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Abstract
The accumulation of heavy metals by plants determines both the micronutrient content and the toxic metal content of our food. A field survey of higher terrestrial plants growing on a metalliferous site of the Iranian arid mountain in Isfahan was conducted to identify species accumulating exceptionally large concentrations of Zn and Ni in shoots and roots. Plant samples were collected from Irankoh areas near the Bama Pb and Zn mine. Sampling was carried out in Spring 2004 and analyzed for DTPA (Diethylene triamine pentaacetic acid) extractable Zn and Ni by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Mean total and available Zn in the studied soils were 259.7 μgg−1 and 5.067 μgg−1, respectively. Soil total and available Ni were relatively low (58.9 μgg−1 and 0.143 μgg−1 respectively). Zinc concentrations were considerably high in shoots of Stachys inflate, Ebenus stellata, and Astragalus glaucanthus (556.88, 508.8, and 449.53 μgg−1, respectively). Nickel concentrations were markedly high in shoots of Teucrium polium, Alyssum bracteatum, and Ebenus stellata (13.21, 10.98, and 8.84 μgg−1, respectively). Zinc translocation factor (TF or shoot/root concentration ratio) was higher than Ni TF in most plant species. Zinc and Ni enrichment factors and shoot/root concentration ratios were also significantly high in Stachys inflate, Ebenus stellata, Astragalus glaucanthus Teucrium polium, Stipa barbata, Bromus tectorum, and Alyssum bracteatum. Results suggest that these plants could be good candidates for use in the revegetation and phytoremediation of Zn and Ni contaminated lands in arid regions.
Notes
* Equivalent calcium carbonate.
a Means followed by the same letter are not significantly different (P < 0.05).
a Means followed by the same letter are not significantly different (P < 0.05).