EFFECTS OF FERTILIZATION AND IRRIGATION LEVELS ON PHYTOREMEDIATIONPROPERTIES OF PERENNIAL RYEGRASS

Abstract

The experiment was set up in the greenhouse of Faculty of Agriculture, University of Belgrade with the aim of investigating potential of perennial ryegrass (Loliumperennial L.) to grow on substrates of exceptionally unfavorable characteristics. Tailings, characterized by very poor physical and chemical properties and deficiency in nutrients were used as substrate. The research examined effects of three different fertilizers and two irrigation levels on plant growth and assimilation of Cu and Cd. There were statistically highly significant differences in plant height between plants treated with different fertilizers. Plants treated with organic fertilizer were tallest at 45.8 cm, while the plants treated with mineral fertilizer were shortest at 22.5 cm. Amounts of the assimilated metals varied between different type of fertilizers. The highest content of Cu, about 75 mg kg^-1 was recorded in plants treated with mineral fertilizer and irrigated moderately while the lowest concentrations of about 30 mg kg^-1were measured in the same plants after the first cutting. There were no differences among plants treated with organic fertilizers in Cu amounts,under two irrigation levels. The second cutting showed a small increase in the assimilated amounts of Cu. Highest Cd concentration of 2.7 mg kg^-1 was recorded in the plants treated with combination of both organic and mineral fertilizers.