Continental J.

Environmental Sciences 4: 51- 56, 2010 ISSN: 2141 - 4084

©Wilolud Journals, 2010 http://www.wiloludjournal.com

ASSESSMENT AND DISTRIBUTION OF HEAVY METALS IN MUNG BEAN VIGNA RADIATA CV. LOCAL)
GROWN ON COAL MINE SPOIL

Bandita Deo1, Gayatri Nahak2 and R.K. Sahu2

1
Plant Physiology & Biochemistry Division (Regional Plant Resource Centre), Bhubaneswar-751015, Orissa, India
2
B.J.B. (A) College, Botany Department, Bhubaneswar-751014, Orissa, India

ABSTRACT
Availability and uptake of heavy metals (Zn, Cu, Fe, Al, Cr, Ni) by mung bean grown on coal
mine spoil was studied. The experiment was carried out as a pot culture experiment using
garden soil and different proportion of coal mine spoil. The heavy metals were transported to
roots then shoot and were found in traces in the fruits. No toxicity symptom was reported
during vegetative as well as reproductive phages.

KEYWORDS: Heavy metals, mine spoil, Zinc, Copper, Iron, Aluminium, Chromium, Nickel

INTRODUCTION
Mining activities produce a large quantities of waste materials must be disposed of in the environment. These waste
dumps still have high metal concentrations and continued to be a source of metal pollution long after extraction
activities were ceased. Heavy metals are essential for the normal growth and metabolism of plants and play very
important role in the biosynthesis of some enzymes and growth hormones (Nanson and McElroy, 1963). The growth
and metabolism of many plant species were reported to be affected adversely by excess supply of heavy metals (Foy
et al, 1978). Cummins et al., (1965) reported exchangeable Cu and Zn concentration as high as in Eastern Kentucky
coal mine spoil but did not consider these quantities to be toxic to plant growth. According to Barnhisel and Massey
(1969) high amount of poor supply of nutrients were responsible for sparse plant stands and retarded plant growth.
Wong and Lau (1985) reported heavy metal ions present at elevated levels in water and soil were taken up by roots
and accumulated in different parts of plants which induced reduced growth. Presence of Cd, Pb and Zn in polluted
mining soils and their uptake by plants were also studied ( Sanchez et al, 1999). Plants were able to excrete heavy
metals from leaves and fruits, lowering their total content and reducing possible toxic effect (Leita et al., 1989).
Samantaray and Das (1997) studied the accumulation of heavy metals in mung bean grown on metalliferous mine
spoil also found that Cr, Ni, and Fe were more easily transported to shoots and roots as compared to seeds and their
presence in traces in the fruits. Here in this experiment attempts has been taken to study the accumulation of heavy
metals (Zn, Cu, Fe, Al, Cr and Ni) in different parts (root, shoot and seeds) of mung bean (Vigna radiata cv. Local )
grown on South Bolanda coal mine spoil, Talcher.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Collection of mine spoil and garden soil
Soil samples were collected from the selected locations on the South Bolanda coal mine dump at a depth of 0.1m
and transported to the experimental site at Regional Plant Resource Centre, Bhubaneswar. Control or garden soil
was also collected from the experimental site, Bhubaneswar, Orissa. For the test plants the growing media were
prepared taking garden soil and mine spoils (sieved < 2.5mm, vv) in varying proportions 0: 4 (T1), 1:3 (T2), 2:2
(T3), 3:1 (T4) and 4:0 (T5) respectively.

Collections of seeds
Seeds of Vigna radiata L. cv. Local , collected from the department of Seed Technology, Orissa University of
Agriculture and Technology, Bhubaneswar for the experiment.

Pot culture experiment

Coal mine spoil and garden soil mixtures were used as the growing medium in the above mentioned proportions. 10
inches earthern pots were used for the experiment. 30 seeds were directly sown in the pots at 2cm depth and the
treatments were replicated two times. The pots were kept inside a climate controlled green house. The plants were
removed at the 60th day of germination. Different plant parts (shoots, root and seeds ) were collected both at the
vegetative and reproductive phase for analysis of heavy metals. The shoot and root portions were separated and

51
 Bandita Deo et al.,: Continental J. Environmental Sciences 4: 51- 56, 2010

washed with 0.1N HCl and subsequently washed with deionised water. The shoot, root and reproductive parts were
dried at oven at 70°C for 48 hours and ground for proportion of chemical analysis. All the experiments were
conducted twice with five replicates per treatment.

