ABSTRACT
Copper is an essential element for the plants, but when it's present in high amounts in soil, it becomes toxic to vegetable metabolism. One of the strategies for rehabilitation of contaminated areas by metals is the phytoremediation, which consists in the introduction of vegetable species on contaminated soil. The research aimed to evaluate the interference of increasing doses of copper, applied in soil, on growth and on quality of seedling of Bauhinia forficata Link, Pterogyne nitens Tul e Enterolobium contortisiliquum Vell. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse, completely randomized design, with eight repetitions and in factorial arrangement (3 x 6), which include three forest species and six copper dosages in soil (0, 60, 120, 180, 240 end 300 mg kg-1). It was evaluated the following parameters: height, collar diameter, aerial dry mass, root dry mass, specific surface area and Dickson Quality Index. The results evidenced that the Enterolobium contortisiliquum Vell seedlings are more tolerant than Bauhinia forficata Link and Pterogyne nitens Tul seedlings and they have better quality of seedlings at higher doses of copper. Copper doses reduce with higher intensity plant height, dry mass of aerial and roots parts, specific surface area and Dickson Quality Index of seedlings of Bauhinia forficata Link and Pterogyne nitens Tul in relation to Enterolobium contortisiliquum Vell Seedlings of Enterolobium contortisiliquum Vell are more tolerant to higher copper doses than Bauhinia forficata Link and Pterogyne nitens Tul in soil.
Keywords:
metal; phytoremediation; arboreal species
