Eko Handayanto, Nia Erfiana, Widianto
Sidoarjo mudflow that has been emitting since May 29, 2006 is known to contain various heavy metals including cadmium. The mudflow is still ongoing and flowing into rivers nearby. This study demonstrates the use of an aquatic plant commonly found in the mudflow area, i.e. Pistia stratiotes for the removal of cadmium (Cd) from river water contaminated with Sidoarjo mudflow containing Cd. Treatments tested in this study were combinations of number of plants (10 and 20 of Pistia stratiotes plants) and application of liquid NPK fertilizer (0 and 1.25 mL/L). The plants were grown for 10 days on water contaminated with Sidoarjo mudflow. Results of the study showed that the use of 20 plants of Pistia stratiotes combined with application of 1.25 mL liquid NPK fertilizer/L) was the most efficient treatment because about 79.3%, 83.3%, 86.5% and 91.2% Cd removal occurred in 2, 4, 6 and 8 days. The A4 treatment (20 plants of Pistia stratiotes + 1.25 mL liquid NPK fertilizer/L) was able to remove Cd almost completely (96.3%) in 10 days of exposure. In general, addition of fertilizer to the planting media increased growth Pistia stratiotes and thereby increased cadmium removal from water contaminated with the Sidoarjo mudflow. © Copyright EM International.
Research Center for Management of Degraded and Mining Lands, Brawijaya University, Jl. Veteran No 1, Malang, 65145, Indonesia; Department of Soil Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Brawijaya University, Jl. Veteran No 1, Malang, 65145, Indonesia
