Growing awareness of the risks posed by pollution of the soil environment is leading to the development of new remediation strategies. The technique of aided phytostabilization, which involves the evaluation of new heavy-metal (HM)-immobilizing amendments, together with appropriately selected plant species, is a challenge for environmental protection and remediation of the soil environment, and seems to be promising. In this study, the suitability of bentonite for the technique of aided phytostabilization of soils contaminated with high HM concentrations was determined, using a mixture of two grass species. The HM contents in the tested plants and in the soil were determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. The application of bentonite had a positive effect on the biomass of the tested plants, and resulted in an increase in soil pH. The concentrations of copper, nickel, cadmium, lead and chromium were higher in the roots than in the above-ground parts of the plants, especially when bentonite was applied to the soil. The addition of the analyzed soil additive contributed significantly to a decrease in the levels of zinc, copper, cadmium and nickel in the soil at the end of the experiment. In view of the above, it can be concluded that the use of bentonite in the aided phytostabilization of soils polluted with HMs, is appropriate.

Agricultural Research Ltd Zahradni 1 664 41 Troubsko Czech Republic

Department of Agrochemistry Soil Science Microbiology and Plant Nutrition Faculty of AgriSciences Mendel University in Brno Zemedelska 1 613 00 Brno Czech Republic

Faculty of Agriculture and Biotechnology Bydgoszcz University of Science and Technology 85 796 Bydgoszcz Poland

Faculty of Geoengineering University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn 10 719 Olsztyn Poland

Hydrotechnical Construction Department Kaunas University of Applied Sciences Liepu Str 1 Girionys LT 53101 Šlienava Lithuania

Institute of Environmental Engineering Warsaw University of Life Sciences 02 787 Warsaw Poland

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