Phytotoxicity of aluminium contaminated soil to scirpus grossus and typha angustifolia

Aluminium as soil contaminant is currently being a concern in Jombang District, Province of Jawa Timur, Indonesia. Aluminium contamination has originated from the disposal of aluminium waste such as slag and dross directly onto soil without any layer or special treatment. Aluminium concentration in soil taken from industrial surrounding were ranged from 13.000 to 28.000 mg/kg. This contamination already caused several problems to locals such as the decreasing of soil fertility and the changing of groundwater color. Phytoremediation can be one of the solutions to treat aluminium contamination in soil. Phytotoxicity of aluminium contamination need to be carried out before applying the phytoremediation. Phytotoxicity were conducted by using range finding test (RFT) method. Two types of plants which are Scirpus grossus and Typha angustifolia known to have good ability to uptake metal from soil. RFT was carried outfor 14 days using 5L plastic bucket filled by 5 kg of spiked soil with different aluminium concentrations (Control (0 mg/kg), 50 mg/kg, 500 mg/kg, 5.000 mg/kg and 10.000 mg/kg). Observed parameters in RFT were plant height and number of leaves. After 14 days of aluminium exposure, Scirpus grossus and Typha angustifolia could survive up to 500 mg/kg of aluminium contamination.