A soil-plant model applied to phytoremediation of metals

This study reports a phytoremediation pot experiment using an open-source program. Unsaturated water flow was described by the Richards' equation and solute transport by the advection-dispersion equation. Sink terms in the governing flow and transport equations accounted for root water and solute uptake, respectively. Experimental data were related to application of Vetiver grass to soil contaminated by metal ions. Sensitivity analysis revealed that due to the specific experimental set-up (bottom flux not allowed), hydraulic model parameters did not influence root water (and contaminant) uptake. In contrast, the results were highly correlated with plant solar radiation interception efficiency (leaf area index). The amounts of metals accumulated in the plant tissue were compared to numerical values of cumulative uptake. Pb²⁺ and Zn²⁺ uptake was satisfactorily described using a passive model. However, for Ni²⁺ and Cd²⁺, a specific calibration of the active uptake model was necessary. Calibrated MM parameters for Ni²⁺, Cd²⁺, and Pb²⁺ were compared to values in the literature, generally suggesting lower rates and saturation advance. A parameter (saturation ratio) was introduced to assess the efficiency of contaminant uptake. Numerical analysis, applying actual field conditions, showed the limitation of the active model for being independent of the transpiration rate.