The Effectiveness of Kangkung (Ipomea reptans Poir), Green Mustard (Brassica juncea L.) and Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) in Absorbing Heavy Metal Contents in Soil Polluted by Lead (Pb) and Copper (Cu)

• Main Author: Anggraeni A, Dea
• Format: Final Project
• Language: Indonesia
• Online Access: https://digilib.itb.ac.id/gdl/view/39119
• Institution: Institut Teknologi Bandung

Lead (Pb) and Copper (Cu) are heavy metals that can pollute the soil. Soil restorative actions should be taken to prevent the ecosystem from being damaged. Phytoremediation is ones of methods that can be used to restore polluted soil. This research was conducted to analyze the growth of kangkung (Ipomea reptans Poir), green mustard (Brassica juncea L.). and alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) planted in soil polluted by Lead (Pb) and Copper (Cu) and to examine the effectiveness of those plants in absorbing heavy metals including Pb and Cu in polluted soil. This research was conducted in the A3 screen house of ITB campus of Jatinagor for 30 days. In this research, a complete-randomized designed with 3 treatments (kangkung, green mustard, alfalfa) and 6 repetitions was used. In each repetition involved five plant populations. The parameters observed in this research were the plant height, number of leaves, root length, canopy dry biomass, root dry biomass, heavy metal content in the soil, and heavy metal content in the plants. Those parameters were descriptively analyzed. Heavy metal contents in the soil and in the plants were measured by Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. The results showed that the average height growth rate of kangkung was (0.839 cm / day), green mustard (0.391 cm / day), and alfalfa (0.753 cm / day). The average growth rates for the number of leaf were; kangkung (0.54 strands / day), green mustard (0.10 strands / day), and alfalfa (1.54 strands / day). Meanwhile, the average root length of kangkung was (10.848 m), green mustard (12.313 m), and alfalfa (4.360 m). Furthermore, the average amount of canopy dry for kangkung was (1.611 g / plant), green mustard (1.877 g / plant), and alfalfa (0.227 g / plant), while the average amount of root dry biomass of kangkung was (1.897 g / plant), green mustard (1.662 g / plant), and alfalfa (0.203 g / plant). The effectiveness of kangkung, green mustard and alfalfa plants in reducing lead level was determined from the bioremediation indices which were found at 98.355%, 98.185%, and 98.893% respectively. Whilst, bioremediation indices kangkung, green mustard and alfalfa plants in reducing copper level were 88.294%, 87.103%, and 94.048% respectively.