Use of leguminous plants for phytoremediation of soil contaminated with sulfentrazone

Abstract

Residual sulfentrazone may remain in the soil for around two years, being a source of groundwater contamination and preventing the growth of susceptible plants. So, phytoremediation may represent an option for decontaminating areas which were highly affected by applications of this herbicide. This study aimed at evaluating the potential of Crotalaria juncea, Canavalia ensiformis, Cajanus cajan and Cajanus cajan (dwarf) for remediation of soil contaminated with sulfentrazone, using millet (Pennisetum glaucum) as a bioindicator plant. The experiment was installed in a greenhouse and treatments consisted of the four species already mentioned, plus a control, and four sulfentrazone doses (0 g a.i. ha^-1, 200 g a.i. ha^-1, 400 g a.i. ha^-1 and 800 g a.i. ha^-1). Plants height, phytotoxicity to sulfentrazone and fresh and dry matter were evaluated. When P. glaucum was grown after C. juncea, the fresh and dry matter, as well as plant height, were higher, while the phytotoxicity symptoms were less evident. C. juncea showed the best results for phytoremediation of soils contaminated with sulfentrazone.