Phytoremediation potential of Miscanthus sinensis for mercury-polluted sites and its impacts on soil microbial community

Phytoremediation potential of Miscanthus sinensis and its impacts on soil microbial community and nutrients were evaluated by pot experiment at soil mercury concentration from 1.48 to 706 mg kg(-1). The changes in biomass yield in dry mass, chlorophyll content, and SOD activity indicated Miscanthus sinensis was tolerant to higher levels of soil mercury exposure, and could grow even if at soil mercury up to 706 mg kg(-1). Mercury bioconcentration and translocation factors were close to or greater than 1 when exposed to soil mercury up to 183 mg kg(-1), demonstrating Miscanthus sinensis a potential phytoremediator for mercury-polluted soils. Miscanthus sinensis planting could significantly improve the diversity and abundance of soil microbial community, but might cause potential loss of soil nitrogen and phosphorus in the early and middle of its growth. In a word, the study indicated Miscanthus sinensis was a promising energy crop linking biofuel production and phytoremediation of mercury-contaminated sites.