Analysis of soil and plant tissues

Different proportions of soil media were sieved with 2mm nylon sieve, air dried and kept for analysis. Soil pH was
determined in 1:2 suspension by Elico digital pH meter. Each soil samples were analysed for field capacity, soil
texture (ISSS fractions) by combination of hydrometer measurements , decantation and sieving (Allen et al, 1974).
1gm of dried plant samples was digested with a mixture of 5ml of HNO3 and 1ml of 18M H2SO4 for 7 hours, diluted
to 5ml with double distilled water. Then digestion solution was analysed by Inductively Coupled Plasma
Spectrometry (ICP, Labtam, Australia) for determination of Zn, Fe, Cu, Al, Cr, Ni using wavelengths of Zn-
213.856, Fe- 238.204, Cu- 324.754, Al- 396.152, Cr- 205.552, Ni- 352.454 nm respectively.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The highest percentage of seed germination was recorded (91%) in garden soil and lowest (73.33%) in 100% mine
spoil. Better shoot growth was recorded in control as compared to different doses of mine spoil mixture. Excess
supply of heavy metals reduced plant growth ( Agarwala et al., 1977). The rate root growth was faster in garden soil
in comparison to increasing proportion of mine spoil in the medium. It might be due to the metabolites by the plants
for root development to survive stress conditions imposed by toxic growing medium. Plants grown in the control
soil had longer roots with few laterals where as plants grown in the mine spoils were having large number of laterals
which were short, dense and compact. Similar observations were reported earlier in other plant species (Barcelo and
Poschenrieder, 1990). The accumulation of heavy metals by different plant parts have been reported earlier
(Deo,2004). The Less aluminium in plant tops and more in roots in many plants (Foy et al., 1978). Heavy metal
accumulation by different plant parts was observed in different proportion of mine spoil treatments and control soil.
The maximum uptake of Zn, Cu, Fe and Al was observed in 100% mine spoil and minimum was in control. In acid
coal mine spoils Zn, Cu, Cd, Ni, and Pb might be present in toxic amounts for some plants (Bradshaw, 1970;
Massey and Barnhisel, 1972; Brown and Jones 1975; Chunney and Giordano, 1977). Root accumulated more heavy
metals than shoot. Root accumulated more zinc than the rest of the plant ( Yie et al., 1968 and White et al., 1979).
Cr and Ni were absorbed in high concentration in root than shoot. Cr was mainly accumulated in roots and poorly
transported to shoots (Barcelo et al., 1985). Accumulation of heavy metals were recorded at higher concentrations in
vegetative phase than reproductive phase. In 100% mine spoil stunted growth was observed . This was probably due
to the high concentration of heavy metals and deficiency of essential elements for plant growth. Similar observations
were made by many workers in legumes (Turner and Rust, 1971: Foroughi et al., 1976). The results indicated that
the accumulation of heavy metals increased with the increase in mine spoil level in the growing medium.

The heavy metal content in seeds showed remarkable variation in plants grown on control and in different mine
spoil mixes. Fe and Al accumulation in seeds were maximum in 100% mine spoil. Cu accumulation was less in
control. Uptake of Cr was more in 75% mine spoil and 100% mine spoil in comparison with control and other two
mine spoil treatments. The heavy metals like Zn, Cu, Fe, Al, Cr and Ni were present in excess amount in 100% mine
spoil where as in control their presence was negligible. Leaves of Vitis vinifera showed high concentration of Pb
and Zn and lower concentration were found in the fruit (Leita, et al. , 1989). The result clearly indicated that more
heavy metals were marked in the root than the ariel parts of the plant and very negligible traces detected in the seeds
(Table 3). Similar observation was also reported in mung bean grown on metalliferous mine spoil (Samantaray and
Das, 1997). The result showed low accumulation of Cr and Ni in the growing media. Furr et al (1976) reported
higher concentrations of heavy metals like Cu, Ni in the edible part of crop grown on colliery spoil in comparison to
soil grown controls.

The contents of Fe, Al, Zn, Ni, Cr and Cu were very high in root in compare to shoot. There could be a limited
translocation of roots to shoots or stems and leaves. Cu, Cr, and Ni contents were relatively low in respect to other
concentrations found in mung bean grown in control soil as well as in coal mine spoils with high levels of these
elements. More specific explanations for uptake mechanism of plants grown on coal mine spoil await further study.

52
 Bandita Deo et al.,: Continental J. Environmental Sciences 4: 51- 56, 2010

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Financial assistance from Department of Forest and Environment, New Delhi is gratefully acknowledged.

REFERENCES
Agarwala S.C., Bisht, S.S. and Sharma C.P. (1977). Relative effectiveness of certain heavy metals in producing
toxicity and symptoms of iron deficiency in barley. Can. Bot. 55 , 1299-1307.

Allen S.E., Grimmshaw H.M., Parkinson J.A. and Quarmby. (1974). Chemical analysis of ecological materials.
Blackwell Scientific Publishers, oxford.

