AZADIRACHTA INDICA A POTENTIAL SPECIES FOR COPPER PHYTOEXTRACTION (Atena Editora)

Abstract

A study of the Cu restorative and bioaccumulate capacity of the Azadirachta indica (Neem) plant in three soils exploited by agriculture in the Municipality of Calimaya of the State of Mexico, Mexico, is presented. The soils were randomly selected, named Soil 1, Soil 2 and Soil 3. The texture, grain size, pH, electrical conductivity, redox potential, organic matter, total carbon, organic and inorganic, nitrogen and phosphorus for each soil were determined, measurements totals and chemical speciation of copper in native soils and pot soils with plants. The seedlings were placed in pots in a block design, measuring their morphological characteristics and metal content at 30, 60, 90 and 120 days of growth. The bioaccumulation index (BI) of Cu in the plants was determined. These soils have a shortage of nitrogen, phosphorous and manganese. The lack of vegetation cover and loss of nutrients due to rainwater dragging worsened their situation. Total Cu measurements and chemical speciation are presented using sequential extractions to obtain the geochemical distribution of the metal in the soil as the plants grew. The BI was obtained in the main bioavailable fractions. It is concluded that Azadirachta indica is a good restorative plant for the restoration and phytoextraction of Cu in these soils.