Evaluation of the effect of magnesium sulphate on chromium toxicity remediation at the germination stage in fenugreek (trigonella foenum-gracium L.)

Civil engineering and environmental laboratory (LGCE), Water and environmental materials team, Higher school of technology in Salé, MA11060 Salé, Mohammed V university in Rabat, Morocco

^* Corresponding author: soukayna_azzouzi@um5.ac.ma

Abstract

This study investigates the efficacy of magnesium sulfate in alle- viating chromium toxicity during the germination of fenugreek. Widely em- ployed in industrial processes such as electroplating and steel manufactur- ing, chromium frequently contributes to environmental contamination, particularly in agricultural soils. Its detrimental effects include making plants magnesium deficient, which impairs essential physiological functions. Fenugreek, a leguminous crop of the Fabaceae family with substantial nutritional and medicinal benefits, was selected due to its agricultural im- portance and vulnerability to heavy metal stress. In this experiment, seed- lings germinated at a fixed concentration of chromium (0,02 mg L^-1) while being treated with varying doses of magnesium sulfate (4, 8, 12, 16, and 20 g L^-1). The results shown that 12 g L⁻¹ of magnsium sulfate improvements in radicle elongation of 77%, stem elongation of 7%, and leaf number of 19% demonstrated improved vegetative development. Additionally, both the tolerance index and the germination index increased by more than 100%, suggesting enhanced stress resistance. These results demonstrate that mag- nesium sulfate improves the overall vigor of seedlings while also repairing the physiological damage caused by chromium. The findings demonstrate magnesium sulfate's potential as a practical and effective supplement for phytoremediation methods in chromium-contaminated soils.