Evaluation and Assessment of Trivalent and Hexavalent Chromium on and Soil Enzymes.

Chromium (Cr) can exist in several oxidation states, but the two most stable forms-Cr(III) and Cr(VI)-have completely different biochemical characteristics. The aim of the present study was to evaluate how soil contamination with Cr(III) and Cr(VI) in the presence of NaEDTA affects L. biomass; assess the remediation capacity of L. based on its tolerance index, translocation factor, and chromium accumulation; and investigate how these chromium species affect the soil enzyme activity and physicochemical properties of soil. This study consisted of a pot experiment divided into two groups: non-amended and amended with NaEDTA. The Cr(III)- and Cr(VI)-contaminated soil samples were prepared in doses of 0, 5, 10, 20, and 40 mg Cr kg d.m. soil. The negative effect of chromium manifested as a decreased biomass of L. (aboveground parts and roots). Cr(VI) proved to be more toxic than Cr(III). The tolerance indices (TI) showed that L. tolerates Cr(III) contamination better than Cr(VI) contamination. The translocation values for Cr(III) were much lower than for Cr(VI). L. proved to be of little use for the phytoextraction of chromium from soil. Dehydrogenases were the enzymes which were the most sensitive to soil contamination with Cr(III) and Cr(VI). Conversely, the catalase level was observed to be the least sensitive. NaEDTA exacerbated the negative effects of Cr(III) and Cr(VI) on the growth and development of L. and soil enzyme activity.