Pot Experiments to Study the Uptake of Zinc by Weed Species, Flowering Plants and Grass Species in Artificially Contaminated Soils: Phytoremediation- Green Technology

A novel, cost-effective and eco-friendly technologies are needed to remove Zinc from the contaminated soil environment. The present research study was designed to assess the naturally enhanced phytoextration and phytostabilization potential of different plant species from the Zinc (II) contaminated soil. Uptake of Zinc by plant species in a metal contaminated soil was studied in pot culture experiment. The pots were filed with 5 kg of garden soil. Weed plants were grown in pots and were irrigated with known heavy metal solutions in the concentration of 5ppm heavy metal Zinc solution was added to the pots alternate days up to 60 days. In controls normal water was used. The plants were grown for a period of 60 days. The initial soil heavy metal concentration was analyzed. After 20, 40 and 60 days soil heavy metal concentrations were also analyzed. Analysis of heavy metal was done in HNO3/HClO4 digested samples by Atomic Absorption spectrophotometer. The plant species showed relatively good response to the higher level of heavy metal concentration in the roots, stem and leafs suggested that these plant species were good metal accumulators with the possibility of uptake of (Zn) from contaminated soils.