ASSESSMENT OF CABBAGE POTENTIAL FOR HEAVY METAL PHYTOREMEDIATION ON FLY ASH LANDFILL SUBSTRATE

4th International Symposium On Biotechnology (2026),  [pp. 15-23]
 
AUTHOR(S) / AUTOR(I): Aleksandar Simić , Gordana Andrejić , Đorđe Moravčević , Snežana Brajević  

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.46793/SBT26.015S

ABSTRACT / SAŽETAK:

Coal combustion produces large amounts of ash, often deposited in open landfills without vegetation, posing environmental risks. Vegetation stabilizes ash, reduces erosion and pollutant mobility, and provides organic matter. Brassicaceae species, such as cabbage, can absorb heavy metals, making them suitable for phytoremediation. This study evaluated cabbage (“srpski melez”) growth and metal accumulation on a fly ash landfill in spring 2023. Substrate and plant samples were analyzed for pH, organic carbon, total nitrogen, N, P, K, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn. Germination and biomass were lower on ash, but metal concentrations in plants remained below phytotoxic thresholds. Cabbage grown on ash can phytostabilize zinc and phytoextract manganese and lead

KEYWORDS / KLJUČNE REČI:

fly ash landfill, phytoremediation, Brassicaceae, heavy metals

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT / PROJEKAT:

The research was financed by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development, Republic of Serbia, contract number: 451-03-33/2026-03/200019 and 451-03-34/2026-03/200116.

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