil pore water was collected using Rhizon-Flex samplers before and after chelator applications. At harvest (10 weeks), aboveground biomass was measured, plant tissues were oven-dried, ground, dry-ashed, acid-digested, and analyzed for metal(loid)s (As, Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn) by ICP-AES. Post-harvest soils were analyzed for pH, EC, and bioavailable metals (0.1 M NaNO₃ extraction). Certified reference materials were used for quality control.

Institutions

• University of Winnipeg

  Manitoba, Winnipeg

Categories

Funders

• Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada

  Ontario, Ottawa

Licence