Bioremoval of heavy metals from polluted soil by Schoenoplectus litoralis (Schrad.) Palla and Cyperus rotundus L. (Cyperaceae)

The present work aimed to assess the ability of plant species namely, Schoenoplectus litoralis and Cyperus rotundus belonging to family Cyperaceae in bioremoval of heavy metals from polluted soil by As, Pb, Cd, Zn. Soil planted with both plant species was regularly irrigated (twice a week) by water containing different concentrations of 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 ppm of the metals in a laboratory experiment. The tested metals residues were determined in the shoot and root system of plants after 45 days and expressed as mg/g dry weight of the plant. C. rotundus had a high power for absorbing and accumulating heavy metals from the contaminated soil by higher rate by roots than by shoot system (root: As 183 mg/g, Pb 82 mg/g, Cd 122 mg/g, and Zn 137 mg/g, shoot: As 145 mg/g, Pb 512 mg/g, Cd102 mg/g, and Zn 110 mg/g ). S. litoralis absorbed and accumulated heavy metals from soil in less amount (root: As 148 mg/g, Pb 46 mg/g, Cd 113 mg/g, and Zn 127 mg/g, shoot: As 132 mg/g, Pb 44 mg/g, Cd 100 mg/g, and Zn 105 mg/g). The bioaccumulation power increased with the increase of heavy metal concentrations in soil and with the time exposure in the both plant species.