Phytoremediation response of three Miscanthus genotypes to soils contaminated with zinc

Phytoremediation, the use of vegetation for the decontamination of polluted soils, is a not very expensive strategy and has been presented as an approach to restore or attenuate and stabilize contaminated sites while bringing additional revenue to owners. In this context, this research work aims to study the phytoremediation response of three Miscanthus genotypes (two species ­ Miscanthus sinensis and Miscanthus floridulus, and a hybrid – Miscanthus × giganteus) to soils contaminated with zinc (450 and 900 mg Zn.kg­-1 dry matter) under different water regimes (950 mm and 475 mm). Results showed that growth and biomass productivity of M. x giganteus and M. floridulus, but not of M. sinensis, were negatively affected by the zinc contamination and by a lower water regime (application of 475 mm). Significantly higher biomass production was obtained with M. floridulus and Miscanthus x giganteus, by comparison with M. sinensis. Biomass obtained in Zn contaminated soils presented significantly higher zinc content then biomass from non­contaminated soils, thus showing phytoextraction and accumulation capacity.