Phytoremediation of Pb-Contaminated Soils Using Chrysypogon zizanioides in Lashkardar Protected Area, Malayer County

Abstract

Mine exploitation has led to the rangeland's destruction. In this study, the phytoremediation of Pb-contaminated soils by Chrysypogon zizanioides was investigated in the soil around the lead mine of Lashkar region, located in Malayer county. In the initial measurement, the amount of soil Pb contamination in the rangeland was estimated to be 600 milligrams per kilogram of dry soil. By evaluating the environmental effects of lead in the region, the coefficients of geoaccumulation index, pollution degree, and potential ecological risk were observed in the infinite to very high range. The research was conducted in a completely randomized design with 4 Pb pollution levels (0, 300, 600, and 1600 mg/kg) in 4 replications in the greenhouse of Malayer University for 130 days. At the end of the period, lead concentration in soil, root, shoot, BCF bioaccumulation index, TF transfer coefficient, shoot, and root productivity in vetiver plants were measured. The results showed the increasing effect of soil Pb concentration on the amount of root and shoot Pb concentrations. At the level of 1600 mg/kg contamination, the Pb concentration in the shoot and root reached 242.94 and 242.02 mg/kg, respectively. At most levels of contamination except the level of 1600 mg/kg, the BCF indicators in the root and shoot and the TF coefficient were less than one. TF <1 indicates the lack of high concentration of Pb in harvesting organs and the health of the aerial production. So, vetiver is recommended for the rangeland reclamation in the study area.

Keywords

• lead
• potentially toxic elements
• phytoremediation
• vetiver grass
• chrysopogon zizaniodes