The Use of Tree Crops in the Phytoremediation of Soils Contaminated with Pesticides

Abstract

Pesticides are highly toxic environmental pollutants and are known to accumulate in the environment due to their non-degradability. Phytoremediation is a biological technology which involves using plants to remove pollutants from the environment or to render them harmless. It is considered to be environmentally friendly and cost-effective using metal-accumulating plants for the cleaning of the polluted environmental compartment. Development of phytoremediation technique involves searching for species that can tolerate large accumulations of heavy metals in them. These accumulations of heavy metals happen in the root system of the plants, and are then translocated into the aerial part. To achieve this process, fast growing plants are suitable which will create a large biomass within a short period. This article looked at various studies on the use of tree crops in the phytoextraction of pesticides in contaminated soils. Findings from the reviewed work were collated, and it revealed the most promising species for these studies which include Popullus, Salix, Pinus, Eucalyptus, Robiniapseudo, Acasia, Leucaena leucocephala, Melia azedarach, Dalbergia sissoo, Acer, Betula pendula, Tilia cordata, and Ulmus laevis. These tree crops have shown promising abilities in decreasing the amount of heavy metals and thereby increase the productive value of the contaminated soils. This paper presents a review of the literature on the use of tree crops in the phytoremediation of soils contaminated with pesticides. Plant species with prospects for removal of pesticides have been identified in this article. Phytoremediation potentials of the identified tree crops have been documented, there is therefore sufficient grounds for further exploration.

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