In recent years, a lot of attention has been given to searching for new additives which will effectively facilitate the process of immobilizing contaminants in the soil. This work considers the role of the enhanced nano zero valent iron (nZVI) strategy in the phytostabilization of soil contaminated with potentially toxic elements (PTEs). The experiment was carried out on soil that was highly contaminated with PTEs derived from areas in which metal waste had been stored for many years. The plants used comprised a mixture of grasses-Lolium perenne L. and Festuca rubra L. To determine the effect of the nZVI on the content of PTEs in soil and plants, the samples were analyzed using flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS). The addition of nZVI significantly increased average plant biomass (38%), the contents of Cu (above 2-fold), Ni (44%), Cd (29%), Pb (68%), Zn (44%), and Cr (above 2-fold) in the roots as well as the soil pH. The addition of nZVI, on the other hand, was most effective in reducing the Zn content of soil when compared to the control series. Based on the investigations conducted, the application of nZVI to soil highly contaminated with PTEs is potentially beneficial for the restoration of polluted lands.

Agricultural Research Ltd Zahradní 1 664 41 Troubsko Czech Republic

Department of Agrochemistry Soil Science Microbiology and Plant Nutrition Faculty of AgriSciences Mendel University in Brno 61 300 Brno Czech Republic

Department of Agronomy Faculty of Agriculture and Biotechnology University of Science and Technology 7 Prof S Kaliskiego St 85 796 Bydgoszcz Poland

Faculty of Geoengineering University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn Słoneczna St 45G 10 719 Olsztyn Poland

Institute of Chemistry and Technology of Environmental Protection Faculty of Chemistry Brno University of Technology 61200 Brno Czech Republic

Institute of Environmental Engineering Warsaw University of Life Sciences Nowoursynowska 159 02 776 Warsaw Poland

SGGW Water Centre Warsaw University of Life Sciences SGGW 02 787 Warsaw Poland

The Main School of Fire Service Slowackiego 52 54 01 629 Warsaw Poland

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