Phytoremediation of Zinc (Zn) in Leachate-Contaminated Soil Using Vetiver (Chrysopogon zizanioides) with Compost Addition
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Keywords:
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Zinc, Phytoremediation, Vetiver (Chrysopogon zizanioides), Landfill Leachate, Phytostabilisation
Abstract
Soil contamination by zinc (Zn) derived from landfill leachate poses significant ecological risks, particularly in regions with limited waste management capacity such as Indonesia. The Jatibarang landfill in Semarang has reported soil Zn concentrations exceeding the Ecological Soil Screening Level, highlighting the need for sustainable remediation strategies. This study
evaluated the stability of vetiver (Chrysopogon zizanioides)-based phytoremediation under varying plant densities and compost amendment in leachate-contaminated soil. A two-month greenhouse experiment was conducted using a 2 × 2 factorial completely randomised design with two planting densities (one and three plants per polybag) and two compost treatments (with and without compost). Parameters observed included soil Zn concentration, removal efficiency, bioconcentration factor (BCF), translocation factor (TF), plant biomass, and soil pH, analysed using two-way ANOVA (? = 0.05). All treatments significantly reduced soil Zn concentrations from 174.41 mg/kg to 49.33-52.17 mg/kg, corresponding to removal efficiencies of 70.09-71.72%, with no statistically significant differences among treatment combinations. Zinc accumulation occurred predominantly in the roots, reflected by higher root BCF values and TF values generally below one, confirming phytostabilisation as the dominant remediation mechanism. These findings indicate that vetiver-based phytoremediation provides a stable and reliable strategy for controlling Zn mobility in landfill leachate-contaminated soils, supporting its application as a sustainable soil management approach.
References
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Wu, Y., Z. Zeng, R. Teng, J. Yu, G. Guo, P. Huang, Z. Huang, and S. Deng (2026). pH-Dependent Overestimation of Heavy Metals Mobility Risk in Soils: Implications for Soil Quality Assessment. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 501; 140792
Yang, X., S. Zhang, J. Mei, and L. Liu (2019). Preparation and Modification of Biochar Materials and Their Application in Soil Remediation. Applied Sciences, 9(7); 1365
Asikin, A., L. Hoon, and F. Metali (2023). Comparative Assessment of the Heavy Metal Phytoextraction Potential of Vegetables from Agricultural Soils: A Field Experiment. Heliyon, 9(2); e13547
Bouzayani, F., A. Aydi, and T. Abichou (2014). Soil Contamination by Heavy Metals in Landfills: Measurements from an Unlined Leachate Storage Basin. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 186(8); 5033–5040
Duan, S., L. Peng, W. Chen, K. K. Kwakye, K. Zhou, and C. Teng (2024). Spectroscopic Insights into the Binding Characteristics of Heavy Metals to Dissolved Organic Matter in Landfill Leachate. Chemosphere, 352; 141433
EPA, U. (2007). Ecological Soil Screening Levels for Manganese, Interim Final, OSWER Directive 9285.7-71. US EPA, Washington, DC
Ermilinda, M., R. Werdiningsih, and A. T. Winarn (2022). Implementasi Perda Nomor 6 Tahun 2012 Tentang Pengelolaan Sampah (Studi Kasus Pengelolaan Sampah Kota Semarang). Jurnal Pendidikan dan Konseling, 4(5); 5716–5724 (in Indonesia)
Gautam, M. and M. Agrawal (2017). Phytoremediation of Metals Using Vetiver (Chrysopogon zizanioides (L.) Roberty) Grown under Different Levels of Red Mud in Sludge Amended Soil. Journal of Geochemical Exploration, 182; 218–227
Hasthi, S., L. Budiati, and R. Setiadi (2023). Study of Waste Management at the Jatibarang Landfill, Semarang City. In Proceedings of the International Conference On Multidisciplinary Studies (ICOMSI 2022). Springer Nature, page 102
Kamal, M. A. and A. F. Alali (2025). Kinetic Modeling of Heavy Metal Uptake and Translocation in Brassica juncea L. for Phytoremediation Engineering. Discover Environment, 3; 296
Kaparwan, D., N. S. Rana, and B. P. Dhyani (2020). Heavy Metals Toxicity in Agricultural Soils: Critical Review of Possible Sources, Influence on Soil Health and Remedial Measures to Remove, Reduce, and Stabilize Contaminants in Soil. International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences, 9(6); 1467–1482