Barcelo J. and Poschenrieder Ch. And canse B. (1985). Effect of chromium- VI on mineral element composition of
bush beans. J. Plant Nutrition, 8, 211-217.

Barcelo J. and Poschenrieder Ch.(1990). Plant water relations as affected by heavy metal stress: A Review. J. Plant
Nutrition, 13 (1), 1-37.

Barnhisel R.I. and Massey H.F. (1969). Chemical, mineralogical and physical properties of eastern Kentucky acid-
forming coal spoil materials. Soil Sci. 108 (5), 367-372.

Bradshaw, A.D.: 1970. Pollution and plant evolution. New Sci. 48, 497-500.

Brown J.C. and Jones W.E. (1975). Heavy metal toxicity in plants: 1. A crisis in embryo. Commun. Soil. Sci. Plant
Anal. 6, 421-438.

Chuney R.L. and Giordano P.M. (1977). Microelements as related to plant deficiencies and toxicities in: Elliot, L.F.
and Stevenson, F.J. (eds.) Soils for management and utilization of organic wastes and waste waters. Am. Soc. of
Agron. And soil Sci. soc. Of Am. Madison, Wis. Pp 233-280.

Cummins G.D., Plass T. W. and Gentry F.(1965). Chemical and physical properties of spoil banks in the Eastern
Kentucky coalfields. U.S. Forest Service Research Paper CS-17. Central States Exp. Stan. USDA Forest Service,
Columbus, Ohio.

Deo B. (2004). Heavy metal accumulation by plant species from a coal mining area in Orissa. Journal of
Environmental Biology. 25 (2), 163-166.

Foroughi M., Hoffmann G., Teicher K. and Venter F. (1976). The effect of increasing levels of cadmium, chromium
and nickel on tomatoes in nutrient solution’. Landwirt- Schaftliche Forschung. Sonderheft, 32, 37-48.

Furr A.K., Kelly W.C., Bache C.A., Gutenmann W.H. and Lisk D.J. (1976). Multi-element uptake by vegetables and
millet grown in pots on fly ash amended soil. Journal of Agricultural Food Chem. 24 , 885-888.

Leita L., DeNobili M., Pardini G., Ferrari F and Sequi P. (1989). Anomalous contents of heavy metals in soils and
vegetation of a mine area in S.W. Sardinia, Italy.

Massey H.F. and Barnhisel R.I. (1972). Copper, Nickel and Zinc released from acid coal mine spoil materials of
eastern Kentucky. Soil Science, 113(3), 207-212.

Nanson A. and McElroy W.D. (1963). Modes of action of the essential mineral elements in: Steward F.C. (eds.)
Plant Physiology: A creatise Vol.3. Academic Press, New York, pp 451-521.

Samantaray S. and Das P. (1997). Accumulation of heavy metals (Cr, Ni and Fe) in mung bean (Vigna radiata cv.
Local) grown on metalliferrous mine spoil. Fresenius Envir. Bull. 6, 633-641.

53
 Bandita Deo et al.,: Continental J. Environmental Sciences 4: 51- 56, 2010

Sanchez A. Garcia Moyano A. and Munez C. (1999). Forms of cadmium, lead and zinc in polluted mining soils and
uptake by plants (Soria Province, Spain). Commu. Soil Sci. Plant Anal. 30 (9&10), 1385-1402.

Turner M.A. and Rust, R.H. (1971). Effects of chromium on growths and mineral nutrition of soyabeans. Soil Sci.
Soc. of American Proceedings. 35, 755-758.

White M.C., Chuney R.L. and Decker A.M. (1979). Role of roots and shoots of Soybean in tolerance to excess soil
zinc. Crop. Sci. 19, 126-128.

Wong M.H. and Lau W.M. (1983). Effects of road side soil extracts on seed germination and root elongation of
edible crops. Environ Pollut. A. 31: 203-215.

Yie S.T. and Reisenauer H.M. (1968). Zinc nutrition of alfalfa. Agro. J. 60, 464-466.

