Evaluation of growth and biomass production of sorghum on cadmium contaminated paddy field

Abstract

The use of agrochemicals that exceed doses and over-exploitation of land for an agricultural commodity contributes to increasing cadmium concentration. Sorghum is a multifunctional crop that can be potential as a heavy metal remediation plant. The study aimed to obtain potential sorghum varieties for phytoremediation of cadmium by assessing the growth and capacity of sorghum biomass in Cd contaminated paddy fields. The study was arranged in a complete randomized factor group with four replications. Six sorghum varieties tested were: Super 1, Samurai, Suri 3, Numbu, Kawali, and Hitam. These varieties were planted with cadmium contaminated rice fields. In general, sorghum varieties can grow in cadmium contaminated rice fields. Three of the six varieties tested namely Super 1, Samurai, and Kawali have advantages in growth such as plant height, leaf area, leaf chlorophyll content, plant growth rate, and net assimilation rate. Big biomass performance is also approved by these three varieties. The results in this study will be described and used as a reference to complement the ability of this variety in the absorption and accumulation ability.