Khan, A. H., E. A. López-Maldonado, N. A. Khan, L. J. Villarreal-Gómez, F. M. Munshi, A. H. Alsabhan, and K. Perveen (2022). Current Solid Waste Management Strategies and Energy Recovery in Developing Countries-State of Art Review. Chemosphere, 291; 133088
Lacalle, R. G., M. Bernal, M. J. Álvarez-Robles, and R. Clemente (2023). Phytostabilization of Soils Contaminated with As, Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn: Physicochemical, Toxicological and Biological Evaluations. Soil & Environmental Health, 1(2); 100014
Mahmoudpour, M., S. Gholami, M. Ehteshami, and M. Salari (2021). Evaluation of Phytoremediation Potential of Vetiver Grass (Chrysopogon zizanioides (L.) Roberty) for Wastewater Treatment. Advances in Materials Science and Engineering, 2021(1); 3059983
Masinire, F., D. O. Adenuga, S. M. Tichapondwa, and E. M. N. Chirwa (2021). Phytoremediation of Cr(VI) in Wastewater Using the Vetiver Grass (Chrysopogon zizanioides). Minerals Engineering, 172; 107141
Medy?ska-Juraszek, A., M. Bednik, and P. Chohura (2020). Assessing the Influence of Compost and Biochar Amendments on the Mobility and Uptake of Heavy Metals by Green Leafy Vegetables. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(21); 7861
Pan, Y., H. Wang, Z. Gu, G. Xiong, and F. Yi (2010). Accumulation and Translocation of Heavy Metals by Macrophytes. Shengtai Xuebao / Acta Ecologica Sinica, 30; 6430–6441
Park, J. H., D. Lamb, P. Paneerselvam, G. Choppala, N. Bolan, and R. Naidu (2011). Role of Organic Amendments on the Remediation of Metal(loid)-Contaminated Soils. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 185(2–3); 549–574
Piccolo, A., R. Spaccini, A. De Martino, F. Scognamiglio, and V. Di Meo (2019). Soil Washing with Solutions of Humic Substances from Manure Compost Removes Heavy Metal Contaminants as a Function of Humic Molecular Composition. Chemosphere, 225; 150–156
Qin, Y., X. Shi, Z. Wang, C. Pei, M. Cao, and J. Luo (2021). Influence of Planting Density on the Phytoremediation Efficiency of Festuca arundinacea in Cd-Polluted Soil. Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, 107(1); 154–159
Rezapour, S., A. Samadi, I. K. Kalavrouziotis, and N. Ghaemian (2018). Impact of the Uncontrolled Leakage of Leachate from a Municipal Solid Waste Landfill on Soil in a Cultivated-Calcareous Environment. Waste Management, 82; 51–61
Saputra, W. A., O. Setiani, and M. Raharjo (2020). Water Quality and Pollution Index of Kreo and Garang River from Jatibarang Landfill in Semarang City. E3S Web of Conferences, 202; 05018
Satriani, E., R. I. Putra, M. Herizon, and S. P. Utama (2025). Studi Literatur: Pencemaran TPA Air Sebakul dan Pemanfaatan Sampah Organik Rumah Tangga dengan Biogas. INSOLOGI: Jurnal Sains dan Teknologi, 4(3); 354–366 (in Indonesia)
Shao, H., X. Wu, J. Duan, F. Zhu, H. Chi, J. Liu, W. Shi, Y. Xu, Z. Wei, and G. Mi (2024). How Does Increasing Planting Density Regulate Biomass Production, Allocation, and Remobilization of Maize Temporally and Spatially: A Global Meta-Analysis. Field Crops Research, 315; 109430
Tamma, A. A., K. Lejcu?, W. Fia?kiewicz, and D. Marczak (2025). Advancing Phytoremediation: A Review of Soil Amendments for Heavy Metal Contamination Management. Sustainability, 17(13); 5688
Wei, Z., H. Gu, Q. V. Le, W. Peng, S. S. Lam, Y. Yang, C. Li, and C. Sonne (2021). Perspectives on Phytoremediation of Zinc Pollution in Air, Water and Soil. Sustainable Chemistry and Pharmacy, 24; 100550
Wu, Y., Z. Zeng, R. Teng, J. Yu, G. Guo, P. Huang, Z. Huang, and S. Deng (2026). pH-Dependent Overestimation of Heavy Metals Mobility Risk in Soils: Implications for Soil Quality Assessment. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 501; 140792
Yang, X., S. Zhang, J. Mei, and L. Liu (2019). Preparation and Modification of Biochar Materials and Their Application in Soil Remediation. Applied Sciences, 9(7); 1365
Authors
Noveira, A. F. ., Hastuti, E. D., & Nurchayati, Y. (2026). Phytoremediation of Zinc (Zn) in Leachate-Contaminated Soil Using Vetiver (Chrysopogon zizanioides) with Compost Addition. Indonesian Journal of Environmental Management and Sustainability, 10(2), 70-78. https://doi.org/10.26554/ijems.2026.10.2.70-78
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