Research Project/

Project/Activities/Events

1.Associate Professor Dr. Weeradej Meeinkuirt

2.Ms. Alapha Thongchai

3.Dr. Puntaree Taeprayoon

4.Assistant Professor Dr. Isma-ae Chelong

The zinc (Zn) mining industry and its operations in cadmium (Cd) and Zn co-contaminated agricultural areas have long been recognized as a major source of Cd and Zn pollution in the Mae Tao River basin, Mae Sot district of Tak Province, Thailand. For more than 30 years, people in those areas have been affected by Cd pollution released from polluted agricultural soils, causing renal and bone disorders, and eventually cancer. Local villagers or farmers continue to cultivate rice and other crop plants in such polluted areas in order to earn money for their livelihood and other beneficial lives. As a result, the Thai government and local authorities advised local people and farmers to stop growing crop plants on polluted soils. Phytomanagement is a subset of “phytoremediation,” which involves using green plants to remove heavy metals from polluted soils and streams; nonetheless, the ultimate objective is to employ plants for purposes other than biota consumption. Plants are used in phytomanagement technology for a variety of purposes, including energy, furniture, and architectural adornment etc. Marigold cultivars have been cultivated in Mae Tao River Basin areas, which are also known as agriculturally polluted areas, since they have been reported to serve as flowering ornamental plants that are cut for sale to assist communities generate income. High levels of Cd and Zn, on the other hand, may have an impact on marigold growth and flowering. Soil amendments will be used to improve soil properties, plant growth, and productivity, according to the research hypothesis. Many organic amendments, in particular, can diminish heavy metal mobility in soil and water, which may assist lower heavy metal bioavailability. The success of phytomanagement technology, on the other hand, should begin with plant selection, which should include consideration of water and soil management.

1.To determine the effects of soil amendments on plant growth performances, cadmium and zinc uptake and accumulation, and anatomical modifications in leaves of four marigold cultivars (Tagetes erecta L. e.g., Honey, American and Sunshine and T. patula L. e.g., French) grown in greenhouse

2.To determine phytoremediation potential of the four marigold cultivars (Tagetes erecta L. e.g., Honey, American and Sunshine and T. patula L. e.g., French)

Project approaches/

Activity approaches

1.Greenhouse study

2.Laboratory works

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1.To develop a high potential plant for phytoremediation that can be used to remove cadmium and zinc from contaminated soil

2.Instead of edible crop plants, the flower cut from marigolds will be used as a commercial product to generate income for communities in the Mae Tao River Basin, Tak Province.

3.To develop a fertilizer or soil amendment that can be used in agricultural areas as a novel product