Early Stage Responses of Jute, Kenaf and Mesta in Arsenic Contamination Soil

A pot experiment conducted at BJRI (Bangladesh Jute Research Institute) in Dhaka from September to December 2023 assessed the responses of Jute, Kenaf, and Mesta to arsenic-contaminated soil. Arsenic (As) poses environmental hazards and toxicity. BJRI Deshi Pat 7, BJRI Kenaf-2 (HC-95) and BJRI Mesta-2 (VM-1) were grown for 42 days in 36 pots with four treatment levels of As (0 ml/L, 10 ml/L, 20 ml/L, and 30 ml/L) with four replications each. Results indicate Kenaf and Mesta demonstrated high potential to tolerate As toxicity with no significant effects on survivability. However, root length, shoot length, dry weight, fresh weight and bio-concentration factor decreased with increasing As treatment levels. The translocation factor indicated slow translocation from root to shoot, increasing with As concentration. BJRI Kenaf-2 (HC-95) accumulated the highest As (16.5 ml/L) at 30 ml/L As. BJRI Deshi Pat 7 and BJRI Mesta-2 (VM-1) showed good biomass production and low phytotoxicity to As making them suitable for cultivation in As-prone areas. BJRI Kenaf-2 (HC-95) exhibited the highest response to As at early growth stages, with the order of As absorption and tolerance potentiality being BJRI Kenaf-2 (HC-95) > BJRI Mesta-2 (VM-1) >BJRI Deshi Pat 7. These varieties are recommended for cultivation in As-contaminated soil.