Table 1: Heavy metal status in shoot and root of mung bean (Vigna radiata L. cv. Local) during vegetative phase
grown on different treatments
Shoot
Treatments Elemental concentration (ppm) ( m ± S.E)*
_________________________________________________________________________
Zn Cu Fe Al Cr Ni
T1 28.00 4.3 523.0 252.0 2.4 7.50
±4.12 ±0.03 ±2.21 ±11.32 ±0.01 ±0.02
T2 50.00 8.76 1402.0 1202.0 14.0 17.00
±4.62 ±0.06 ±7.12 ±12.31 ±0.04 ±0.12
T3 53.00 9.28 1480.0 1228.0 16.0 21.00
±2.51 ±0.02 ±11.73 ±7.32 ±0.03 ±1.16
T4 55.0 9.97 1529.0 1320.0 18.2 28.00
±4.81 ±0.07 ±10.32 ±24.12 ±0.08 ±1.32
T5 58.00 11.20 1570.0 1389.0 22.0 32.00
±4.12 ±0.03 ±13.36 ±4.83 ±0.06 ±2.13
Root
_T1 30.32 4.5 586.0 282.0 2.60 8.50
± 2.60 ±0.01 ±1.84 ±3.62 ±0.01 ±0.07
T2 53.00 11.23 1403.0 1344.0 16.0 21.00
±2.14 ±0.01 ±10.21 ±18.32 ±0.06 ±0.78
T3 58.00 14.24 1643.0 1356.0 19.0 28.00
±3.16 ±0.01 ±12.32 ±11.63 ±0.42 ±2.32
T4 62.00 11.56 1890.0 1550.0 22.0 35.00
±4.12 ±0.06 ±9.63 ±12.03 ±0.06 ±3.20
T5 72.00 18.95 1905.0 1840.0 24.0 41.00
±4.17 ±0.05 ±14.42 ±14.70 ±0.09 ±2.71
* 5 replicates / treatment

54
 Bandita Deo et al.,: Continental J. Environmental Sciences 4: 51- 56, 2010

Table 2: Heavy metal status in shoot and root of mung bean (Vigna radiata L.cv. Local) during
reproductive phase grown on different treatments
Shoot
Treatments Elemental concentration (ppm) (m±S.E.)*
Zn Cu Fe Al Cr Ni
__________________________________________________________
T1 25.00 3.3 510.0 200.0 2.2 6.20
±2.31 ±0.03 ±3.11 ±9.21 ±0.03 ±0.03
T2 48.00 4.8 1213.0 1200.0 11.0 12.00
±3.14 ±0.09 ±18.20 ±15.92 ±1.02 ±0.34
T3 50.00 4.92 1410.0 1220.0 13.0 18.00
±6.20 ±0.03 ±18.12 ±11.92 ±1.12 ± 0.81
T4 52.00 5.05 1440.0 1290.0 15.0 22.00
±3.60 ±0.08 ±21.40 ±9.73 ± 2.03 ±0.64
T5 54.00 5.19 1524.0 1336.0 16.0 26.00
±3.22 ±0.09 ±18.11 ±19.10 ±4.31 ±2.71
Root
________________________________________________________________________
T1 27.00 3.8 532.0 209.0 2.40 7.10
±3.21 ±0.03 ± 3.17 ±4.18 ±0.03 ±0.06
T2 50.00 4.81 1283.0 1236.0 12.0 18.00
±2.31 ±0.04 ±27.17 ±9.74 ±0.83 ±0.12
T3 54.00 4.99 1427.0 1295.0 15.0 22.00
±2.20 ±0.08 ±84.12 ±48.24 ±0.93 ±2.12
T4 57.00 5.72 1570.0 1346.0 17.0 32.00
±2.23 ±0.02 ±21.73 ±29.18 ±1.21 ±2.31
T5 68.00 8.58 1582.0 1441.0 18.0 37.00
±5.11 ±0.63 ±48.73 ±15.12 ±2.34 ±2.42
________________________________________________________________________
* 5 replicates / treatment

55
 Bandita Deo et al.,: Continental J. Environmental Sciences 4: 51- 56, 2010

Table 3 Variation of Heavy metal content in the grain of mung bean (Vigna radiata cv. Local)
Seed
______________________________________________________________________
Treatments Elemental concentration (ppm) (m±S.E)*
Zn Cu Fe Al Cr Ni
______________________________________________________________________
T1 2.2 2.01 231.0 62.31 1.85 5.20
±0.14 ±2.23 ±9.62 ±4.21 ±0.12 ±0.06
T2 3.0 2.80 287.0 236.0 8.69 5.94
±0.32 ±4.61 ±4.83 ±6.30 ±0.34 ±0.03
T3 3.2 5.0 285.0 280.0 9.28 6.14
±0.24 ±3.23 ±3.24 ±4.12 ±0.61 ±0.07
T4 4.2 8.5 266.0 290.0 10.55 7.26
±0.35 ±5.12 ±2.13 ±8.61 ±1.70 ±0.05
T5 4.5 9.35 295.0 350.0 12.70 8.32
±0.22 ±3.32 ±4.31 ±10.42 ±2.51 ±0.13
* 5 replicates / treatment

Received for Publication: 26/07/2010

Accepted for Publication: 20/08/2010

Corresponding Author:
R.K. Sahu
B.J.B. (A) College, Botany Department, Bhubaneswar-751014, Orissa, India

56