EFFICIENCY OF MSW COMPOST FOR REDUCING UPTAKE OF HEAVY METALS BY PLANT

Abstract

Municipal solid waste (MSW) compost supplied from the Istanbul Solid Waste Recycling and Composting Facility was used to amend soil samples collected within the boundaries of Istanbul. Cat grass (Dactylis glomerata cat grass) seeds were sown in the prepared samples. Plant development was observed for 90 days. pH, Cd, Cu and Ni concentrations in plant samples were measured at the end of every month. Concentrations of forms of Cd, Cu and Ni forms in soil were determined at the beginning and at the end of 90 day period (with sequential extraction). The effect of MSW compost on the transfer of Cd, Cu and Ni from the soil to the plants and the change in the forms of heavy metals in soil was determined. Results of sequential extraction showed that, adding compost into the soil changed the forms of these metals in soil. Plant uptake of Cd decreased, however, those of Ni and Cu increased. Cu concentration in plants that grew in soil with 3 wt. % of compost added reached 136.4 mu g/kg.