Energy Potential of Zea mays Grown in Cadmium-Contaminated Soil

Cadmium is a non-essential element for proper plant growth and development and is highly toxic to humans and animals, in part because it inters with calcium-dependent processes in living organisms. For this reason, a study was conducted to assess the potential for producing maize (Zea mays) biomass in cadmium-contaminated soil for energy purposes. The energy potential of Zea mays was evaluated by determining the heat of combustion (Q), heating value (Hv), and the amount of energy produced from the biomass. Starch, compost, fermented bark, humic acids, molecular sieve, zeolite, sepiolite, expanded clay, and calcium carbonate were assessed as substances supporting biomass production from Zea mays. The accumulation and redistribution of cadmium in the plant were also investigated. The study was conducted in a vegetation hall as part of a pot experiment. Zea mays was grown in uncontaminated soil and in soil contaminated with 15 mg Cd2+ kg−1. A strong toxic effect of cadmium on the cultivated plants was observed, causing a 62% reduction in the biomass of aerial parts and 61% in the roots. However, it did not alter the heat of combustion and heating value of the aerial part biomass, which were 18.55 and 14.98 MJ kg−1 d.m., respectively. Of the nine substances tested to support biomass production, only four (molecular sieve, compost, HumiAgra, and expanded clay) increased the yield of Zea mays grown in cadmium-contaminated soil. The molecular sieve increased aerial part biomass production by 74%, compost by 67%, expanded clay by 19%, and HumiAgra by 15%, but none of these substances completely eliminated the toxic effects of cadmium on the plant. At the same time, the bioaccumulation factor (BAF) of cadmium was higher in the roots (0.21–0.23) than in the aerial parts (0.04–0.03), with the roots showing greater bioaccumulation.