Journal of Environmental Biology

Tolerance evaluation of Jatropha curcas and Acacia burkei to acidic and copper/nickel-contaminated soil

Paper received: 21.11.2018??????? ??????????????????? Revised received: 27.03.2019??????????? ???????? Re-revised received: 29.04.2019 ??????????????????? Accepted: 08.05.2019

Authors Info

T. Konaka¹, Y. Ishimoto²,

M. Yamada³, B. Moseki⁴,

H. Tsujimoto^1,3,5, C. Mazereku⁶ and K. Akashi^1,3,5* ?

¹United Graduate School of Agricultural Sciences, Tottori? University, Tottori-680 8553, Japan

²Aomori Public University, Aomori, 030-0196, Japan

³Graduate School of Sustainability Science, Tottori University,

Tottori-680 8553, Japan

⁴Department of Biological Sciences, University of Botswana, UB 00704, Gaborone, Botswana

⁵Arid Land Research Center, Tottori University, Tottori, 680-0001, Japan

⁶Department of Agricultural Research, Ministry of Agriculture, Botswana, 0033, Gaborone, Botswana

*Corresponding Author Email :

akashi.kinya@tottori-u.ac.jp

Abstract

Aim: To evaluate tolerance of two tree species, Jatropha curcas and Acacia burkei, to an acidic and highly Cu/Ni-contaminated soil. ??????

Methodology: Above-ground growth of Jatropha and Acacia were monitored for six months in two different soil types; a typical field soil (FS) and acidic and Cu/Ni-rich soil (ACNS), the latter containing 58- and 14-fold higher levels of Cu and Ni, respectively, than FS.

Results: Growth of Acacia was markedly inhibited in ACNS, as evidenced by low number of petioles and branches, thinner stem diameter, and low chlorophyll content compared with plants grown in FS. In contrast, tree height, stem diameter and length of emerged branches of Jatropha showed no significant differences between growth in FS and ACNS. In Jatropha, foliar Cu content grown in ACNS was not statistically different from that in FS whereas a small increase in foliar Ni content was observed in ACNS.? ???    

Interpretation: These observations suggested that Jatropha possess strong resistance to acidic and Cu/Ni-enriched soil. This trait might be advantageous for dual-purpose, utilization of Jatropha for renewable energy production and afforestation of Cu/Ni-polluted wastelands.

Key words: Acacia burkei, Acidic soil, Arid region, Jatropha curcas

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