Comparing heavy metal accumulation abilities in Artemisia aucheri and Astragalus gummifer in Darreh Zereshk region, Taft

Treatment of soils contaminated with heavy metals using plant species is a method which has been widely used in thepast. This method, which is known as phytoremediation, has been applied for pollution treatment using different plantspecies worldwide. The method has been used for remediation of various types of pollutants in laboratory, pilot andindustrial scales. The aim of this study was to compare the capability of heavy metal accumulation in Artemisia aucheriand Astragalus gummifer in the Darre Zereshk deserts located in Taft, Iran. Plant and soil samples were collected fromeight stations. After acid digestion, concentration of heavy metals was measured in plant tissues and rhizosphere soil usingan ICP-OES instrument. The bioconcentration factors (BCF) and translocation factors (TF) were calculated for each plantspecies. The BCF and TF in A. aucheri were higher than in A. gummifer. Therefore, it is suggested that A. aucheri hashigher capabilities in removing metals from polluted soils and hence is a better option for phytoremediation purposes.