Evaluation of allelopathic activity of plants when applying phytoremediation technologies

Abstract

Object of research – the use of plants in phytoremediation technologies to clean up soil from contamination Subject of research – determination of allelopathic activity of plants when used in phytoremediation. Aim of the work was to to evaluate the allelopathic effect between phytoremediants and native plants of phytocenosis in the development of phytoremediation soil cleaning. Methods - analysis of scientific literature, experimental studies of allelopathic effects of plants, statistical methods of processing results. Actuality. Phytoremediation is acknowledged as the perspective technology of soil decontamination and recovery. Nevertheless, there are certain factors that are supposed to influence this process, decreasing its effectiveness. The introduction of phytoremediation plants as the non-indigenous species into a phytocenosis of contaminated area may initiate the activation of an allelopathic activity of the present species. Allelopathic activity is commonly defined as a process of secretion of the secondary metabolites in a form of volatile compounds, exudates that inhibit development of other plants. Thus, this thesis focuses on the assessment of an allelopathic activity of the indigenous species and its influence on selected phytoremediation plants. Bioassay and germination test have been conducted to measure the effects of water-soluble extracts of Amaranthus retroflexus L., Cirsium arvense L., Barbarea vulgaris R. Br. And Artemisia absinthium L. on the introduced species used in phytoremediation.