Plant uptake and in-soil degradation of PCB-5 under varying cropping conditions

► Investigating the uptake and in-soil degradation of PCB-5 under varying cropping conditions. ► Phytoextraction contributed insignificantly toward the loss of the soil-borne PCB-5. ► In-soil biodegradation contributed markedly to the observed reduction in soil-borne PCB-5. ► In-soil biodegradation of PCB-5 was significantly enhanced under intercropping conditions. ► Biodegradation of PCB-5 was mainly related to increased bacterial activities. A 60-d greenhouse experiment was conducted to investigate the uptake and in-soil degradation of PCB-5 under single cropping and intercropping conditions involving three crop plant species: pumpkin, soybean and corn. Volatilization of PCB-5 from the soil surface was also tested. The results show that while uptake of PCB-5 by the test plant species is possible and the root concentration of PCB-5 had a control on the upward transport of PCB-5 to the above-ground portion of the plants, the PCB-5 extracted by the plants mainly accumulated in the root materials. Phytoextraction contributed insignificantly toward the loss of the soil-borne PCB-5. Volatilization of PCB-5 from the soil was recorded but it appeared that this did not result in a marked loss of PCB-5 in the bulk soil though it might cause remarkable removal of PCB-5 in a thin layer of the topsoil (1mm). It is likely that the in-soil biodegradation contributed markedly to the observed reduction in soil-borne PCB-5. The in-soil biodegradation of PCB-5 was significantly enhanced under intercropping conditions, which appeared to be related to increased microbial activities, particularly bacterial activities. The soil residual PCB-5 was correlated with the activity of the following enzymes: catalase (CAT), polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and peroxidase (POD).