Synergistic phytoremediation strategy for textile effluent contaminated soil reclamation using Sesuvium portulacastrum and Bacillus megaterium.
Kalaiselvi P, Jayashree R, Paulsebastian S, Davamani V, Parameswari E
Phytoremediation
Degraded, over-salted soil is one of the quietest threats to growing food locally — this research shows that planting the right halophyte with the right soil microbe can pull enormous amounts of salt out of the ground in two months, a timeline that could make contaminated plots productive again within a single season.
Textile factories release wastewater so salty and chemically harsh that it essentially kills the soil around it. Scientists tested a naturally salt-loving succulent plant alongside a helpful soil bacterium, and found that together they pulled the salt out of the ground far faster than either could alone — reducing dangerous salt concentrations by about 80% in two months. Adding compost to the mix made the plant grow even bigger, which meant it could lock away even more salt in its leaves.
Key Findings
The combined treatment (plant + bacteria + vermicompost) reduced soil electrical conductivity from 13.5 to 3.2 dS/m and sodium from 3,500 to 700 mg/kg in 60 days under field conditions — roughly an 80% reduction.
Sesuvium portulacastrum tolerated up to 5,000 mg/kg soil NaCl and accumulated sodium at up to 4.4% of its tissue dry weight, qualifying it as a salt hyperaccumulator.
Inoculation with Bacillus megaterium (OPS2) boosted plant biomass to 475 g per plant in the field, compared to lower-biomass controls — more plant mass means more salt removed per plot.
chevron_right Technical Summary
Researchers in India demonstrated that pairing a salt-tolerant plant with beneficial soil bacteria can rapidly clean up farmland poisoned by textile factory wastewater, cutting soil salt levels by 70–80% in just 60 days.
Abstract Preview
Textile industries produce highly saline and chemically complex effluents that severely degrade soil quality and limit plant growth. This study assessed the phytodesalination capability of the halo...
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