Intercropping Pteris cretica and Spinacia oleracea L. with peanut enhances arsenic removal and soil remediation

Arsenic (As) exposure through agricultural soil contamination poses significant health risks and threatens food security. This study explored the efficacy of hyperaccumulator plant diversity and intercropping systems in enhancing As removal from contaminated soil while simultaneously reducing As upt...

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Main Authors: Rakhwe Kama, Farhan Nabi, Maimouna Aidara, Peiyi Huang, Muslim Qadir, Sekouna Diatta, Chongjian Ma, Huashou Li
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-04-01
Series:Frontiers in Plant Science
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2025.1580332/full
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author Rakhwe Kama
Farhan Nabi
Maimouna Aidara
Peiyi Huang
Muslim Qadir
Sekouna Diatta
Chongjian Ma
Huashou Li
author_facet Rakhwe Kama
Farhan Nabi
Maimouna Aidara
Peiyi Huang
Muslim Qadir
Sekouna Diatta
Chongjian Ma
Huashou Li
author_sort Rakhwe Kama
collection DOAJ
description Arsenic (As) exposure through agricultural soil contamination poses significant health risks and threatens food security. This study explored the efficacy of hyperaccumulator plant diversity and intercropping systems in enhancing As removal from contaminated soil while simultaneously reducing As uptake in peanuts (Arachis hypogaea L.). Thus, a pot experiment was conducted using As-contaminated soil, peanut plants, and hyperaccumulator species as the experimental materials. The experimental treatments included monocultured peanuts (Ck) and peanuts intercropped with Pteris cretica. (P*Pc), intercropped peanut with Spinacia oleracea L. (P*So), and intercropped peanut with P. cretica and S. oleracea L. (P*Pc*So). Our findings revealed that the intercropping system significantly reduced soil As levels compared to monocropping. In addition, peanut As uptake was significantly decreased in hyperaccumulator plants, with enhanced effects under hyperaccumulator plant diversity, minimizing the risk of As transfer to the food chain. Moreover, the As removal rate was higher under intercropping than under monocropping, with the highest removal rate of 88% under intercropped peanut/P. cretica/S. oleracea L., followed by peanut/S. oleracea L. (81%) and peanut/P. cretica (80%). The results demonstrate the potential of using diverse hyperaccumulator plants and intercropping systems as sustainable and effective methods for remediating As-contaminated soils, while simultaneously ensuring food safety. However, further research is needed to elucidate the underlying mechanisms driving these effects and to optimize the phytoremediation of As-contaminated soil and crop production.
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publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
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spelling doaj-art-aae0597c9cc44225b6eee8772cb7c6152025-08-20T02:29:30ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Plant Science1664-462X2025-04-011610.3389/fpls.2025.15803321580332Intercropping Pteris cretica and Spinacia oleracea L. with peanut enhances arsenic removal and soil remediationRakhwe Kama0Farhan Nabi1Maimouna Aidara2Peiyi Huang3Muslim Qadir4Sekouna Diatta5Chongjian Ma6Huashou Li7College of Natural Resources and Environment, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, ChinaCollege of Natural Resources and Environment, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, ChinaLaboratory of Ecology, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, Cheikh Anta University, Dakar, SenegalCollege of Natural Resources and Environment, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, ChinaCollege of Natural Resources and Environment, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, ChinaLaboratory of Ecology, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, Cheikh Anta University, Dakar, SenegalSchool of Biology and Agriculture, Shaoguan University, Shaoguan, ChinaCollege of Natural Resources and Environment, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, ChinaArsenic (As) exposure through agricultural soil contamination poses significant health risks and threatens food security. This study explored the efficacy of hyperaccumulator plant diversity and intercropping systems in enhancing As removal from contaminated soil while simultaneously reducing As uptake in peanuts (Arachis hypogaea L.). Thus, a pot experiment was conducted using As-contaminated soil, peanut plants, and hyperaccumulator species as the experimental materials. The experimental treatments included monocultured peanuts (Ck) and peanuts intercropped with Pteris cretica. (P*Pc), intercropped peanut with Spinacia oleracea L. (P*So), and intercropped peanut with P. cretica and S. oleracea L. (P*Pc*So). Our findings revealed that the intercropping system significantly reduced soil As levels compared to monocropping. In addition, peanut As uptake was significantly decreased in hyperaccumulator plants, with enhanced effects under hyperaccumulator plant diversity, minimizing the risk of As transfer to the food chain. Moreover, the As removal rate was higher under intercropping than under monocropping, with the highest removal rate of 88% under intercropped peanut/P. cretica/S. oleracea L., followed by peanut/S. oleracea L. (81%) and peanut/P. cretica (80%). The results demonstrate the potential of using diverse hyperaccumulator plants and intercropping systems as sustainable and effective methods for remediating As-contaminated soils, while simultaneously ensuring food safety. However, further research is needed to elucidate the underlying mechanisms driving these effects and to optimize the phytoremediation of As-contaminated soil and crop production.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2025.1580332/fullarsenichyperaccumulator plant diversityArachis hypogaeaintercropping systemcontaminated soil
spellingShingle Rakhwe Kama
Farhan Nabi
Maimouna Aidara
Peiyi Huang
Muslim Qadir
Sekouna Diatta
Chongjian Ma
Huashou Li
Intercropping Pteris cretica and Spinacia oleracea L. with peanut enhances arsenic removal and soil remediation
Frontiers in Plant Science
arsenic
hyperaccumulator plant diversity
Arachis hypogaea
intercropping system
contaminated soil
title Intercropping Pteris cretica and Spinacia oleracea L. with peanut enhances arsenic removal and soil remediation
title_full Intercropping Pteris cretica and Spinacia oleracea L. with peanut enhances arsenic removal and soil remediation
title_fullStr Intercropping Pteris cretica and Spinacia oleracea L. with peanut enhances arsenic removal and soil remediation
title_full_unstemmed Intercropping Pteris cretica and Spinacia oleracea L. with peanut enhances arsenic removal and soil remediation
title_short Intercropping Pteris cretica and Spinacia oleracea L. with peanut enhances arsenic removal and soil remediation
title_sort intercropping pteris cretica and spinacia oleracea l with peanut enhances arsenic removal and soil remediation
topic arsenic
hyperaccumulator plant diversity
Arachis hypogaea
intercropping system
contaminated soil
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2025.1580332/full
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